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Studies & Degrees in Conference Interpreting

Conference interpreting is the oral transfer of speeches from one language into another at international meetings, congresses, negotiations and the sessions of international organisations. It is not the same as translation, which deals with written texts. Interpreters work live, in two main modes. In simultaneous interpreting they convey the message in another language while the speaker is still talking; delegates listen through earphones. In consecutive interpreting they speak after the speaker has stopped, working from notes. Because simultaneous work is mentally tiring, interpreters work in pairs or small teams when a meeting lasts long.

Students learn both modes, note-taking, how to prepare a subject and its terminology, and how international institutions work. The profession describes an interpreter's languages with three letters. An A language is the native language. A B language is another language the interpreter commands fully and works into. C languages are languages the interpreter understands completely and works from.

Qualifications and levels

Conference interpreting is taught at postgraduate level. A first degree comes first, and it does not have to be a languages degree: the European Masters in Conference Interpreting (EMCI) consortium asks for a recognised university degree or equivalent in any subject.

  • EMCI programmes. The EMCI is a consortium of universities that share a core curriculum. It was launched in 1997 as a pilot project of the interpreting services of the European Commission and the European Parliament, and it has since welcomed its 16th member university. Its curriculum corresponds to between 60 and 120 ECTS credits, with at least 400 class contact hours, of which a minimum of 75% is interpreting practice. Programmes last from 9 months to 2 years, depending on the university.
  • Admission. All EMCI schools hold aptitude tests. The test includes an interview, a general knowledge test and the oral reproduction of short speeches of 2-3 minutes from the candidate's B and C languages into the A language. Students apply to each member university, not to the consortium.
  • Final examination. Students are assessed in both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting into their A language, and the certificate states the language combination.
  • Spain. The Máster Universitario en Interpretación de Conferencias of the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid is an official master's degree of 60 ECTS credits that lasts one year. It is taught on campus, lists Spanish as its language and has 20 places; the next edition starts on 2 October 2026. Consecutive and simultaneous techniques take 18 ECTS credits each. The language profiles combine English, French and German with Spanish. Comillas describes it as the only official master's degree in Spain that is a member of the EMCI consortium.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists one active school for conference interpreting: the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, in Madrid. Its master's programme works with the interpreting services of the European Commission and the European Parliament, according to the university.

The choice of school depends on the language combination. Each university offers only certain combinations, so check that a programme covers your A, B and C languages before applying. In Spain the most used combination on the private market is English and Spanish in both directions, according to Comillas.

Careers

Graduates work as freelance interpreters on the private market, at company meetings, negotiations, congresses and trade fairs, or for institutions. The United Nations lets participants speak in any of its six official languages, and its interpreters normally work into their main language; Arabic and Chinese interpreters work in both directions. In the European Union, the Directorate-General for Interpretation serves the Commission, the European Council, the Council of the EU and other bodies. In Spain, the state corps of translators and interpreters is entered through a competitive examination with translation and interpreting tests.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of interpreters and translators as a whole to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. The figure covers all interpreters and translators, not only conference interpreters.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a degree in translation to become a conference interpreter?

No. EMCI programmes ask for a recognised university degree in any subject, plus an aptitude test. A full command of your native language and a complete understanding of your other working languages are required.

How long does a master's in conference interpreting take?

Between 9 months and 2 years in the EMCI consortium. The official master's degree at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas has 60 ECTS credits and lasts one year.

What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpreting?

A consecutive interpreter speaks after the speaker has stopped, using notes. A simultaneous interpreter speaks at the same time as the speaker, and listeners follow through earphones.

Does an official master's degree in Spain give access to a doctorate?

Yes. Comillas states that its master's degree is official and therefore gives access to doctoral studies.