Speech and Language Therapy - BSc (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.
If you want a client-centred, evidence-based education in the field of speech and language therapy, our three-year BSc programme is the right choice for you. Our course, which is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) uses a variety of innovative activities and placements....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location City South
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date September 2023
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Health Sciences
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
Overview
If you want a client-centred, evidence-based education in the field of speech and language therapy, our three-year BSc programme is the right choice for you.
Our course, which is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) uses a variety of innovative activities and placements. After successful completion of this course, you will be ready to apply to the HCPC for registration as a speech and language therapist.
What's covered in this course?
Speech and language therapists support people of all ages who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Delivered at the West Midlands’ only training site for speech and language therapists, this course is designed to prepare you to achieve excellence and professional autonomy in clinical practice.
You will learn through a variety of formats, including workshops, interactive lectures, and simulation sessions, at our recently extended £71 million campus, with state-of-the-art facilities. You will also benefit from the Virtual Case Creator (VCC), which enables us to simulate clinical scenarios in a virtual environment.
Throughout the course, you will develop your understanding of research and evidence-based practice, so that you can contribute to the future development of the speech and language therapy profession.
You will undertake two major clinical placements, during which you will be immersed in all aspects of clinical practice. Towards the end of your clinical placement in your third year, you are likely to be managing your own caseload of clients, and you will have the option to participate in a number of extracurricular activities, including an opportunity for international exchange. Our graduates can go on to work as speech and language therapists in a wide range of settings including the NHS, schools, charities and private practices.
Accredited By
This course is accredited by:
The flexibility of the course allowed me to transfer from full-time to the part-time programme for my final year, which allowed me to study at a pace that suited my needs. My favourite aspect of the course was the clinical placements, as the experience provided me with the opportunity to apply my theory to practice whilst developing my practical skills in a range of clinical settings.
Amirah Hussain
Ross McWalter
Ross wanted to help people with a stutter like himself and become a speech and language therapist. Having been unsure about the prospect of university, he came to BCU knowing that the University was the only institution to offer a speech and language course in the Midlands. He’s now gone on to achieve great success, having accepted a place on the High Achiever’s Recognition Scheme and seen a real improvement in his attitude towards learning.
Read in fullWhy Choose Us?
- Funding - Allied health profession students will receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs
- The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, which also commended our virtual simulated practice activities that help prepare you for practice
- We have been training SLT's for over 50 years! Our long – established course has a history of training speech and language therapists for over 50 years, so you are guaranteed excellent support, training and access to a wealth of knowledge
- Top 5 for Speech and Language Therapy graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2023)
- We’ve invested £71 million in our City South Campus - our brand new extension features two specialist SLT clinics with cutting-edge technology, a resource room, home environment room and simulation suites to aid your learning
- Flexible learning - this course is available to be studied full-time or part-time with the option to switch between them
- Student loan finance - have you already studied an undergraduate degree but would like to do a new one in Speech and Language Therapy? You may be eligible for funding
- Learn from passionate and experienced staff – the course team offers a wealth of experience and knowledge for you to learn from – plus they are actively involved in campaigns and lobbying to make a difference
Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic
The University has put in place measures in response to Covid-19 to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus open day where you'll be able to explore our campus and facilities in person. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Open Day: Saturday 24 June 2023
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2023/24.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
If your Level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on our Health Sciences Foundation Year instead. This course offers an alternative pathway onto our Allied Health Professions courses. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff. Find out more about the Foundation Year.
Essential Requirements
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120 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level |
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| GCSE | GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry requirements under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details. | |
| Scottish National 5 | English Language and Maths at grade C or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) qualifications | ||
| A level and Advanced VCE |
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| Access to HE Diploma |
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| British bachelor's degree |
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| City and Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (1080) |
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| International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) |
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| OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma |
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| OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma |
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| Open University courses |
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If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Recent relevant study to GCE A-level standard or above must have been completed within five years of the course intake date the applicant is applying for. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. In addition:
Places subject to a satisfactory Occupational Heath Check, a Disclosure and Barring Service report and registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority. Applicants should be aware that qualifications, personal statement, reference and interview all form part of the selection criteria for this course. English language: A particularly high standard of spoken and written English is necessary to cope with linguistics, phonetics and clinical work on the Speech and Language Therapy course. However, there is a great need for therapists who are fluent in more than one language and graduates with such skills would be a valuable addition to the profession; such candidates are therefore encouraged to apply. Applicants who have not received their secondary school education in English will require an overall IELTS score of 7.5 with no subtest below 7.0. To register with the Health and Care Professions Council on qualification applicants for whom English is not a first language an IELTS score of 8.0 with no subtest below 7.5 is required. If English is studied at GCSE Level but as a second language, IELTs must be completed to qualify for UK L2 requirement |
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Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Apply via UCAS
- Part Time
- 6 years
- £1,542 per 20 credit module
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead.
