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MSc Speech and Language Therapy

Accredited by the Health Care Professionals Council, with a purpose-built NHS and independent clinic on-site, the MSc Speech and Language Therapy is for students wishing to qualify as speech and language therapists.

This course combines theoretical knowledge with clinical practice and you will gain hands-on experience right from the start.

All candidates must have:

  • A good 2:1 or above (or equivalent) - please note that all candidates must have been awarded their undergraduate degree before applying
  • direct, ongoing experience of working with clients with communication difficulties, ideally a range of client groups, both adults and children.
  • Good understanding of the role of a speech and language therapist and experience of speech and language therapy 

See ‘Entry requirements’ tab for further details. 

As a speech and language therapy student at Reading, you will benefit directly from our world-class research into subjects, such as linguistics, language development, language pathology, and bilingualism. Other areas of specialism comprise developmental and acquired speech, language and communication disorders, including fluency disorders, aphasia, dementia, autism spectrum disorders, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, Developmental Language Disorder and dysphagia, speech sound disorder, stammering and dysphagia.

Your tutors will use a variety of teaching methods, including standard lectures, small group tutorials and seminars, observation clinics, problem based learning, online screencasts, and practical sessions.

As part of the programme, you will undertake a clinical placement and spend approximately 600 hours over 2 years in different clinical settings, including schools, hospitals, community clinics, private and voluntary sector. Professional speech and language therapists will act as your practice educators.

You will have access to excellent built-in clinic facilities for observations, teaching, placement and research, as well as a speech laboratory, extensive assessment library, student common room, University library, state-of-the art lecture theatres. We are also one of the first universities to host an NHS and independent clinic in our purpose-built speech and language therapy facility on site.

This programme is recognised by The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council.

For more information, please visit the School of Psychology's website.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £25,800

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government's guidance for EU students.

Additional Costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

Training grant

The Department of Health and Social Care offers new and continuing students on Speech and Language Therapy programmes access to the Learning Support Fund, administered by the NHS Business Services Authority. This Fund includes a non-means tested Training Grant, currently (2021) set at £5,000 for each academic year for all eligible students, plus additional funds for eligible students who have parental responsibility and/or qualify for additional funds for Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses. This fund applies even if you have already taken out loans for a previous undergraduate degree. The application process is administered by the NHS and you will be able to apply from 1 July. To apply, please visit the NHS website. 

You will need to ensure you check the Learning Support Fund site regularly to keep up to date with what is being offered.

The Maintenance loan

Eligibility for the Maintenance loan is a means tested loan.

Students on the MSc Speech and Language Therapy programme may also be eligible for the Long Courses Loan, as the course is longer than 30 weeks. 

This will be assessed by Student Finance England when the student applies for their main student finance. 

See the Funding Clinic website for further information when applying as a mature student.

Applying for loans from Student Finance England

You can apply now for the 2020/21 academic year. You don’t need a confirmed place to apply.

Applications should ideally be submitted by 31 May 2020.  However, you can still apply for funding up to nine months after the first day of the academic year for your course.

Our MSc in Speech and Language Therapy allows graduates to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and work as a speech and language therapist in a range of settings, such as the NHS, education, and the private or voluntary sector.

Speech and language therapists work with adults and children with a range of communication and swallowing difficulties, including children with speech and language disorders, children with a cleft palate, clients with voice disorders, clients who have had strokes or head injuries, or those who stammer.

Some therapists work in hospitals, some work in community health centres, some work in schools or specialist centres. Some speech and language therapists may decide to move into research.