Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapists play a vital role in supporting individuals of all ages who experience difficulties with speech, language, communication, and swallowing. Working closely with families, carers, and a diverse range of professionals, therapists provide essential assessment, intervention, and support to enhance quality of life. This dynamic and rewarding profession offers opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives.

At DMU, our Speech and Language Therapy course equips you with the knowledge and practical experience needed for a successful career in this field. Throughout the three-year programme, you will study core subjects such as phonetics and phonology, psychology, medical sciences, linguistics, and language development. As you progress, you will delve deeper into communication disabilities, evidence-based practice, and therapeutic interventions. Your final year will provide opportunities to develop a specialist focus through an independent dissertation project.

Practical experience is a key component of our course. You will undertake practice-based learning each year, including weekly and block placements in diverse settings such as schools, hospitals, care homes, and community environments. These hands-on experiences allow you to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, developing essential clinical and professional skills.

Key features

• Top 5 for Health Professions: Our Health Professions courses are ranked 4th best in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.

• Outstanding student satisfaction: Our BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course has achieved over 90% across all positivity measures in the 2025 National Student Survey - including 100% for Academic Support, 99% for Teaching, and 96.7% for Learning Opportunities.

• Accredited and approved: Our course is approved by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and graduates are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, enabling them to practice as professional speech and language therapists.

• Financial support: All speech and language therapy students are eligible to receive a bursary of at least £5,000 per year, with up to £3,000 in additional funding available.

• Boost your employability: Gain extensive practical experience through a combination of external and simulated placements, starting from your first year and continuing throughout your studies.

• Graduate destinations: Graduates have made significant contributions at prominent NHS trusts, including Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, Derbyshire Community Health Services, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, and Sussex Community NHS Trust - working in adult mental health, learning disability, and community speech therapy roles.

• Career-focused education: Our curriculum is designed to enhance employability, with insights from industry professionals, newly qualified therapists, and experienced practitioners to support your transition into the workforce.

• Interprofessional collaboration: Develop essential teamwork skills through dedicated interprofessional learning activities with students from health and education disciplines, preparing you for effective collaborative practice in your career.

YEAR ONE:
Professional Practice Education 1
Introduction to Linguistics and Language Acquisition
Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology
Medical Sciences
Communication Disability and Psychology

YEAR TWO:
Professional Practice 2
Clinical Linguistics Assessments
Intervention 1: Language and Cognition
Intervention 2: Speech and Swallowing
Cognitive Psychology and Research Methods

YEAR THREE:
Professional Practice 3
Transition to the Workplace
Intervention: Specialist Settings
Speech and Language Therapy Project
Language, Interaction and Society

Teaching includes: lectures, seminars, tutorial discussions, practical workshops, inter-professional (IP) learning with students from other healthcare professions and work-based placement sessions. You will also benefit by receiving support from a personal tutor. Your precise timetable will depend on your modules, however, you will normally benefit from around 15 hours in timetabled, taught study each week plus at least 150 work-based placement sessions of approx. 3 ½ hrs per session. Assessment includes: written and video exams, coursework, assignments, presentations, a portfolio, dissertation, teaching contact hours.