Applying for the Complementary Certificate in Translation

In order to study at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and be admitted to the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting (FTI), you must:

• Fulfill UNIGE's enrollment requirements and be the holder of a university diploma
• Fulfill the FTI's admission conditions

What are the FTI's admission conditions?

You must:

• Be the holder of an MA in Translation from the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting (FTI) or a degree deemed to be equivalent by the FTI exemption committee
• Pass the FTI entrance exam

Also consult the general description page of the programme

What does the entrance exam consist of?

Description of the CCT entrance exam

You will be required to sit for an exam that will test your knowledge of the language pair you would like to add (B-A)

By language pair, we mean the combination of your A language with your B language. You will be required to take a test (B-A) in order for us to verify your knowledge and writing skills in your native language (A), as well as your comprehension of your passive language (B).

The aim of the entrance exam is for us to ensure that applicants are able to understand the meaning and nuances of a text written in their passive language and express themselves perfectly in their active language.

For the summary component, you will be given a text in your B language. You will then be asked to present the main ideas of the text in your A language in a style that is fitting and natural. This exercise will require you to distinguish essential from nonessential information and present it in a well-structured form. When evaluating your A language skills, we will be looking at the wealth and precision of your vocabulary, as well as your command of spelling, syntax and punctuation.

The second part of the exam consists of questions that will test your understanding of specific nuances in the B language text. Your answers will also allow us to evaluate your written expression in your A language in a less restrictive context than the summary exercise.

The exam will be evaluated on a scale from 0 to 6. You need a minimum score of 4 to pass.

What happens if I fail?

If your score is below 4, you will not be able to begin the CCT programme the following academic year. You do, however, have the option of sitting for the entrance exam a second time.

How strong do my language skills need to be?

You must have a perfect command of your A language: you must be able to write a logical, well-structured text in an appropriate style. For your B language, we recommend that you have at least a C1 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Where and when will the entrance exam take place?

The entrance exam will take place online from 15 to 17 April 2025.
Results will be published on 13 June 2025.

How do I apply?

We accept applications from 15 January to 28 February 2025.

If you're in the last year of your MA in Translation at the FTI and want to add a language to your combination after you finish your MA, contact the FTI student secretary at admission-fti(at)unige.ch and ask to apply to the Complementary Certificate programme.

If you are no longer enrolled at UNIGE or will be unenrolled before the beginning of the next semester, you must apply online (sign up for the entrance exam and apply to re-enroll at UNIGE).

 The tuition fee is CHF 500 per semester, regardless of whether you are a Swiss or foreign student.

Student Secretariat

Admissions and enrolment

Marie-Laure CUDET
Campus building: Uni Mail
Office: 6256
Telephone: +41 (0)22 37 98708
email: admission-fti(at)unige.ch

Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 10:00 - 12:00 am / 2:00 - 4:00 pm