ObjectivesThis degree combines academic study with clinical practice and leads to a professional qualification. There are 2.5 million people in the UK who have a communication disorder of some kind, of which 800,000 have a difficulty so severe, that they are not able to communicate with people outside of their immediate family. Speech and language therapists aim to maximise the communication potential of the people with whom they work.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements: A range of GCSEs at grade C or above including English, maths, sciences and a modern or classical language. Standard applicants are expected to have 3 A levels totalling 300 points or above (excluding General Studies). Applications from non standard applicants are welcomed and will be considered individually.
Academic titleBSc Speech and Language Therapy
Course descriptionBSc Speech and Language Therapy
Programme
1st year overview
In the first year, students study the key disciplines which will provide a foundation for all of their future learning and professional practice. In linguistics you learn how to think about language objectively and analyse different aspects such as word and sentence structure. In phonetics you gain an understanding of vocal structures and will also learn how to transcribe speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Different perspectives are explored in psychology,why and how we study human behaviour and about children’s cognitive and social development which will underpin clinical work with children. Biological sciences include embryological development, as well as the structure and function of the head and neck, the ear, and the nervous system. In the Autumn term students attend a nursery for one morning a week and at the end of the year there is a three week placement in a speech and language therapy setting where they will observe speech and language therapists working with a range of people who are experiencing some kind of communication difficulty.
2nd year overview
In this year you will focus on the assessment and diagnosis of less complex disorders such as language delay in children and motor speech difficulties in adults. You will learn how to collect and analyse various types of speech and language data and how to target intervention accordingly. There is an opportunity to work with actors taking the role of ‘simulated patients’ to further develop your clinical communication skills. In the Spring term there is a concurrent placement which will involve working with children and adults with speech and language difficulties under the close supervision of a qualified clinician.
3rd year overview
In the final year you will continue to develop your clinical skills. At the start of the year, you spend one day a week out in a clinic and finish the year with a block placement. In the University College you will be studying the theories behind complex disorders such as specific language impairment in children and sentence processing disorders in adults. To enhance academic study, clients and carers are invited into the University College to talk about the consequences of communication disorders and SLT as people who have experienced these things first hand. You will also choose a clinical area of your choice to study in depth for your final year project.