Overview
Our Language Pathology MSc is a practical speech and language therapy course. This Master’s programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. It is accredited by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
On completion, you’ll have an in-depth understanding of the causes, symptomatology and consequences of the range of human communication disorders.
You’ll develop the clinical skills necessary for effective intervention practice. You’ll also learn about relevant legislation, statutory codes and policy affecting speech and language therapy practice.
To be admitted to the course, you need to be able to identify with NHS values as stated in the NHS constitution.
Download additional health information for prospective Language Pathology applicants.
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Important information
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Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
As part of this Language Pathology MSc course, you’ll complete a number of compulsory modules. These will be supported by clinical placements from early on in both years.
Year one
In year one, you’ll cover the following modules that underpin the discipline:
- psychology
- linguistics
- practical anatomy
- physiology
You’ll also begin to work on speech and language therapy (SLT) cases. These will give you your first experiences of working clinically under guided supervision.
Year two
In year two, more complex problems are set in speech and language pathology. This year is more specialised. You’ll study topics including:
- eating, drinking and swallowing (fulfilling the pre-registration EDS competencies set out by RCSLT)
- ageing
- dementia
- mental health
- psychiatry
- research methods and statistics
There will be a focus on:
- motor speech
- fluency
- voice
- head and neck cancer
- cognitive impairment
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Language Pathology MSc modules
How you’ll learn
The Language Pathology programme is taught at our Newcastle city campus. You’ll also attend a variety of internal and external clinical placements. The course runs from 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays from September to July/August in both years.
This is an intense programme with approximately 25-30 academic contact hours per week. When on external placements, you will be doing full working days, with additional travel time. You will undertake clinical placements in the summer months in both years.
Teaching is delivered through case-based problem solving. This means you’ll participate in guided self-directed learning and collaborate with your peers in group work.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Aural examination
- Case study
- Design or creative project
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Lab exercise
- Professional skills assessments
- Oral examination
- Practical lab report
- Problem-solving exercises
- Report
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Additional assessment information
Clinically-based research project
An important element of year two of the Language Pathology MSc is the extended case report. You’ll:
- manage a clinical case
- provide intensive treatment
- evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment
- write up your findings in dissertation format
You’ll be supported by a practice educator (clinical supervisor) and academic supervisor.
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You’ll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Our School staff have an immense amount of experience in delivering SLT programmes. Many are qualified and experienced speech and language therapists and undertake research in this area. Much of our teaching is informed by our own research.
Your development
We take a student-centred approach to your development of:
- knowledge
- thinking and critical ability
- professional identity
Clinical practice
You’ll receive tailored supervision, with a focus on reflective practice. We also provide transparent and fair assessment procedures with clear and specific marking criteria for coursework. This will help you to achieve your potential.
You’ll have the opportunity to complete clinical placements in our campus-based clinics and in a range of external settings where speech and language therapists work. These could include schools and NHS settings, eg community clinics and hospitals.
In year one, you’ll complete:
- one placement in the Tavistock Aphasia Centre
- one placement in the Children’s Speech and Language Clinic
- an external six-week block placement (during the summer)
In year two, you’ll complete a placement where you work with an individual client for the extended case report (in semester 1) and a final block placement (during the summer). You’ll also complete a practical dysphagia module, with video simulation that enables demonstration of RCSLT pre-registration eating, drinking and swallowing competencies.
Your future
What can you do with a Language Pathology MSc degree?
This Master’s course is a pre-registration speech and language therapy degree. Graduates can apply to the Health and Care Professionals Council to register to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
Graduates of this programme become practicing speech and language therapists across a range of settings, such as:
- hospitals
- schools
- children’s services
- justice
- mental health
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
Professional accreditation and recognition
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. On successful completion of the programme you can apply to register with the HCPC and RCSLT as a speech and language therapist.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
We have two clinics on campus:
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 or 1st class honours degree, or international equivalent, in any of the following fields:
- psychology
- neuroscience
- linguistics
- English language and literature
- modern languages
- a medical discipline, such as biomedical science or medicine
We will also consider your application if you have a first degree in a different subject plus relevant industry experience.
Your degree must have been obtained by the time of application. You will need to upload the degree certificate using the Applicant Portal.
You are required to have practical experience of working in or observing speech language therapy clinics, or closely related experience such as:
- working in a care or nursing home
- working with children with special needs or adults with disabilities
- working with individuals with learning disabilities
Important information for students
Students undertaking a Speech and Language Science degree have unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults. The School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences must ensure students undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to confirm they are fit to practise.
The School reserves the right to discontinue the studies of any student who receives an unsatisfactory DBS disclosure.
Visit the UK Government’s website for more DBS information
What we are looking for in applicants
You will need the following to study this degree:
- excellent spoken and written communication and organisational skills
- to be able to work in a physically demanding environment (e.g. on clinical placement)
- to be able to work with people with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties
- emotional resilience and patience when helping people who find it hard to communicate
- to be personally attuned to the NHS values as stated in the NHS constitution
You will be asked to undertake Occupational Health checks prior to the course. Find out more about how health conditions and disabilities may affect your studies and the support that will be available:
Find out more about the NHS constitution
Find out more about applying to Speech and Language Sciences
Find out more about health and disability and becoming a health care professional
