Course summary

Through this MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy degree you will prepare for a career as a qualified speech and language therapist and gain valuable experience of working with patients. As a Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) student, you will benefit directly from our world-class research into subjects, such as linguistics, language development, language pathology, and bilingualism. You will also be able to take advantage of our in-house speech and language therapy clinic, observational facilities, speech research laboratory and new sound recording room. We are one of the first departments in the UK to host NHS clinics in our purpose-built speech and language therapy facility on site. This course is an undergraduate entry integrated Masters, and has been approved by the Health Care Professions Council. Once you graduate from the MSci Speech and Language Therapy programme, you can apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council which will then allow you to work as a speech and language therapist. The MSci has been identified by our students, local employers and other stakeholders as the best way forward to maintain quality and enjoyment of the programme and to support future employment. This course combines theoretical knowledge with clinical practice and you will gain hands-on experience right from the start. For example, in year one, during our "Child Development Assignment", you will be assigned a baby and go to home visits in order to observe its development over approximately 18 months. This will allow you to observe how a typically developing child develops, and enable you to develop your professional skills of interacting with parents and engaging with young children. Throughout the course you will study core modules in linguistics, psychology, medical sciences and language pathology. You will also cover therapy and management, and how to diagnose, assess and treat (or manage) communication and swallowing disorders. You will also have the opportunity to gain valuable experience of working within a large range of professional settings through a combination of weekly and block placement opportunities. The majority of our staff are practising speech and language therapists, and they will give you a direct insight into the latest developments in clinical practice. During the final year you will be able to pursue your own interests through optional subjects such as autism spectrum disorders or specific language impairments. Additionally, you will carry out an original piece of research and write a dissertation. The values of the course are aligned with those set out in the NHS Constitution. The School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences is committed to providing an excellent quality service, demonstrating compassion and dignity, care and respect to our patients, students and colleagues whilst embracing equality and diversity. We achieve this by clarity of communication and reflecting courage and integrity in all areas of our work, supported by our knowledge, competence and innovation. Placement You will have the opportunity to carry out both weekly and block placements through this course. These take place in a large range of clinical settings, including within NHS organisations, schools and the private and voluntary sector. Placements are organised by our in-house team and are carefully selected in order to give you variety of experiences and the opportunity to work alongside enthusiastic professionals in a well-supported environment. You will have the opportunity to work with a wide of range of children and adults, and develop your communication, clinical and research skills within professional settings. By the end of the degree you will have amassed around 600 hours' experience in observing and treating patients with communication and swallowing problems. This is in excess of the minimum number required by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.