This paper takes into account the complex social framework and the educational challenges of South Africa today. The paper argues for the integration of vocationally-oriented courses into mainstream academic commitments. With interdisciplinarity coming increasingly to replace old disciplinary boundaries, it is now possible for Translation Studies in South Africa to become more wide-spread and accessible to students. The author argues for a modular approach to translation training, which – using opportunities made possible through institutionalized academic restructuring – gives students the flexibility to package translation courses in their degree.