If a teenager suffers a brain injury, how can you help them to learn to speak or read again? How can you help a client to eat when their ability to swallow has been damaged by a stroke? How does a child communicate when they only know a few words?
Our MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Pre-Registration) course is an accelerated, two-year postgraduate course aimed at graduates who wish to prepare to practise as a registered speech and language therapist. Our course content reflects the values of the NHS constitution and combines theory and practical sessions over 45 weeks per year.
On the course, you’ll study topics including developmental language disorder, stroke, and difficulties with eating, drinking or swallowing (dysphagia). You’ll also explore areas such as autism and stammering, mental health, speech sound disorders, augmentative and alternative communication, and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. We aim to prepare you to work across a variety of settings with both children and adults...
Full-time: 2 years
On our MSc Speech and Language Therapy course, you’ll explore some of the issues you might face working as a modern speech and language therapist. We aim to prepare you to work across a range of settings and treat patients across their lifespan.
You'll explore issues faced in a paediatric setting, such as working with children with developmental language disorder or who are unable to produce speech sounds. You’ll also look at issues in adults, including communication and swallowing impairments in a range of conditions such as strokes and, Parkinson’s disease.
As well as teaching from our academic team, you may have guest lectures with practitioners. Previous speakers include specialist speech and language therapists and psychologists.
In your first year, we usually focus on teaching you the theory to develop your knowledge of speech and language. You’ll learn through a variety of methods, including case-based learning. This allows you to practice assessing scenarios and applying the theory you have learned to cases you may come across on your placement.
You’ll learn how to use intervention materials, assessments, and specialist computer programmes. We have a team of technicians to help you master specialist equipment and you’ll use these skills on your clinical placements.
Your second year of our course tends to focus on placements and your dissertation, as well as continuing your theoretical education. You’ll typically spend at least 525 hours on placements and practice-based learning during the two years of this course, working in settings including hospitals, schools and clinics across the North West.
Past dissertation topics have included research projects investigating midwives’ experiences of multi-disciplinary working with speech and language therapists, investigating staff experiences of managing children’s swallowing difficulties in a school setting and, investigating support workers’ understanding of supporting speech, language and communication.
Outside of studying, you can join our Speech Society, which is mainly run by the speech and language therapy students on our undergraduate degree. They organise a series of talks, workshops and events to help promote speech and language therapy and develop your knowledge outside of the classroom.
You may also have the opportunity to apply to work on research projects with our academic team. Students recently helped to collect and input data as part of a speech therapy trial within primary schools, with Dr Julie Lachkovic.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
Applicants must have a minimum 2:1 UK undergraduate Honours degree (or international equivalent) and either have studied successfully to A-level standard or above in the last 5 years or obtained recent and significant relevant work experience (for example, working as a speech and language therapy assistant). Applicants require GCSE Mathematics or equivalent at grade C or above.
The 'personal statement' section of the application form is for you to provide additional information to support your application. Personal statement guidance can be found via the link in the 'How to apply for this course' section.
From the personal statement we are looking for information in the areas listed below. If any of these areas are not addressed in the personal statement, this may significantly disadvantage your application. You’re therefore strongly advised to include information from all the areas. Your personal statement is limited to 700 words.
The threshold score above which students are shortlisted for interview may vary from year to year.
Additional requirements:
A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate as a criminal record check is required for all students. This will be completed through the University prior to enrolment.
Satisfactory occupational health clearance is also required to participate in this course.
Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 8.0 with no less than 7.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here.
Full-time fee: £9,250 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Full-time fee: £20,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Optional estimate: £15 to £50 for replacement or non-standard uniforms. Optional equipment £650.
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, you may choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. You may also need to print your assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
Uniforms: Full uniform is provided free of charge when the course commences. If you wish to replace any item of uniform or secure additional items of uniform throughout the course (eg because it has been damaged or no longer fits) then you must order and pay for this directly with the supplier. There are certain exceptions to this, for example if you become pregnant. These are detailed in the faculty uniform policy. You can choose to purchase non-standard items such as fleeces directly from the supplier.
Compulsory estimate: 2 to 12 a day whilst on placement (costs will vary considerably)
You will need to budget for travel costs to your placement which could be up to 100 kilometres from the University. Travelling time one-way should not exceed 2.5 hours, and it is rare for it to be up to the maximum limit. Travel costs to placement will vary considerably depending on where you live, the location of your placement and how you choose to travel. Information on public transport costs within Greater Manchester can be found at www.tfgm.com.
All NHS Trusts charge for car parking.
Compulsory estimate: DBS £0 to £135 depending on your status. Please go to our DBS webpage for more details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/dbs/ HCPC registration fees are currently 90 for two years
Optional estimate: £36 for membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
DBS Checks: Before starting on your course, you must undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced Disclosure). At the time of going to press, you do not have to pay for your first DBS check. If you cannot attend a DBS session at the University before the start of the course, you can use the UK Post Office Document Certification Service, which costs approximately £10. If you are not a UK citizen, or if you have lived in one country outside the UK for six or more months in the last five years, you must, where this is possible, obtain a police clearance certificate from the country in which you resided, in addition to the Disclosure and Barring Service check.
You must supply a certified translation if the certificate does not automatically include this. Costs vary and can include fingerprint and translation fees where required. Returning students, who have already had a DBS certificate from Manchester Met and who need a second DBS certificate, for example, due to a suspension of study, are required to pay the DBS fee. Please go to our DBS webpage for more details and for current DBS fees: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/dbs/
Optional estimate: £7
You may wish to join the Manchester Met Speech, Language and Communication student society which costs approximately £7 annually.
When you graduate, you’ll have the skills to work in clinical practice as a speech and language therapist with children and adults.
You can apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for registration to practise as a speech and language therapist. You can also apply for membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), the professional body for speech and language therapy in the UK.
Applications to this course for September 2024 should be submitted via UCAS.
You should submit your application prior to the standard undergraduate admissions deadline of 31 January 2024*. Applications received after this date may still be considered but will be classed as a late application.
*This is because the pre-registration programmes will be using the undergraduate UCAS admissions service. Please double check your application before submitting to ensure that you have applied to the correct postgraduate course.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
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our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
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