Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in Interpretation

The Master of Arts in Interpretation is a postgraduate programme offered by the University of Nairobi through the Centre for Translation and Interpretation in the Department of Linguistics and Languages. The programme provides advanced training in interpretation theory and practice, preparing graduates for professional careers as conference interpreters, court interpreters, and language specialists in international organisations.

The programme is an applied linguistics degree that centres on imparting both the theoretical underpinnings and practical skills of interpretation. Students develop mastery in consecutive and simultaneous interpretation, sight interpretation, and specialised field interpreting, supported by theoretical frameworks from linguistics and interpretation studies.

Core areas of study include theory of interpretation, consecutive interpretation, simultaneous interpretation, interpreting in specialised fields, practical interpreting, terminology development, sight interpretation, international organisations and interpretation, interpretation and emerging global issues, and research methods. The programme emphasises practical skill development with 60 contact hours per course unit.

The University of Nairobi's Centre for Translation and Interpretation is a specialised unit within the Faculty of Arts, offering both MA in Interpretation and MA in Translation. The centre provides interpretation booths and equipment for simultaneous interpretation practice, preparing students for real-world conference interpreting.

The programme is designed for graduates fluent in at least two languages who seek professional interpretation careers. Applicants must pass an aptitude test on language proficiency and general language knowledge. Students complete 13 taught course units plus a research paper over four semesters.

Graduates are prepared for careers as conference interpreters, court interpreters, diplomatic interpreters, media interpreters, and language specialists in international organisations, government, diplomatic missions, and private sector conference services.

Skills Required

Consecutive Interpretation
Simultaneous Interpretation
Sight Interpretation
Interpretation Theory
Terminology Development
Multilingual Proficiency
Specialised Field Interpreting
Intercultural Communication
Research Methods in Interpretation
Public Speaking for Interpreters

Key Subjects

Theory of Interpretation
Consecutive Interpretation
Simultaneous Interpretation
Sight Interpretation
Interpreting in Specialised Fields
Practical Interpreting
Terminology Development for Interpretation
International Organisations and Interpretation
Interpretation and Emerging Global Issues
Research Methods in Interpretation

Certifications

AIIC Conference Interpreter Certification
FIT Interpreter Certification

Specializations

Conference Interpretation

Focuses on simultaneous and consecutive interpretation in conference settings including international meetings, summits, and diplomatic conferences.

Court Interpretation

Covers interpretation in legal and court settings including courtroom procedures, legal terminology, and ethical considerations for court interpreters.

Diplomatic Interpretation

Examines interpretation in diplomatic settings including bilateral meetings, summits, and diplomatic missions requiring protocol awareness and diplomatic terminology.

Media Interpretation

Focuses on interpretation for media including live broadcast interpretation, news conferences, and media interviews.

Specialised Field Interpreting

Covers interpretation in specialised fields including medical, technical, and business interpreting, with focus on domain-specific terminology.

International Organisation Interpretation

Examines interpretation in international organisations including UN, AU, and regional bodies, with focus on multilingual conference practices.

Terminology Management

Focuses on terminology development and management for interpreters including glossary creation, terminology databases, and terminology standardisation.

Interpretation Technology

Covers technology tools for interpreters including interpretation booth equipment, remote interpretation platforms, and digital terminology tools.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 268,500
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Theory of Interpretation
Consecutive Interpretation
Simultaneous Interpretation
Sight Interpretation
Interpreting in Specialised Fields
Practical Interpreting
Terminology Development for Interpretation
International Organisations and Interpretation
Interpretation and Emerging Global Issues
Research Methods in Interpretation

Modules

10 in the programme

Theory of Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines theoretical foundations of interpretation including cognitive processes, interpretation models, and theoretical frameworks from linguistics and interpretation studies.
Consecutive Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers consecutive interpretation techniques including note-taking, memory skills, and real-time interpretation of speeches with intervals.
Simultaneous Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers simultaneous interpretation techniques in interpretation booths, developing skills for real-time interpretation while listening to ongoing speech.
Sight Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines sight interpretation techniques including reading a text and interpreting it orally, developing skills for document-based interpretation.
Interpreting in Specialised Fields
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers interpretation in specialised fields including medical, legal, technical, and business interpreting, with focus on domain-specific terminology and protocols.
Practical Interpreting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Provides extensive practical interpretation exercises in simulated conference and meeting settings, developing real-world interpretation competence.
Terminology Development for Interpretation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers terminology development and management for interpreters including glossary creation, terminology databases, and terminology standardisation across languages.
International Organisations and Interpretation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines interpretation in international organisations including UN, AU, and regional bodies, with focus on multilingual conference practices and protocols.
Interpretation and Emerging Global Issues
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers interpretation in the context of emerging global issues including climate change, technology, migration, and global health, with focus on specialised vocabulary.
Research Methods and Research Paper
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research paper on an interpretation topic, demonstrating mastery of interpretation theory and practice, equivalent to four course units, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Conference Interpretation
Focuses on simultaneous and consecutive interpretation in conference settings including international meetings, summits, and diplomatic conferences.
Court Interpretation
Covers interpretation in legal and court settings including courtroom procedures, legal terminology, and ethical considerations for court interpreters.
Diplomatic Interpretation
Examines interpretation in diplomatic settings including bilateral meetings, summits, and diplomatic missions requiring protocol awareness and diplomatic terminology.
Media Interpretation
Focuses on interpretation for media including live broadcast interpretation, news conferences, and media interviews.
Specialised Field Interpreting
Covers interpretation in specialised fields including medical, technical, and business interpreting, with focus on domain-specific terminology.
International Organisation Interpretation
Examines interpretation in international organisations including UN, AU, and regional bodies, with focus on multilingual conference practices.
Terminology Management
Focuses on terminology development and management for interpreters including glossary creation, terminology databases, and terminology standardisation.
Interpretation Technology
Covers technology tools for interpreters including interpretation booth equipment, remote interpretation platforms, and digital terminology tools.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending practical interpretation sessions at the University of Nairobi's Centre for Translation and Interpretation. Students practise consecutive interpretation in language booths, developing note-taking skills and real-time interpretation competence. Simultaneous interpretation sessions in interpretation booths simulate conference environments, with students interpreting live speeches while monitoring their output. Theory lectures cover interpretation theory, cognitive processes in interpreting, and professional ethics. Terminology development workshops focus on building specialised glossaries for different domains. Students participate in mock conferences simulating international meetings, practising interpretation in multilingual settings. Guest lectures from practising conference interpreters provide insights into the profession. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on interpretation topics, working on their research paper under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Specialised programme focused on professional interpretation training with 60 contact hours per unit for extensive practical skill development.
Kenya hosts UNON and numerous international organisations, creating demand for qualified conference interpreters in the region.
Programme requires fluency in at least two languages from eight options, providing flexibility in language pair selection.
Offered at UoN, a public university with affordable fees and a dedicated Centre for Translation and Interpretation.