Funding
From August 2020, nursing professional degree students will receive at least £5,000 a year in funding support.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Additional costs
We offer a wide range of professionally accredited and vocational courses that require the purchase of, among other things, uniforms, equipment, subscriptions, professional body memberships and DBS checks. There are likely to be costs associated with attending placement and there may be opportunities to pay to attend conferences to extend your learning and development. Costs specific to the BSc in Speech and Language Therapy course are outlined below:
Professional body membership
It is a requirement that you become a student member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the professional body for speech and language therapists during your time as a speech and language therapy student at BCU. Student membership costs £41 per year via direct debit (correct on 09/04/2019). Membership includes monthly delivery of the Bulletin magazine, online access to the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Books
It is recommended that students wait until they have started the course before purchasing any books, as individual module coordinators may make particular recommendations and students may also be able to borrow the books they need from the University library as required.
Printing and photocopying costs
The BSc Speech and Language Therapy course features a range of bespoke teaching resources provided through online Moodle sites, including worksheets, support notes and quizzes. You will also be expected to access additional literature sources (i.e. scientific journals, government publications), as part of your directed and self-directed learning. You may wish to print some of this teaching material and literature and take account of the additional cost of doing so. All students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Uniform
For practice learning opportunities, you will be expected to adhere to the BCU HELS Faculty Dress Code and/or the dress code for the relevant placement provider(s). Occasionally, uniform will be provided. Should you wish to discuss any concerns in connection to this prior to starting the course, please contact the course leads in the first instance.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module starts your development towards meeting the HCPC Standards of Proficiency through providing you with the foundational skills needed to safely operate as a student professional within the context of current and future speech and language therapy services.
This module will introduce you to key areas in phonetics and linguistics, including speech articulation, phonological theory, sociolinguistics, and syntactic analysis. You will also devote considerable time to building your phonetic transcription skills in small group workshops.
This module will introduce you to profession-specific knowledge of the main structures and functions of the body systems and the relationships between these in human communication and swallowing so that you can understand the implications of this for the work of the speech and language therapist.
This module introduces you to psychological theory and aims to provide insight into the development of language and communication through the lifespan with focus on early years, adolescence and the ageing population. The module also highlights the relevance that psychological theory has to the development of language and communication and how this is applied to SLT.
In order to deliver effective care for clients communication and swallowing needs you will require a sound knowledge of their impairments and needs. This module will introduce you to the profession-specific knowledge and skills base that you will need before moving on to appraise and manage clients with communication and swallowing needs.
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in year 1 within the Communication and Swallowing Needs strand. We will introduce you to the principles of appraisal in speech and language therapy across a range of paediatric and adult client groups. The module will help you develop your clinical decision-making skills.
The focus in this module is on developing professionalism as a values system. You will explore traits, attributes, behaviours and acts, alongside the development of effective interactions and relationships will be explored. You will have the opportunity to support your development through practical, interactive tasks and reflective work.
This module covers the first block clinical placement of the programme (8 weeks). You will observe and appraise clients with a variety of communication and swallowing needs within different settings, drawing upon the knowledge and skills acquired in the level 5 modules ‘The Intermediate Professional’ and ‘Appraising Communication and Swallowing Needs’.
In this module you will learn how to develop research questions, conduct and write a literature review, and propose appropriate methodologies and data analysis methods. You will take data analysis workshops to gain hands on experience in dealing with real data. You will also learn about principles of ethics in research.
In this module you will extend your theoretical knowledge of communication and swallowing, and gain additional practical skills in the analysis of communication and swallowing data. We will introduce you to a number of theoretical frameworks, such as Conversation Analysis, and instrumental methods, including the acoustic analysis of speech.
In this module you will learn the principles of client-centred management and gain the essential skills necessary for planning management for clients with communication and swallowing needs. You will cover a spectrum of client groups such as people with aphasia, motor speech disorders, dysphagia and children with speech disorders/delay.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
In this module you will complete your learning about the clinical management of people with communication and swallowing needs. You will work on cases with different levels of severity and complexity, including cases, where a person may have more than one area of impairment or need. You will also develop skills in working effectively in partnership with others.
This module caps the research and evidence-based practice strand of the course. You will construct a research proposal, in which you formulate an SLT practice-related research question, critically evaluate the relevant academic literature, and design a study to address the research question that is both methodologically sound and ethically appropriate.
In this module, you will consider the knowledge and skills necessary to support your development into a practice-ready final year student. You will study in more detail the key threads for professional development, under the topics of: reflection; interaction; communication and meta-communication; resilience; confidence and professional values.
This module covers the second block clinical placement of the programme (12 weeks). It provides you with opportunities to apply your knowledge, skills and professionalism in the management of a range of clients. Towards the end of this module, there are study days to support you with the writing of your CV and to prepare you for job interviews.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse structure
In your first year you'll learn the basics in the areas of anatomy, psychology, linguistics and phonetics.
