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BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy

This popular course is no. 1 in England for student satisfaction in Speech and Language Therapy (Complete University Guide 2022) and scores 92% student satisfaction (NSS 2021).

Speech and language therapist teaches vocal exercises to young client

Qualify as a Speech and Language Therapist

and support people with communication difficulties

Apply now for this course

Full-time Part-time


Entry requirements

Three A-levels at grades BBB or above

Or BTEC triple grades DDM or above

Or Access 45 D/M with min 24D

Or T level M

And GCSE English Language with Maths and Science at grade 5 or grade C or above

See full entry requirements


UCAS points 120

UCAS code B620

UCAS institution code P63

Duration Three years full-time or up to six years part-time.

Course Summary

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) enjoy a rewarding, specialist career working with parents, teachers, carers, nurses, doctors and occupational therapists. Almost one in five experience communication difficulties and this is where SLTs support people to develop, restore, or give strategies to build communication. SLTs also support people who struggle to eat, drink or swallow. SLTs work in hospitals, schools, community clinics and specialist units. 

You will learn core skills in topics such as linguistics, phonetics, science, psychology, and speech and language pathology. You will also develop your clinical and professional skills through practical placements and modules that cover counselling and professional skills.

Successful completion of a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) approved programme provides eligibility to apply for admission to the HCPC Register.  ‘Speech and language therapist’ is a protected title, and you will only be entitled to use it if you are registered with the HCPC. Please be aware that having a disability should not be a barrier to becoming HCPC registered and refer to their advice on disability and becoming a health and care professional. This course has secured HCPC approval.

Funding of at least £5000 per year is available to students on pre-registration SLT courses.

We have been training Speech and Language Therapists for 25 years.

Part-time SLT students will study 60 credits in each year with part-time block placements being undertaken in years 2, 4, and 6. Please contact us for more information should this route be of interest to you.

The timetable in year three (or year six for the part-time route) typically extends four weeks beyond the end of the usual academic year to enable students to complete adequate placement experience. Students will therefore complete their studies in early July in the final year (only).

Gillian: I think in terms of the campus, I think why people choose Marjon because it's small and friendly, so when they come we get to know the students on a personal level, as well as keeping up with how they're studying. And so when they go out on placement, again, we've got that dual role in terms of not just supporting their academic studies but supporting how they're doing as professionals when they're out there in the workplace and really looking at developing those skills that are going to equip them, not just to work with clients, but to actually be part of that healthcare workforce, which is going through such a period of change with the shrinking finance and the complexities of healthcare. It's going to become more challenging out there. We are all practicing clinicians ourselves, so we're not simply lecturing them in aspects of speech and language and communication. We actually are all practitioners who have a clinical expertise.

Sophie: It's a really small course so we get to socialize quite a lot together.

Georgina: The teachers are really specialists and they're so friendly. No one's too professional to speak to you, everyone wants to give you all of their time or all of their help so that you end up as good as they are.

Sophie: There's loads of variation with it, from dealing with people who have had strokes to traumatic brain injury to little children with cleft palates, so very varied.

Sarah: I would definitely recommend Marjon because it has a wide range of knowledge with the adults, children, and it's really good reputation for dysphagia which is a big part of speech language therapist's job these days. Our little [inaudible 00:01:43] group, we all really gelled and got on well, because it didn't matter about age, you were all in the same boat. It's just a really friendly campus. Small campus. The lectures are very supportive. It gives you opportunities to become part of a community, but also to extend yourself out. There's security in the smallness of it and then there's the opportunity to branch out.

Why this course at Marjon?

You have the option to graduate with full competency to work with people with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) and this makes our graduates extremely attractive to employers

This is the only pre-registration SLT programme in the South West of the UK

Close partnerships with SLT services across the region enable us to offer a broad range of placement opportunities

On-site clinic facilities with specialist speech lab, containing state-of-the-art equipment for voice swallowing and speech analysis

Clinical simulation, using actors to help students gain vital therapeutic skills

Our curriculum includes innovative modules in subjects such as Leadership and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

Modules for this course

Course Snapshot

The first year was about learning the basic skills a speech and language therapist should have. It covered linguistics, phonology and the anatomy of speech. The second year involved taking the skills we had learnt in first year and applying them to clinical practice. We built up knowledge of assessment and therapy techniques and learnt how to use them with people. In our third year we are looking at the specific details of some complex conditions and learning how to create full intervention plans for someone with communication difficulties.
Lloyd - Third year, BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy

1st Year

Professional knowledge and skills I
Develop skills that all SLTs need such as goal setting, session planning and inter-professional team working. This module is repeated across all years and includes learning through clinical placement activity.
Bioscience for SLT
Understand anatomical structures and physiological functions relevant to speech and voice production, language processing and swallowing.
Introduction to linguistics
An introduction to meaning, form and function within language.
Phonetics and phonology
Study the sounds of human speech. How do we articulate sounds? How can we classify and transcribe sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet?
Topics in psychology
Learn about key concepts and approaches in Psychology and Sociology that underpin SLT practice.
Language through the life-course
How our language capabilities change across the course of our lives - from babies to older people.
Lifelong disability studies
Study perspectives on disability and the impact on communication, including the social and cultural aspects of lifelong communication disability.

