MSci Speech and Language Therapy interview

 The MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course includes all the academic rigour of the Allied Health Professions accredited degree, including the opportunity to carry out research. Once you graduate from the MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course, you can apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, which will then allow you to work as a speech and language therapist (SLT) for a wide range of clinical populations with speech, language, communication, and swallowing conditions.

Candidates for this course are assessed for entry using an online interview in addition to the academic entry requirements. The interview is an opportunity for us to check that candidates have sufficient understanding of the course and the role of an SLT, and the personal and professional values required to train and work as an SLT in the National Health Service (NHS) and beyond.

We also operate a gathered field approach, which means that candidates are considered alongside other candidates applying for the same course. This enables us to make decisions based on the overall strength of the candidate pool. As a result, interview outcomes will usually only be confirmed once all interviews have taken place, which is likely to be by the end of March. However, some candidates may be notified of the outcome of their interview earlier where appropriate.

Once you have submitted your application through UCAS, it will be reviewed by our Admissions Team, who will consider your overall academic performance alongside your personal statement and reference. If your application meets our initial selection criteria, you will receive an email inviting you to book a date and time for your online interview. Your interview will take place via Microsoft Teams and will usually be conducted by either a member of our academic staff or an SLT colleague.

Approximately one week before your interview, you will receive an email with instructions on how to join your interview via Microsoft Teams. If you have not received this email at least 48 hours before your interview, please check your junk or spam folder.

You should be able to join a Teams meeting without a Microsoft Teams account. If you choose to join the Teams meeting through a web browser, we recommend using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for the best experience.

It is very important that you have an understanding of the MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course, especially the role of an SLT, so please ensure you are sufficiently prepared to talk about this in your interview.

Before your interview, we recommend that you read:

• our MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course information
• the information about the role of an SLT on the NHS website
• the job profile of an SLT on the Prospects website
• the information about the speech and language therapy profession on the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) website.

The interview is expected to last for approximately 20 minutes and it will include three parts.

Part 1: Showing a form of photo ID to the camera to confirm your identity

Please have a form of photo ID ready to show to the camera at the start of your interview. This could be a passport, driving licence photocard (full or provisional), or an alternative form of photo ID issued by a trusted authority. 

Part 2: Interview questions

Please be prepared to answer questions relating to the following topics:

• your motivation to study on the MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course and the steps you have taken to ensure this is a fully informed decision
• the personal strengths you have which make you a good candidate for the course
• your understanding of the role of an SLT
• the extent to which you understand the different types of clients you will be working with in your placement year
• the necessary personal attributes needed to work with clients in service as an SLT.

You are welcome to take notes. You can ask for a question to be repeated or clarified if needed. This will not affect your performance score, and you will not be penalised for this.

Part 3: Opportunity for you to ask questions

You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the course and what it is like to study MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Reading.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is not permitted during the interview. All responses must be your own based on your personal knowledge and experiences. Using AI to generate, formulate or communicate answers during your interview may result in the interview being ended and your application rejected.

We are fully committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our admissions and interview processes. If you would like to request any specific requirements or adjustments around accessibility for your interview, please email SLTAdmissions@reading.ac.uk. Please rest assured that requesting reasonable adjustments or having specific requirements will not affect the outcome of the interview or our decision on whether you are offered a place on the course.

As we operate a gathered field approach, which means that candidates are considered alongside other candidates applying for the same course, the interview outcomes will usually only be confirmed once all interviews have taken place, and this is likely to be by the end of March. However, some candidates may be notified of the outcome of their interview earlier where appropriate.

Candidates who are not offered a place on our MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course following their interview will usually be offered a place on our BSc Psychology and Language Sciences course instead, subject to meeting the required entry requirements.

If you have any questions, please email SLTAdmissions@reading.ac.uk. 

To help you to prepare for your interview, you are welcome to access our free online course, Stress-Free University Interviews: Confidence-Building Tips and Success Strategies. The course is designed to help you recognise your strengths, build confidence, and practise useful interview techniques.