Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
Transform lives through the power of communication
Speech pathologists help us make use of arguably our most precious capability— communication. As humans, we are innately social, our lives revolve around connecting with others through eating, drinking, work and play. Speech pathologists help people of all ages to participate in their life and connect with others.
Talented speech pathologists are already highly sought-after, and demand is growing fast.
What will you study during a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)?
Our Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) equips you to diagnose and treat conditions across the full scope of speech pathology practice; speech and language, swallowing, fluency, voice and multimodal communication. Our courses have an emphasis on inter-professional and culturally responsive practice and the degree facilitates the development of transferrable skills through real-world learning experiences.
In over 800 hours of clinical based training, you’ll have the opportunity to work with children and adults of all ages in public and private health, community, disability, education and aged-care settings. With many of the courses taught by certified practicing speech pathologists, the degree places an emphasis on real-world experience.
You’ll gain high-level knowledge and skills in:
- head and neck anatomy and neurophysiology
- speech and language development, linguistics and phonetics, motor speech, aphasia, cognition and swallowing
- current public health and justice system topics
- working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities
- evidence-based, person-centred care.
You’ll regularly access our purpose-built training facilities and state-of-the-art simulation suites—among Australasia’s most advanced. In addition, you’ll benefit from collaborative learning with key complementary disciplines: physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
From late third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry—and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.
Where could a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) take you?
You’ll graduate eligible to pursue a wide range of career opportunities. You could help children with disabilities or developmental delays connect with their peers by overcoming social communication challenges. You might help a person who has had a stroke regain their ability to eat and communicate, or support a patient in end of life care. Perhaps you’ll enable adults with acquired or traumatic brain injuries to communicate with others, or you may work as part of a therapeutic team working towards achieving the person’s goal of gaining employment.
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) is undertaking the Qualifying Accreditation process in accordance with the accreditation procedures of the national professional body, Speech Pathology Australia.
*Entry into the research stream will be based on academic merit.
Note: This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required. If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.
Explore your career in Speech Pathology
Hear how access to state-of-the-art learning facilities, diverse clinical placements, and a close-knit community of peers, has prepared students like Sachiel for a fulfilling career in a field that's always in demand.
*Australian Government, Labour Market Insights, 2023.
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.
Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 354261 |
|---|---|
| 2023 CSP ATAR | 71.6 |
| 2023 CSP IB | 26 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR | 95 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - IB | 38.25 |
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February |
| Additional Entry Requirements | Rural Background Entry Pathway: If you have as of 31 December in the year prior to degree commencement, spent at least five 5 consecutive years, or 10 years cumulatively, in an Australian Standard Geographic Classification - Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) RA 2-5 area, from birth, you are eligible to apply under the Rural Background entry pathway. The time frame is based on the location of your primary residence. Please refer to Remote Area locations (RA) for further guidance. Rural Background Entry (RBE) pathway applicants are required to sign and submit a statutory declaration with your SATAC application as the only acceptable proof of rural background. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway: The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who participate in its programs and makes particular effort to encourage Indigenous students to participate in health education. This degree has allocated a number of places just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Please contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Student Support Officer via email at fhms.sso@adelaide.edu.au to discuss your interest in applying. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application process: You should contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Student Support Officer to discuss your interest in applying - fhms.sso@adelaide.edu.au |
Selection Criteria
| Recent Secondary Education | Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). |
|---|---|
| Higher Education Study | You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). There are places in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) reserved for University of Adelaide students, however students with study from other institutions are also considered. A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. |
| Work and life experience | To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. |
| Other Entry Pathways | |
2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
| ATAR (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors) |
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer | 62.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Median ATAR to receive an offer | 87.2 | |
| Highest ATAR to receive an offer | 99.45 | |
| Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 71.6 |
| Median Selection Rank to receive an offer | 92.1 | |
| Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 99.95 | |
| Minimum eligibility score | 70 | |
| Additional criteria considered | Selection rank only | |
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Admissions Transparency Data
Student Profile
Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Higher Education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)23 29.1% (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A (C) Work and life experience
(admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)<5 N/A (D) Recent secondary education: - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
54 68.4% - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
N/A N/A - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
N/A N/A International students N/A N/A All students 79 100.0% - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
Ready to Apply?
Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.
Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.
ApplyFees and Scholarships
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Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Commonwealth-supported place: $9,610
|
Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.
More information on Student Contribution Amounts.
Scholarships
These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.
Careers
Career Readiness
Please see the inherent requirements for speech pathology programs for further information.
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Industry Placement
Professional Accreditation
Potential careers
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Speech Therapist
Degree Structure
In the first year of study, you will be introduced to anatomy, physiology, public health and health research courses, with a focus on Speech Pathology principles.
From the second year onwards, study is specific to the profession and will focus on establishing knowledge relating to typical communication development, linguistics, general psychology and advanced anatomical structures of the head and neck, while being introduced to the importance of client-centred care.
The final two years of the program include the analysis of words, impact of swallowing difficulties, cultural diversity, consideration of clients who speak a language other than English, and the role of a speech pathologist. You will learn how to diagnose and treat speech and language problems, including stuttering, voice and swallowing difficulties caused by developmental delays or brain injuries.
Clinical placement courses within the third and fourth year of the program provide you with an opportunity to apply learning in professional practice settings, under the supervision of qualified and registered clinical professionals.
From late third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry— and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.
* Eligibility for entry to the Research Stream will be determined by a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for the courses which comprise the first and second years of the program, and the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor within the School. Students with a cumulative GPA of 5 or greater will be notified of their eligibility for entry to the “Research Stream” at the commencement of the third year of the program. Eligible students who wish to undertake the Research Stream will be required to contact the School of Allied Health Science and Practice Honours Coordinator to discuss their area of interest and project the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor.
Example Study Plan
| Level I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | HLTH SC 1400 Biosciences for Human Health A |
HLTH SC 1401 Communication in Professional Practice |
HLTH SC 1404 Evidence Based Practice in Allied Health 1 |
SPEECH 1000 Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice |
|
| S2 | HLTH SC 1403 Biosciences for Human Health B |
HLTH SC 1402 Foundations of Health and Wellbeing |
HLTH SC 1405 Psychological Foundations for Allied Health |
SPEECH 1001 Linguistics for Speech Pathology A |
|
| Level II | |||||
| S1 |
HLTH SC 2400 |
SPEECH 2000 |
SPEECH 2001 |
SPEECH 2006 |
|
| S2 |
SPEECH 2003 |
SPEECH 2004 |
SPEECH 2005 |
ELECTIVE COURSE |
|
| Level III – Industry Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
SPEECH 3000 |
SPEECH 3001 |
SPEECH 3002 |
||
| S2 |
SPEECH 3003 |
SPEECH 3004 |
SPEECH 3005 |
||
| Level IV – Industry Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
SPEECH 4000 |
SPEECH 4001 |
SPEECH 4002 |
Speech Pathology Industry Project A |
|
| S2 |
SPEECH 4004B |
Transition to Professional Practice |
SPEECH 4005 |
SPEECH 4006 |
|
| Level III – Research Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
SPEECH 3000 |
SPEECH 3001 |
SPEECH 3002 |
||
| S2 |
SPEECH 3003 |
SPEECH 3004 |
HLTH SC 4400 |
||
| Level IV – Research Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
SPEECH 4000 |
SPEECH 4001 |
SPEECH 4002 |
Allied Health Honours Research Project A |
|
| S2 |
HLTH SC 4401B |
Speech Pathology Clinical Practice E |
SPEECH 4006 |
||
Assessment
Related Degrees
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Last updated: Thursday, 4 Apr 2024