2nd Year

Professional knowledge and skills II
Develop skills that all SLTs need such as goal setting, session planning and inter-professional team working. This module is repeated across all years and includes learning through clinical placement activity.
Clinical linguistics and phonetics
Use knowledge from Linguistics and Phonetics in year one, to examine patterns in cases where speech and language are not developing typically.
SLT process and practice
Acquire knowledge and skills that underpin personal impact and effectiveness in therapeutic and team relationships. Topics include emotional intelligence, counselling and psychological approaches, facilitating behaviour change, and leadership.
Introduction to neurogenic communication disorders
Explore the effects of neurological conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson’s and Motor Neurone Disease on speech and language. Learn about current approaches to SLT assessment and intervention in this area.
Paediatric speech, language and communication disorders
Acquire knowledge of theories, skills and psychological process underpinning communication disorders in children.
Research methods for SLT
Explore the nature and value of evidence in SLT research. Understand qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Voice and stammering
Understand the nature of voice and fluency disorders (stammering) and learn about the assessment and management of these communication disorders.

3rd Year

Professional knowledge and skills III
Develop skills that all SLTs need such as goal setting, session planning and inter-professional team working. This module is repeated across all years and includes learning through clinical placement activity.
Advanced dysphagia
How do SLTs work with people who have eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties? Consider the ethical and legal issues in this area. Specialist topics include head and neck cancer and neonatal feeding.
Brain and Behaviour
Learn about the role of memory, perception, motor planning, problem solving and attention in communication disorders. Approaches to assessment and intervention in clients who have conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia.
Advanced studies in paediatric speech, language and communication disorders
Advanced studies in the assessment and management of complex paediatric communication disorders such as developmental verbal dyspraxia, cleft palate and auditory processing disorder.
Clinical aphasiology
Become aware of contemporary issues and developments in aphasia management, including emerging application of technology. Develop knowledge of language processing models. Become skilled in differential diagnosis and treatment of adult acquired communication disorders.
Alternative and augmentative communication
What is the role of the SLT when working with individuals with severe communication impairments associated with physical and cognitive disability? What approaches are there to providing augmentative and alternative methods of communication, both low and high tech?
Writing a clinical research proposal
Building on research methods in year two, identify a clinical research question and design a research project to address the question. Receive support from tutors in developing research aims, selecting an appropriate methodology and considering ethical issues.
Clinical research project
Carry out a clinical research project, with support from a supervisor and write up the project. Potential for projects to be submitted for publication or for conference presentation/poster.

This course is perfect if you’re curious about

How does the brain control language?

Do bilingual children learn language faster?

How can we work with people who struggle to swallow after a stroke?

What is phonetic transcription for?

How do communication difficulties impact on self-identity?

What is clinical simulation?

We interviewed yesterday and there were two current Marjon Year 4 students that we met, I wanted to let you know how well they performed. They were ranked first and second in the process and were both a huge compliment to the training they have received. I was particularly impressed with the level of dysphagia competence they were able to describe and demonstrate. Their competence was robust and credible. It really shone out compared to other institutions.
Mike Richards, Head of Adult SLT - Weston General Hospital

Ask a student

See where our graduates are now


May Mander

“I had some fantastic placements whilst being a student. I think it was vital to start placements early on in the course as it enables you to link theory to practice straight away. Our lecturers were very passionate, which was inspiring. I really enjoy working with such a wide variety of clients and I work in a supportive team who have taught me so much. My favourite thing about this profession is being able to see how the work we do makes a positive difference in someone’s life.”

May is an SLT for Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.


Jack Griffiths

"SLT is about having a key interest in communication and wanting to help people. I really like the placements, all have been excellent in giving me opportunities to apply what I’ve learnt to real clients, each one has been a boost to my confidence. I can go forward, knowing what I’m good at and where I need to put in that bit more work. Plus the lecturers have been absolutely fantastic."

Jack is now an SLT for the NHS in Hertfordshire.


Hayley Groves

“I really enjoyed the small year group we had, it gave us the chance to really get to know one another and to challenge and support each other. Our lectures were informative and engaging and complimented by valuable real-world skills development including working with clients and with actors in role-playing days to develop our skills in a clinically simulated environment. The dysphagia strand of the course was very valuable and I'm convinced it led me to having the edge at job interviews.”

Hayley is an SLT for the NHS specialising in acute and rehabilitation services for adults with acquired disorders.

What might you become?

On completion you will able to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council for registration as a Speech and Language Therapist and, once registered, you will be able to apply for SLT jobs, for example in the NHS.

There is currently a high demand for qualified Speech and Language Therapists, and ITV recently spoke to Dr. Julia Stewart about this. 

Accreditations

RCSLT Logo

Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT)

RCSLT is the professional body for SLTs in the UK, it's accreditation of this course enables graduates to apply to Health and Care Professions Council for registration as a Speech and Language Therapist.

HCPC Logo

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

HCPC register and set the standards for health professionals including SLTs, and they approve the courses which professionals must complete to register as a practitioner in their field.


