Applying for the MA in Conference Interpreting

To study at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and be admitted to the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting (FTI), you must:

• Fulfill the enrollment requirements of UNIGE  and hold a university diploma
• Fulfill the FTI's admission conditions
• Applicants who don't have French in their FTI language combination must also sit for UNIGE's French exam (a basic language test that is independent of the FTI's entrance exam), unless you meet the University's exemption conditions.

What are the admission conditions?

You have to:

• Hold a university degree: a Bachelor's (BA) degree or another university degree deemed equivalent
• Pass the FTI entrance exam

What is the entrance exam?

The entrance exam consist of two rounds of testing, both of which are eliminatory. The first is a written test. If you pass this first test, you will then have to take an oral test. The admission exam takes place on line. You will be given more information on the process if your application is accepted.

Information about the language combinations of conference interpreters

Every professional conference interpreter has a language combination that determines the languages from and into which s/he works. It usually consists of an A language, (sometimes) a B language, and one or more C languages. 

The A language is the interpreter's main or active language; interpreters work into this language from all their other languages.

The B language is also an active language; interpreters work into this language, but only from their A language.

The C language is a passive language; interpreters only work from, never into, their C language.

How strong do my language skills need to be? How do I choose my language combination?

You must choose two, three, or four languages based on your main or A language.

Choose your language combination based on your level of ability in each language.

Your A language is your mother tongue or an exact equivalent. Most people only have one A language. Cases of double A are rare and involve people who have grown up in a multilingual environment (e.g. speaking one language at home and another at school).

The B and B consecutive (Bconsec) languages are languages in which you have achieved a very high level of proficiency, allowing you to work into them. We make a distinction between the B language (active language for consecutive and simultaneous interpreting) and the Bconsec language (active language for consecutive interpreting only).

The C language is a language in which you have achieved a high level of proficiency and excellent comprehension.

What does the admission exam consist of?

The admission exam takes place on line.

The written component consists of:

• Written summaries in each of your active languages (A, B or Bconsec) of speeches of approx. 6 minutes long read out in each of your source languages (C, B or Bconsec to A; A to B or Bconsec).

Duration of each test: 1h

During the oral test, the panel may ask the applicant to do one or several of the following exercises. The panel is free to decide on the order and number of activities.

• Oral summary in one of your active languages (A, B or Bconsec) of a speech approx. 3 minutes long read out in each of your source langauges (C, B or Bconsec to A; A to B or Bconsec).
• Oral translation into one of your active languages (A, B or B consec) of a written text in each of your passive languages.
• Oral paraphrase of a text written in one of your active languages (A, B or Bconsec).
• Reading aloud a text written in one of your active languages (B or Bconsec).
• General knowledge questions, especially on the history and current affairs of the countries that correspond to your language combination.

You will be given a single grade for the oral test. Approximate duration: 45 to 90 minutes, depending on your language combination.

How can I improve my language skills?

Some advice:

• Read one daily newspaper a day, one weekly publication a week, and one monthly publication a month in each of the languages of your combination. Choose a topic (an article) and try to establish connections: compare how the same topic is addressed in different languages.
• Pay close attention to style and idiom. Look up new words and technical terms in a dictionary. Keep a record of this research and review it regularly.
• Educate yourself on a wide variety of topics. Read the news extensively, including the science and financial pages. Watch/listen to radio, television and/or internet broadcasts on current issues in all the languages of your combination.

When and where will the entrance exam take place?

The entrance exam will take place entirely online.

• The written exam will be held from 28 October to 1 November 2024.
• The results of the written exam will be published on 13 December 2024.

• The oral exam will be held from 13 January to 8 February 2025.
• The results of the oral exam will be published on 27 February 2025.

Admission results are only valid for the academic year that immediately follows the exam session. Results may not be carried over to another year.

If you are unable to begin the MA in Interpreting programme during the academic year for which you are admitted, you will have to re-sit the entrance exam in its entirety.

What happens if I fail?

If you fail the first time around, you may sit for the entrance exam again. You may not sit for the exam more than twice.

• If you fail the written exam, you can sit the exam a second time the following year (or at a later date).
• If you fail the oral exam: your written exam results will remain valid for one year, so you will be able to sit the oral exam again. However, if you wait more than one year, you will have to re-sit both the written and the oral exam.

How do I apply to the FTI

I apply online to register for the FTI entrance exam and I apply to enroll at UNIGE.

We accept applications from 2 September to 5 October 2024

I will receive confirmation of my registration for the entrance exam by email, along with login details for accessing the Interpreting Department platform. On this platform, I will also be able to find my exam schedule and information about exam content and procedures.

The tuition fee is CHF 500 per semester, regardless of whether you are a Swiss or foreign student.

Student Secretariat

Admissions and enrolment

Marie-Laure CUDET
Campus building: Uni Mail
Office: 6256
Telephone: +41 (0)22 37 98708
email: admission-fti@unige.ch

Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 10:00 - 12:00 am / 2:00 - 4:00 pm