This programme focuses on developing language skills, as well as the theory and practice of interpreting, to prepare students to work in one of three public service sectors: law, health or local government.
KEY BENEFITS
- Recognised as one of the leading language centres in the UK; all staff are native speakers of the language they teach, and have considerable experience and knowledge of language pedagogy.
- Teaching is in small groups, using a variety of styles and innovative approaches, such as elearning.
- Central location offers students access to a variety of libraries and resources, including the department’s own state-of-the-art Open Learning Centre.
- Combination of language skills, cultural literacy and professional knowledge means graduates are highly employable.
UCAS code
R8Q9
Programme type
Foundation Degree
Duration
Two years FT, three-four years PT
Location
Strand Campus
Accreditation
This foundation degree prepares students for the Institute of Linguists’ professional exam, leading to the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting.
Year of entry 2011
Offered by
School of Arts and Humanities
Modern Language Centre
Closing date
Please refer to the
UCAS website for application deadline dates, or contact the relevant Admissions Office for further advice
Fees & funding
For information on fees and funding for undergraduate programmes at King's go to
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ug/funding/ CONTACTS
Address
Modern Language Centre,
King's College London,
170 Strand,
London WC2R 2LS
Contact name
Ms Mariangela Spinillo
Email
Tel
020 7848 2478
Fax
020 7240 0035
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The globalisation of markets, inward migration to the UK and the pressure on public services to provide equal access have led to a marked growth in demand for professional public service interpreting and translation services in recent years.
You will develop skills and understanding in two modern foreign languages, linguistics, intercultural awareness, consecutive and whispered interpreting techniques, and sight and written translation.
You will study one of the following as a foreign language, at advanced level: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin or Spanish (The range of languages offered varies from year to year). You must not be a native speaker, or have been educated in the language. You will then study a second language, which can be at any level from beginners to advanced.
ABOUT THE Modern Language Centre
CAREERS
Graduates from the Foundation Degree in Modern Foreign Languages with Public Service Interpreting will be perfectly placed to pursue careers in interpreting in public service sectors such as law, health or local government.
TEACHING STYLE
Interactive learning is promoted through a combination of small-group activities and classroom tasks, tutorials and seminars. Students are also encouraged to engage in e-learning using the College’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard. This allows them to expand their knowledge on a variety of cultural and linguistic topics, and to practise their language skills within their own time, and at their own pace.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
A foundation degree is the equivalent of two thirds of a full honours degree and is a fully flexible qualification allowing you to 2yrs full-time or 3-4yrs study part-time, according to your lifestyle. You will take a range of core and compulsory modules in language, linguistics, culture, translation and interpreting techniques.
Methods of assessment include coursework (projects, essays) and final examinations (written and oral).
LOCATION
Our central location gives easy access to London’s major libraries, institutes and societies. Modern Language students can benefit from the academic resources of the Institute Français, the Instituto Cervantes or the Goethe Institut with their specialist language programme of film, music and talks.
Our Open Learning Centre houses a wide collection of the latest multimedia technologies and learning resources. In addition to a variety of text and grammar books, there are magazines and newspapers, CDs, DVDs, satellite television and computer based materials.
YEAR 1
You take the core and compulsory modules outlined below. There are no options.
YEAR 1 CORE
- A language module in your chosen modern foreign language
- A language module in a second modern foreign language
- Interpreting Techniques
- Introduction to Linguistics
- Intercultural Learning
- Critical Thinking within the Academic Environment
- Introduction to Digital Humanities
YEAR 2
You take the core and compulsory modules outlined below, plus a choice between 2 optional modules.
YEAR 2 CORE
- A language module in your chosen modern foreign language
- A culture module related to your chosen language
- A language module in your second modern foreign language, progressing from your first year module
- Translation Techniques
- Databases in the Digital Humanities
- A project in translation or interpreting
YEAR 2 OPTIONS
- Either a linguistics module related to your chosen language
- Or Language Varieties & Sociolinguistics
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Australia
Tertiary Entrance Ranking
91+ Tertiary Entrance Ranking, or an OP of band 6 for Queensland with the chosen language
Austria
Reifezeugnis (Matura)
Reifezeugnis with 3 including 3 in the chosen language
Belgium
Certificat D
Certificat D’Enseignement Secondaire Superieur/Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with 6/10 or 14/20 including 6 or 14 in the chosen language
Brazil
Brazil
High School Leaving Certificate (Certificado de Ensino Médio) with 8 OR B OR Muito Bom PLUS at least one year of Bacharel/Licenciado at a Brazilian University with a GPA of at least 8.0 OR the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of BBC including B in the chosen language
Bulgaria
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie with the majority of subject marks of 4 including 4 in the chosen language
Canada
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma
High School Certificate/Diploma with 75% OR Ontario University Preparatory Course with 75% at five grade 12 4U subjects. The sixth subject may be at 4U or 4U/C level. (All require the chosen language)
Chile
Chile
Licencia de Educación Media with 6 PLUS at least one year of the Licenciatura at a Chilean university with a mark of 5 OR the Kings College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of BBC including B in the chosen language
China
Gao Kao (University Entrance Examination)
University Entrance Examination with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Chinese university (Requires the chosen language)
Cyprus
Apolytirion
Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate) with 17 plus at least an additional foundation/Access year (Requires the chosen language)
Czech Republic
Maturita
Maturita with 3 including 3 in the chosen language
Denmark
Studentereksamen or Hjere Forberedelseseksamen
Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen with 9 including 9 in the chosen language
Estonia
Gmnaasiumi lputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with grade 4 including 4 in the chosen language
Finland
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen (National Matriculation)
