Sign Language Interpreting

The Sign Language Interpreting programme prepares students by means of an academically founded, practice-oriented education to not only transport content between spoken or written German and German Sign Language (DGS). Further essential parts of professional interpreting is to have a high knowledge of linguistics and cultural backgrounds as well as having various strategies to influence interaction in a way that facilitates successful communication between the communities who use these languages, including D/deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

• acquisition and development of competence in German Sign Language (in theory and in practice),
• subjects and issues concerning the deaf community and deaf culture (deaf studies),
• preparation for professional practice in sign language interpreting (strategies, theory and critical reflection),
• additional courses concerning interpreting methods, strategies and further languages (or communication systems)  as well as courses in other departments to get used to an interdisciplinary approach;

Students complete a four-week orientation placement at the start of the course (first and second semesters), as well as a work shadowing internship of 80 hours in the third semester. This is to familiarise themselves with the day-to-day professional life of a sign language interpreter. A five-week interpreting internship takes place in the fifth semester. The eighth semester is a practical semester. Students learn to apply what they have learned in a supervised setting and become familiar with real interpreting situations. The practical internship semester lasts for 15 weeks.

A higher education entrance qualification is a general prerequisite for admittance to the programme of study. International applicants must provide proof of educational qualifications that permit study in Germany (school-leaving certificate, certificate of university attendance).

The DAAD database on admission requirements allows international students to check whether they meet the requirements for the degree programme of their choice in Germany.

The language of instruction is German. Foreign applicants must prove they have adequate knowledge of German. Evidence of the necessary German language skills can be provided in the form of:

• Goethe Certificate C2
• DSD II
• DSH II
• TestDaF (minimun 16 total points & minimun level3 in the examination modules)
• TELC Deutsch C1 Hochschule
• ÖSD C2
• evidence of having passed the entrance examination at a preparatory college

Applicants who are unable to fulfil the specified admission requirements may contact a preparatory college (‘Studienkolleg’). These specifically prepare foreign applicants for a course of study in Germany. Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences does not have its own preparatory college. The state-run preparatory college responsible for our institution is located at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Köthen.

An overview of all preparatory colleges in Germany can be found here.

In Magdeburg you can find a private preparatory college: Europäisches Studienkolleg der Wirtschaft (ESKW)