MSc Cybersecurity Technology with Placement
The MSc Cybersecurity Technology with Placement program at Canterbury Christ Church Uni...
MSc Speech and Language Therapy
Canterbury
INTAKE: September
Program Overview
The MSc Speech and Language Therapy program at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), United Kingdom, is a pre-registration postgraduate degree designed to equip graduates with the essential knowledge, clinical skills, and professional values required to become competent and confident registered Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs). This intensive two-year course focuses on enabling students to understand, assess, and treat a wide range of speech, language, communication, and eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties across the lifespan. Delivered by experienced SLT academics who are actively involved in clinical practice and research, the program emphasizes an inclusive, person-centred, and evidence-based approach to care. Successful completion leads to eligibility for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and membership with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), 1 opening doors to a vital profession that empowers individuals to communicate and find their voice.
Curriculum: The curriculum of the MSc Speech and Language Therapy program is rigorously structured, blending theoretical knowledge with extensive practical experience. During the first year, students build foundational knowledge in areas such as "Academic and Professional Orientation," "Development of Communication and Eating, Drinking, and Swallowing (EDS) across the Lifespan," and "Phonetics and Linguistics for Clinical Practice." The second year focuses heavily on multiple clinical placements, alongside the development of advanced research skills. Throughout the two years, students engage with core modules like "Evidence-based and Sustainable Practice," and they are encouraged to adapt their clinical work to foster an inclusive and person-centred approach. Learning methods include lectures, workshops, small group tutorials, and practical assignments, with assessment primarily through coursework such as essays, portfolios, presentations, and the successful completion of placements and a final research project.
Research Focus: Canterbury Christ Church University's Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Social Care, which houses the Speech and Language Therapy program, has a strong commitment to research-informed teaching and practice. Faculty members are active researchers and often hold highly specialist clinical roles, ensuring that the curriculum is at the forefront of current evidence and professional knowledge. Research areas within the faculty encompass various aspects of health and social care, and specifically within Speech and Language Therapy, contribute to the evidence base for professional knowledge and development. For example, recent news highlights include contributions to major clinical trials exploring effective speech therapy for people with Parkinson's disease. The program encourages students to engage with existing research and develop their own research skills, culminating in a substantial research project designed to foster critical thinking and evidence-based practice.
Industry Engagement: A cornerstone of the MSc Speech and Language Therapy program is its robust industry engagement, primarily through extensive clinical placements. Students undertake multiple clinical placements throughout the two years, gaining invaluable hands-on experience with a wide range of patients across diverse settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, prisons, community centres, and family homes. These placements are meticulously organized with the university's partners across London and the wider South East, ensuring students meet the requirements of the HCPC and RCSLT. Placement educators work closely with university staff to integrate academic learning with clinical practice. The program is co-designed with stakeholders to provide flexible, responsive learning, and teaching is delivered by SLTs who are actively working in clinical practice, providing real-world insights and supporting the transition from theory to application.
Global Perspective: The MSc Speech and Language Therapy program at Canterbury Christ Church University embraces a global perspective, acknowledging the universal need for communication support and the diverse cultural contexts in which SLT services are delivered. The university welcomes a diverse international student body, enriching classroom discussions and fostering a broader understanding of communication and swallowing needs across different cultures. The curriculum encourages an inclusive and person-centred approach, championing diverse representation and encouraging inclusive leadership, which is vital for working with the entire community upon graduation. Furthermore, the university's research activities, such as those exploring speech-language pathology telementoring projects in global health contexts, demonstrate a commitment to supporting the emerging profession of SLT in Majority World countries, fostering global partnerships, and contributing to the international dialogue on communication disorders.
Location
Canterbury
Score
IELTS 7
Tuition Fee
£ 15500
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a minimum overall score of 60% or equivalent.
English language proficiency:
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7.0 with no individual component below 6.0.
- TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 60.
- PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 59.
- Some postgraduate programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.
Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) offers various scholarships and financial aid options to support international students in their academic journey. These scholarships are designed to help reduce the financial burden of tuition fees and living expenses, enabling students to focus on their studies and make the most of their university experience.
International Merit Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to international students based on their academic performance and achievements. It provides a significant discount on tuition fees, making it more affordable for high-achieving students from abroad to study at CCCU.
Global Students Scholarship: This scholarship is aimed at supporting international students who demonstrate excellent potential and their studies. It offers a percentage reduction in tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate international students.
Postgraduate International Scholarship: For postgraduate students, CCCU offers specific scholarships that provide financial assistance for those pursuing a master’s or doctoral program. These scholarships recognize academic excellence and provide an opportunity for international students to study in the UK at a reduced cost.
Graduates of the MSc Speech and Language Therapy program from Canterbury Christ Church University are poised to enter a highly rewarding and in-demand profession, equipped with the necessary skills to become registered Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs). This pre-registration Master's degree ensures graduates are eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and membership with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), enabling them to work with individuals across the lifespan facing a diverse range of communication, speech, language, and eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. The extensive clinical placements embedded within the program provide invaluable real-world experience across various healthcare and educational settings, preparing graduates for immediate impact in their careers.
NHS Speech and Language Therapist (Hospital-Based): Working in acute or rehabilitation hospital settings, addressing communication and swallowing difficulties resulting from stroke, neurological conditions, head injuries, or critical illness.
NHS Speech and Language Therapist (Community-Based): Providing home visits, clinic-based therapy, and support in community settings for individuals with long-term conditions, developmental delays, or acquired communication disorders.
Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist: Specialising in working with children and young people in various settings, including schools, nurseries, child development centres, or specialist units, addressing developmental language disorders, speech sound difficulties, stammering, or autism spectrum conditions.
Private Practice Speech and Language Therapist: Establishing or joining private clinics, offering specialized assessment and therapy services to clients seeking independent care, often focusing on niche areas such as voice therapy or accent modification.
School-Based Speech and Language Therapist: Working directly within mainstream or special educational needs (SEN) schools to support children with communication difficulties, collaborating with teachers and parents to integrate therapy into the educational environment.
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist: Developing expertise in specific areas such as dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), voice disorders, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), or specific neurological conditions like Parkinson's or dementia.
Speech and Language Therapist in Learning Disability Services: Supporting individuals with learning disabilities to enhance their communication skills and address eating, drinking, and swallowing needs in residential, day care, or community settings.
Forensic Speech and Language Therapist: Working in secure units, prisons, or young offender institutions, assessing and supporting individuals within the justice system who have communication difficulties that impact their comprehension, expression, or social interaction.
Research Speech and Language Therapist: Contributing to clinical trials or academic studies in universities or research institutes, helping to advance the evidence base for SLT practice and develop new assessment and intervention methods.
Lecturer/Clinical Educator: After gaining significant clinical experience, transitioning into roles within higher education or clinical departments to teach and supervise aspiring speech and language therapists, sharing their expertise and contributing to professional development.