Ylioppilastutkinto with 4 with 4 in the chosen language
France
Baccalaureat (including the option internationale baccalaureat)
The Baccalaureat with 12/20 overall and 12 in the chosen language
Germany
Abitur
Abitur with 1.9 overall including 1.9 in the chosen language
Ghana
School Leaving Certificate
the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 international Cambridge-board A levels at BBC including B in the chosen language
Greece
Apolytirion
Apolyterion with 17 including 17 in the chosen language
Hungary
Erettsegi
Erettsegi with 3 including 3 in the chosen language
India
School Leaving Certificate
School Leaving Certificate with 85% overall OR School Leaving Certificate with 75% with at least a foundation/Access year or year of undergraduate study at an Indian university. (All require high marks in the chosen language)
Iran
School Leaving Certificate
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) OR the National Entrance Exam (Kunkar) with 17 OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at BBC (All require high marks in the chosen language)
Ireland
Irish Leaving Certificate
B1 B1 B2 B3 B3 C1 at Higher Level with grade B1 the chosen language
Italy
Esame di Stato
Esame di Stato with 75 with high marks in the chosen language
Japan
School Leaving Certificate
Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) PLUS 3 Cambridge Board International A-levels at BBC OR an Associate degree or Diploma from a Junior College (Jun-Gakushi) with a GPA of 3.3 or B+ or 4 OR a foundation year. Including high marks in the chosen language
Latvia
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with 7 in the chosen language, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Latvian university
Lithuania
Brandos Atestatas (Maturity Certificate)
Brandos Atestatas with 7 in the chosen language plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Lithuanian university
Luxembourg
Diplome de Fin D
Diplome de Fin D’Etudes Secondaires with Assez Bien including Assez Bien in the chosen language
Malta
Matriculation Certificate - Advanced level
Matriculation Certificate with BBC with B in the chosen language
Mexico
Mexico
The Bachillerato with a mark of 8 PLUS the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR at least one year of the Licenciado study with an overall average mark of at least 8/10 OR A-levels with grades of BBC including B in the chosen language
Moldova
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 6 including 6 in the chosen language
Netherlands
Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
VWO with 6 including 6 in the chosen language
New Zealand
National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 3 (NCEA)
NCEA Level 3 with Merit including Merit in the chosen language
Nigeria
School Leaving Certificate
The Senior School Certificate (SSC/SSCE) OR the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 Cambridge International A levels at BBC, including B in the chosen language
Norway
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate)
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering grade 3 including grade 3 in the chosen language
Pakistan
High School Certificate (HSSC)
High School Certificate with A with the chosen language, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Pakistani university
Poland
Matura
Matura with 70% overall with high marks in the chosen language
Portugal
Diploma de Ensino Secundário
Diploma de Ensino Secundário with 16 with high marks in the chosen language
Romania
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 7 including 7 in the chosen language
Russia
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii with 4 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Russian university (Requires high marks in the chosen language)
Saudi Arabia
School Leaving Certificate
College of Technology Diploma OR Higher Technical Institute Diploma OR Junior Health College Diploma OR Undergraduate Diploma with 85% OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at BBC. Requires high marks in the chosen language
Slovakia
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuske/Maturita with 2 including 2 in the chosen language
Slovenia
Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Maturitetno Spricevalo with 3 including 3 in the chosen language
South Africa
South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement
the South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement with BBBBB at Higher Grade including the chosen language
Spain
Titulo de Bachiller
Titulo de Bachiller with 7 overall including 7 in the chosen language
Sweden
Fullständigt Slutbetyg (School Leaving Certificate)
Fullstandigt Slutbeytg with VG including VG in the chosen language
Switzerland
Federal Maturity Certificate
Federal Maturity Certificate with an overall mark of 3 including 3 in the chosen language
Turkey
Lise Diplomasi (High School Diploma)
Lise Diplomasi with an overall mark of 4 with high marks in the chosen language, plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Turkish university
United Kingdom
3 A levels & 1 AS level
BBC/pass
2 A levels & 3 AS level
BB/CCpass
Compulsory subjects
At least grade B in the chosen language
12 unit A level in vocational subjects
Considered on an individual basis with the equivalent of grade B at A-level in the chosen language
General Studies and Critical Thinking - College policy
Please note that AS/A level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted by King's as one of your A or AS levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer
Access
Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma with the maximum award of 60 credits overall and 45 at level three. Supplementary information and achievement eg percentage mark/scores for certain credits/subjects will
Cambridge Pre-U
3 Pre-U Principal Subjects with grades of M2 M2 P1 including M2 in the chosen language
BTEC
Considered on an individual basis
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers
AABBC or ABBBB with grade A in the chosen language
International Baccalaureate
30 points overall including HL5 in the relevant foreign language.
European Baccalaureate
70% overall inc 70% in the chosen language
USA
Advanced Placement Tests and/or SAT/ACT (SAT/ACT acceptable only where stipulated)
Three AP subjects with 443 including the chosen language at grade 4. SAT with a total score of 1800 with at least 600 in each section or the ACT with a score of 27 plus 2 SAT-S with a score of 600 in each plus an AP in the relevant language with 4 or evidence of fluency
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Aptitude testing
No test required
If you are interested in coming to King’s, you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and apply online via the UCAS website (click on 'apply'). If you are applying through a school or college, you will need to obtain a 'buzzword' from the centre you are applying through. Alternatively, you can apply as an individual, independent of a school or college. Please see the UCAS website for instructions. The UCAS institution code name for King’s is KCL, and the institution code is K60.
There are a few programmes which require direct application to King's, this will be stated above
All applicants fulfilling the specified criteria will be interviewed in their chosen language.