Irish - Translation

The Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán programme, which is a level 9 NFQ course (www.nfq.ie), runs for three semesters, over a fifteen-month period. A blended learning approach is used in the programme, featuring a combination of online study, live online classes, and lectures and tutorials in the classroom. The classroom-based sessions are held on one Saturday a month.



Course work

Students have access to interactive courses on Gaelchultúr’s e-learning website, ranganna.com, and they can use this material to prepare for the classroom sessions and the live online classes. It is also useful to them as they revise the course work. Students are given written tasks to do on a regular basis and they are asked to submit these lessons by email to their tutor. Comprehensive feedback is provided by email. There is a limited number of live online classes each semester; these classes are held at night. Students are given more information regarding the live online classes and all other aspects of the course in a handbook that is provided at the beginning of the first semester. This handbook also contains information about the projects students are required to submit.

Course modules:

Accuracy in Irish (1, 2 and 3) 30ECTS

Translation Skills (1, 2 and 3) 15 ECTS

Translation Theory (1 and 2) 10 ECTS

Legal Translation 5 ECTS

Translation Technology (Optional Module) without ECTS Credits

Those who wish to apply for the course must have the following:



Primary degree

A primary degree in Irish, or its equivalent (e.g. B.Ed.), at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or a primary degree in another discipline at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.



Standard of English

At least grade B (ordinary level) or grade D (higher level) in English in the Leaving Certificate or its equivalent.



Note: Applicants who are given a place on this course must submit a transcript of their results in the primary degree.



Decision regarding allocation of places

The following will be taken into consideration when places on the course are being allocated to applicants:



academic qualifications

answers given on the application form

result in the entry examination

result in the oral examination if applicable



Entry examination

Applicants must sit an entry examination to show their suitability for the course. This is a written examination, which will contain both translation and grammar questions, and applicants will have the choice of taking the exam on two different dates:



Saturday, 12 July 2025 2.00-4.00pm

Saturday, 23 August 2025 2.00-4.00pm



Important: As there are only 18 places available on the course, those who take the entrance examination in July may be at an advantage.



Note: Those who have passed the end of course examination in the Dianchúrsa Ullmhúcháin i gCruinneas na Gaeilge programme will not be required to sit this entry examination. If they would like gain a higher mark than that which they received in the end of course examination, however, they are welcome to sit the entry examination.

Deadline for applications

Thursday, 26 June 2025 (Round 1)

Monday, 18 August 2025 (Round 2)

The Postgraduate Diploma in Translation lasts three semesters or fifteen months in total. It starts in mid-September and ends in December of the following year. The program is at level 9 of the National Framework of Qualifications (www.nfq.ie) and is worth 60 ECTS credits. The 2025–2026 course will be run entirely online, including the end-of-semester exams. A teaching session will take place on a Friday evening and on a Saturday once a month - the timetable for those sessions is as follows:



Friday: 7.00–9.00pm

Saturday: 10.00am–12.00pm and 1.00–3.00pm.



The course involves blended learning, a combination of online study and live online lectures/classes.

Tuition fees


The tuition fee per semester is €1,495. Tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners (www.revenue.ie) in relation to such fees.

Course starts: 7.00pm, Friday, 12 September 2025