How you’ll be taught and assessed?

How will you be taught?

Includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical workshops and placement experiences. As a professional training, the course is akin to being in a full time job.

How will you be assessed?

While traditional exams feature, you will have a range of assignments including online exams, essays, case files, oral presentations, posters, clinical exams, designing and producing SLT resources. You will also be assessed on your clinical competencies developed through placements.

Alex Mallinson

Alex Mallinson

Course leader

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Alex is a qualified speech and language therapist and academic and has been working as a part-time lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University since 2009. Her clinical specialisms are communication and swallowing disorders associated with learning disabilities, mental health and stammering. Her current teaching role broadly includes professional knowledge and skills (year 2), lifelong disabilities, mental illness, stamnmering & developmental eating and drinking disorders. She is a professional tutor for Year 2 of the SLT programme, supporting students on placement.


Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,250 per annum


Fees for International students: £14,500 per annum


This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.

Additional costs:

Please see additional costs for SLT students.

Funding available for this course

  • Funding of at least £5000 per year is available to students on pre-registration SLT courses.
  • Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.

Learn more

Lecturers

Dr Sally Bates

Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy

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Sally is a dual trained phonetician and speech and language therapist with a clinical specialism in developmental speech and language disorders. She teaches clinical linguistics and phonetics, psycholinguistics and developmental speech and language disorders.

Jane Callard

Senior Lecturer

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Jane is a speech and language therapist with a clinical background in paediatrics. She lectures in biosciences for SLTs; speech, language and communication development and disorders. She works with SLT placement providers to ensure the quality of our SLT placements.

Dr Stephen J Disney

Senior Lecturer

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Steve's background is in language, linguistics and human communication. He has particular interests in TESOL, Second Language Acquisition, as well as language diversity, variation and change.

Sarah Erasmus

Lecturer

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Sarah is a dual qualified teacher and speech and language therapist with a clinical background in adults and paediatrics.  She lectures in acquired communication disorders, however she has many clinical interests including learning disabilities, dysphagia, neurodivergence and neuro affirming practice, social emotional and mental health needs, carer burn out and late diagnoses. 

Erin Jarvis

Speech & Language Therapy Clinic Practice Educator

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Dr Julia Stewart

Associate Dean of School (Allied Health Professions) & Associate Professor

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Julia is a senior academic who is an experienced speech and language therapist. She has extensive experience of working with children with a range of disorders and has worked with children of all ages. Her clinical experience includes work in a trailblazer Sure Start Project; in specialist provision for children with developmental language disorders and in community clinics. 

Flora Wisdom

Senior Lecturer

View profile

More information

Personal Statement

We look for a well written personal statement showing a good understanding of a Speech & Language Therapist’s role. It’s important to explain the reasons for choosing SLT as a profession. Visiting the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) website is a good place to start. We also look for people who have some experience (e.g. voluntary) working with people who have communication difficulties. It’s difficult to get this kind of experience with the NHS, however there are a number of organisations with local branches, that may welcome volunteers e.g. Connect, Headway, Stroke Association, Parkinson’s UK, National Autistic Society, Afasic and Sense.

We look at an applicant’s whole profile when making a decision about whether to invite them for interview so do contact us if you are unsure about your qualifications and/or experience. We want you to succeed so if you have any queries please email admissions@marjon.ac.uk.

Second degree or career change?

Students who already have a degree and are planning to undertake the BSc (Hons) Speech & Language Therapy degree as a second degree can access a second student loan through the student loans system. For further information see the Student Finance England website.

SLT Student Conference

We run an annual SLT Student Conference to showcase our students research achievements which is attended by students as well as our SLT graduates and clinical colleagues.

Each year of the programme includes a clinical placement. These take place in a wide range of settings and areas eg hospitals, schools, clinics.  During placement you will be supervised by a SLT who will help you integrate the theory you have learned at university with practical work with clients. The final semester of the programme includes a long placement during which you will be fully immersed in your clinical practice. This provides a very successful bridge into practice as a new graduate as evidenced by the following feedback on our students:

We had the pleasure of interviewing some of your final year students for a post with our service this week. We were very impressed with the quality of these students – their answers to the interview questions were reasoned, thoughtful and evidence based, demonstrating an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge. They also demonstrated great professional standards and should be very proud of how they came across at interview.” 

Debbie White, Speech & Language Therapy Team Leader, Livewell South West

 

Important information regarding the admissions and recruitment process

Healthcare students are required to engage with the University's occupational health provider who will check immunisation history and ensure this is up to date. 

Mandatory vaccinations of healthcare workers and placement students

Students must consent to receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination as a condition of entry.

It has now been confirmed that mandatory Covid vaccinations for health and social care workers, and students on placements, in England will no longer be legally required.

 However, the Health Secretary has said he still considers it “a professional responsibility for health and care staff, and others who work in the health and social care sectors, to be vaccinated” and as such, we strongly recommend that all students are fully vaccinated (unless medically exempt) before undertaking clinical placement activities. We will discuss Covid vaccination and implications for placement with students on commencement of the programme.

 

 

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