Against it

Requires an aptitude test in addition to academic qualifications, adding an extra admission barrier.
Only one institution offers this specific programme, limiting choice and comparison.
Requires multilingual proficiency which may exclude otherwise qualified monolingual candidates.
The programme is intensive with 60 contact hours per unit, requiring significant time commitment for practical sessions.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public171k to 269k

171k at Maseno University269k at University of Nairobi

Private138k to 250k

138k at KCA University250k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 537K/2yr=268.5K/yr. Daystar ~249.8K/yr. Maseno/KCA unverified

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, UoN bursaries for demonstrated financial need, and potential bursaries from the International Association of Conference Interpreters for aspiring interpreters.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Nairobi Bursary
AIIC Interpreter Bursaries

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University of Nairobi Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
UoN students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.
AIIC Interpreter Bursaries
ScholarshipKsh 150,000
Aspiring interpreters from developing countries, administered through AIIC. Availability varies.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme consists of 13 taught course units plus a research paper equivalent to 4 units (17 total), covered in 4 to 12 semesters. Each unit has 60 contact hours for practical emphasis. One intake per year in September.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, interpretation practical assessments, terminology tests, seminar presentations, and interpretation exercises conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination including practical interpretation assessments in consecutive and simultaneous modes, and written examination on interpretation theory.
Practical Interpretation Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving interpretation of live or recorded speeches in both consecutive and simultaneous modes, demonstrating interpretation competence.
Research Paper
Research100% of the mark
Original research paper on an interpretation topic, equivalent to four course units, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi's Centre for Translation and Interpretation in the Department of Linguistics and Languages.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
International Association of Conference Interpreters
Professional membership
International professional association for conference interpreters. AIIC membership is the gold standard for professional conference interpreters globally.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Conference Interpreter
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides simultaneous and consecutive interpretation at international conferences, meetings, and summits for international organisations, government, or private sector clients.
Court Interpreter
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides interpretation in court proceedings, ensuring accurate communication between legal proceedings and non-native language speakers in judicial settings.
Diplomatic Interpreter
Low demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 380,000
Provides interpretation for diplomatic meetings, bilateral talks, and diplomatic missions, requiring protocol awareness and diplomatic terminology expertise.
International Organisation Interpreter
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Works as staff or freelance interpreter for UN, AU, or other international organisations, providing interpretation for multilingual meetings and conferences.
Media Interpreter
Low demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 280,000
Provides interpretation for live broadcasts, news conferences, and media interviews, requiring real-time interpretation skills under pressure.
Interpretation Trainer
Low demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Trains aspiring interpreters at universities or professional training institutions, combining interpretation expertise with pedagogical skills.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as conference interpreters, court interpreters, diplomatic interpreters, and language specialists in international organisations, government, and diplomatic missions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Interpretation Booth Equipment
HardwarePrimary
Professional interpretation booth equipment including headsets, microphones, and consoles used for simultaneous interpretation practice and professional work.
InterpretBank
SoftwarePrimary
Terminology management software for interpreters, supporting glossary creation, terminology lookup during interpretation, and meeting preparation.
Zoom Interpretation Function
Software
Remote simultaneous interpretation platform increasingly used for virtual conferences and meetings, requiring interpreters to adapt to digital environments.
Audacity
Software
Audio recording and editing software used for interpretation practice, allowing students to record and review their interpretation performance.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Interpretation is just about being bilingual.
Professional interpretation requires advanced training in interpretation techniques, cognitive processing, terminology management, and professional ethics, beyond mere language proficiency.
Interpreters and translators do the same thing.
Interpreters work with spoken language in real-time while translators work with written text. The MA in Interpretation focuses specifically on spoken language interpretation skills.
There are limited career opportunities for interpreters in Kenya.
Kenya hosts UNON, numerous international organisations, and regional bodies requiring interpretation services, creating demand for qualified interpreters.
You need to speak many languages to be an interpreter.
Most professional interpreters work with two to three languages. The programme requires fluency in at least two languages from the eight offered.
Interpretation cannot be taught; it is a natural talent.
While aptitude is important, interpretation is a professional skill that can be developed through structured training in techniques, theory, and extensive practice.
Technology will replace interpreters.
While technology assists interpreters, human interpreters remain essential for high-stakes settings requiring cultural nuance, contextual understanding, and professional judgement.