Speech and Language Therapy

Language is at the heart of human life. Its study is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species. At Reading we offer you the opportunity to study all three aspects of this most complex form of human behaviour. Our BSc Speech and Language Therapy is a challenging and exciting four-year pre-registration programme for those wishing to qualify as speech and language therapists and is recognised by The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and approved by the Health Professions Council.

Why study at Reading?

The Department includes a purpose-built NHS speech and language therapy clinic

with first-class observational facilities, as well as a well-equipped speech research laboratory and a new state-of-the-art sound recording room. We are closely associated with a neuroscience research unit.

Excellent teaching informed by cutting-edge research,

with over 85% of our research submission judged to be of international standing in the last Research Assessment Exercise. A high proportion of our staff are qualified speech and language therapists.

Good placement opportunities,

thanks to our excellent relationships with local speech and language therapy services.

Innovative learning opportunities

such as a child development assignment.

A friendly and supportive department

with about 30 undergraduate students in each year group. As a result, we have a low drop-out rate and a proven record of high successful completion.

Student experience and employment

The programme offers core modules in speech and language therapy such as linguistics, phonetics, psychology, medical sciences, speech and language pathology and clinical studies as well as practical classes and placements with experienced speech and language therapists.
You will attend a wide variety of clinical placements throughout your time at Reading, exceeding the clinical hours required by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Our placements are with enthusiastic speech and language therapists in varied locations such as clinics, schools and hospitals. They are selected to enable you to develop your clinical skills in a well-supported environment. This allows you to develop a range of communication, clinical and research skills that are transferable across a wide range of client groups. You will be able to work with a diverse range of people of all ages and who have communication and/or swallowing problems and to work closely with other professionals from the health care, social care and education sectors and with the families and carers of clients.
In addition, you will complete a child development study in your first two years and a dissertation in your final year.

Career prospects

Successful graduates can apply for professional registration with the Health Professions Council and go on to work as a Speech and Language Therapist in a range of educational and clinical settings. Typical jobs include Speech and Language Therapist and other positions within the NHS or education. Employers include the NHS, education and schools as well as the private sector.