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Qualifications

Routes to Qualification


The NRCPD (The National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People) lists only three qualifications that lead to full membership of Register of Sign Language Interpreters (MRSLI).

  • University of Central Lancashire/SLI Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation
  • University of Leeds Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Interpreting: BSL-English
  • NVQ Level 4 in Interpreting (BSL/English)

SLI has been at the forefront in the development of all three routes. It piloted the NVQ Level 4 for the (then) CACDP, developed the UCLAN Postgraduate Diploma in partnership with the university and, in 2003, SLI’s Director (Peter Llewellyn-Jones) was commissioned to write the University of Leeds MA in Interpreting. The first operational NVQ Level 4 training and assessment centre, SLI ceased delivering NVQ courses earlier this year in order to concentrate on developing its academic routes still further.

In March 2009 (in partnership with the University of Leeds) SLI launched the Postgraduate Certificate in Interpreting: BSL-English as a foundation course for interpreters and CSWs who don’t meet the usual academic requirements for postgraduate study.

There are now several options for those who wish to progress from the NVQ Level 3 BSL to qualify as interpreters:

  • University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) Postgraduate Diploma
    • A taught part-time course comprising twelve weekends over two-years. Students attend the university in Preston for a taught two-day block every five weeks or so during term time. This was the first programme to be mapped as meeting all of the requirements of the (then) CACDP’s National Interpreting Standards.
      • Entry requirements: NVQ Level 3 BSL (or equivalent) plus a first degree (or equivalent professional experience)
    • Progression
      • NVQ Level 3 BSL > UCLAN Postgraduate Diploma
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/courses/pgdip_brit_sign_lang_eng_interpret_pt.php
  • University of Leeds Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Interpreting: BSL-English
    • A taught part-time course comprising five core modules (PG Dip) or six core modules plus two elective modules (MA). Taught over two years in the university’s Centre for Translation Studies, students study alongside interpreting and translation students with fourteen or so language combinations. During the first year students attend the university on the Wednesdays and Thursdays of alternate weeks (a total of eleven taught blocks) and, during the second year (depending on the elective modules chosen) six one-day workshops plus tutorials.
      • Entry requirements: NVQ Level 3 BSL (or equivalent) plus a first degree (or equivalent professional experience).
        • Students are eligible to apply for membership of the Register of Interpreters on completion of the five PG Dip core modules (approx. 18 months into the course)
    • Progression
      • NVQ Level 3 BSL > University of Leeds Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Interpreting
      • NVQ Level 3 BSL > University of Leeds Postgraduate Certificate in Interpreting  > University of Leeds Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Interpreting

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/cts/taught_postgraduate.htm

  • SLI/UCLAN Postgraduate Diploma
    • A taught part-time course comprising eight weekends over one academic year. Students attend SLI’s teaching centre in Grantham for one weekend per month during term time.
      • Entry requirements:
        • NVQ Level 4 BSL plus a first degree (or equivalent professional experience), or
        • Leeds/SLI Postgraduate Certificate in Interpreting
    • Progression
      • NVQ Level 3 BSL > NVQ Level 4 BSL > SLI/UCLAN Postgraduate Diploma
      • NVQ Level 3 BSL (or equivalent) > Leeds/SLI Postgraduate Certificate in Interpreting > SLI/UCLAN Postgraduate Diploma
  • NVQ Level 4 in Interpreting (becomes NVQ Level 6 in September 2010)
    • A variety of teaching patterns, depending on the Training and Assessment Centre chosen. The NVQ assessment takes, typically, six months or more. Some of the Training and Assessment Centres allow candidates (students) to register for assessment only whilst others require candidates to attend pre-assessment training courses.
      • Entry requirements:
        • NVQ Level 3 BSL (or equivalent)
    • Progression
      • NVQ Level 3 BSL > NVQ Level 4 BSL > NVQ Level 4 Interpreting


Cost Comparison

There is a misconception that the university routes are more expensive than the vocational (NVQ) route to qualification. This is not the case.


UCLAN PG Dip in Interpreting and Translation (2yr): £3510
Total cost: £3510

UCLAN PG Dip in Interpreting and Translation (1yr for those people with NVQ Level 4 BSL units): £3080
Total cost: £3080 (inclusive of VAT)

Leeds University MA in Interpreting (2yr): £3466
Total cost: £3466

SLI/Leeds Postgraduate Certificate in Interpreting:  = £1292.50 (inclusive of VAT). Progression to Leeds University MA in Interpreting = £2311
Total cost: £3603.50

SLI/Leeds Postgraduate Certificate in Interpreting:  = £1292.50. Progression to SLI/UCLAN Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting -  £2599
Total cost: £3891.50 (inclusive of VAT)

NVQ Route: Example  (we assume candidates may not necessarily have to attend each programme)
BSL NVQ Level 6 Part 1 - £875 plus VAT = £1028.13
BSL NVQ Level 6 Part 2 - £1400 plus VAT = £1645
Signature Registration - £150
NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Interpreting Part 1 £1750 + VAT = £2056.25
NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Interpreting Part 2 £2000 + VAT = £2350
Signature registration fees - £375
Total cost: £7604.38 * 10% discount is available for ASLI members and returning students

NVQ Training and Assessment Centre (TAC) course/assessment information can be found via the Signature website http://www.cacdp.org.uk/portal/centre_finder.