NQ Community Interpreting (Level 5)

Location: Cardonald Campus
SCQF Level: 5
Start Date: 24 Aug 2026
Qualification Type: NQ
Course Type: Short Full-Time
Duration: 18 weeks (August to January)

NQ Community Interpreting is an 18-week introductory course to prepare bilingual learners for a career as a community interpreter. You'll learn how to support people across Scottish public services, including health, education, housing, local authority, third sector and voluntary settings. As well as learning the skills to interpret confidently, you'll also learn how to stay impartial, to respect confidentiality and to navigate cultural differences with care. You'll also benefit from employability skills and a work placement.

By the end of the course you'll be on a practical pathway into community interpreting, or to further study on higher level interpreting qualifications.

What will I learn?

During NQ Community Interpreting you'll learn:

Community interpreting skills
To help you support clear, accurate communication in health, council and community services
Professional note-taking and memory techniques
To help you manage information accurately during interpreting assignments
Interpreting ethics and professional standards
To help you work safely, impartially and confidently with the public
Sight translation skills
To help you interpret basic service documents during appointments and meetings
Professional spoken English (ESOL for Work)
To help you communicate clearly with service providers and service users
Sector-specific language
To help you interpret effectively in health, housing, education and third sector contexts
Turn-taking and register management
To help you handle extended or sensitive interpreting situations professionally
Employability and freelance skills
To help you access interpreting work, work with agencies and to prepare for paid roles
Reflective practice through work placement
To help you build confidence, improve performance and become job-ready

Entry requirements (minimum)

You must be fluent in English and at least one other community language
You should have a minimum of one ESOL unit at Level 5, or equivalent
No previous interpreting qualifications are required
You should enjoy working with people and be a clear and confident communicator. You should also be able to stay calm and professional in pressured or sensitive situations. This should be demonstrated in your application form.
If you have lived experience of using two languages in a community setting you are also encouraged to apply.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.

Employer and industry links

This course is informed by real industry practice and employer demand, with strong links to NHS Scotland, local authorities, and third‑sector providers, ensuring learners gain relevant experience in health, council, and community settings. Engagement with professional interpreting agencies helps learners understand agency working, professional standards, and progression routes into paid interpreting roles within Glasgow’s public services.

Jobs and further study

This course can see you completing a supported interpreting placement, building the confidence, professional conduct, and real‑world evidence needed to begin entry‑level community interpreting work in health, local authority, or third‑sector settings. With strong interpreting skills, ethical awareness, and work‑ready communication in English, you may progress into paid interpreting roles, agency registration, or further professional training, creating a clear pathway toward higher‑level public service interpreting qualifications.

Making an application

For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.

Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.

I've applied — what happens next?

When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).

Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:

Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
Invited to book an interview session. You'll also be asked to do a short language and skills assement as part of the admissions process.
Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.

If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:

Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.

Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.

Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June/July.