The year acts as a strong introduction to the most common issues around both communication and swallowing difficulties.
In year two, you'll begin to apply theory to practice and you'll learn about assessing client's speech, language, communication and swallowing needs. You will also have your first clinical placement in your second year.
In your third year, you'll learn about managing your client's speech, language, communication and swallowing needs, and you put your learning into practice on your final 12-week clinical placement.
We offer a part-time route which gives you the opportunity to still train as a speech and language therapist if you feel that you cannot commit to a full time degree. The part-time course takes six years to complete and you'll attend university for two days per week. You'll also have the chance to swap to the full-time route if you decide you want to finish in less than six years.
Overseas opportunities
During year 3 of the course up to 20 students have the opportunity to undertake a week of joint learning with SLT students from other EU countries, under the ‘IP light’ programme. The IP light event is usually hosted by a partner institution in continental Europe.
Trips and visits
During the third year students participate in off-site visits to clinical teams, for example to the cleft palate team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH).
Examples of classroom activities
In order to ensure that you can get the most out of clinical placements, we offer a range of simulation methodologies which enables you to practise in a safe ‘forgiving’ environment with no risk of harm to service users. We are currently the only SLT programme to offer extensive simulation opportunities and expertise.
RCSLT
This course has been approved by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
Employability
Enhancing Employability Skills
Once you graduate from our course you will be eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work as a speech and language therapist. You'll have a range of career opportunities available to work as a speech and language therapist in hospitals, community health centres, mainstream and special schools, care homes, nursing and residential homes, young offenders' institutions, prisons and clients' own homes.
You'll also have the option to work in independent practice once you have gained some experience, and to work abroad.
In applying for your first job you’ll be able to draw on the experiences from your block clinical placements, during which students are immersed in all aspects of clinical practice. You will have completed a personal development portfolio, and as a participant in Professional Practice Day you will have shared in the ideas and experiences of employers and alumni.
Placements
The programme includes two block clinical placements, during which you are immersed in all aspects of clinical practice. The first block placement is in year two and takes 8 weeks to complete (16 weeks in year 3 for part time students); the second block placement consists of 12 weeks in year 3 (24 weeks in year 6 for part time students). Towards the end of the second block placement students are expected to be able to manage their own small caseloads. You will work with various different client groups during your placements (both adults and children), and work in different settings, e.g., community clinics, hospitals, schools.
During your first year you will undertake a number of placement-related activities, and you will work with speech and language therapy service users from your first week on the course.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested £340 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Mock Wards
These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four to six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.
These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.
The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites
The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.
These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.
Home Environment Room
This space is used to simulate non-clinical settings, as not everything health professionals deal with is hospital based. This is used for simulations of home visits and home births. It also houses soft matting and a bubble machine that are used by the Learning Disability Nursing team.
Assisted Living Space
This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.
Assisted Kitchen
This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.
Physiotherapy Room
This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.
Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite
Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.
Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite
These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.
VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training
This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.
Radiotherapy
This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.
Telehealth Room
This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with fiv small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Imaging Academy
This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the West Midlands Imaging Academy hub, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.
Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.
Our staff
Lesley Ann Docherty
Senior Lecturer
Lesley Ann qualified in 2001 from UCE and worked at Selly Oak Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital until joining the University in 2014. She worked in the Stroke Unit and supported patients in the Burns Unit and ITU. Lesley Ann currently holds an honorary contract at a local NHS hospital.
More about Lesley AnnClaire Hartley
Senior Lecturer
Claire Hartley is a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and Senior Lecturer (in acquired communication difficulties) at Birmingham City University. She is also the Programme Director for the Return to Practice in SLT Programme. Her interests include aphasia, motor speech disorders, simulated practice in SLT, and working with service users. She is a...
More about ClaireDr Thomas Hopkins
Senior Lecturer in SLT, Research Coordinator and Deputy Chair
Tom is a psychologist who teaches the psychology strand that exists across several modules within the BSc and MSc Speech and Language Therapy degree course. This includes aspects of developmental psychology, social and cognitive psychology as well as applying psychotherapy to speech and language therapy practice. Having gained a distinction in...
More about ThomasDr Wouter Jansen
Senior Lecturer and Joint Programme Lead (MSc Speech and Language Therapy)
Wouter lectures on the BSc Speech and Language Therapy degree, and also acts as Admissions Tutor for this course. He teaches (clinical) linguistics, phonetics, and research methods and currently leads two modules: SPR5018 Appraising Communication and Swallowing Needs, and SPR6015, the final year research and evidence-based practice...
More about WouterGillian Rudd
Senior Lecturer and Joint Programme Lead (MSc Speech and Language Therapy)
Gillian has extensive experience of supporting children and young people with a wide range of communication needs and additional expertise in supporting children and adults presenting with fluency disorders. She promotes a person-centred, solution-focused approach in both her teaching and practice. Gillian is actively engaged with local and...
More about Gillian