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Your learning experience

Learn in an inspiring environment with excellent teaching informed by cutting-edge research and clinical expertise.

Speech and language therapy is a varied profession which integrates theory from a range of disciplines to support clients. You will cover the key areas of speech and language therapy, including: 

  • medicine
  • psychology
  • linguistics
  • phonetics
  • communication and swallowing disorders
  • clinical practice.

Teaching methods

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, clinical practice, case-based group work and independent study.

Lectures and seminars

Some of your teaching will be delivered in lectures. You'll have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers on group work in seminars and practical classes.

Our academics are experts in their field who incorporate research and clinical research into their teaching.

Independent study

Each year, you’ll have time for independent study, completing coursework and preparing for assessments.

In your final year, you'll carry out an independent research project and write a dissertation. This experience will help you apply your knowledge and understanding to projects in your career.

Clinical practice

We house a purpose-built, on-site Speech and Language Therapy Clinic, NHS-partnered clinics and also independent clinics.

You'll attend these clinics from your first year, gaining clinical practice experience in adult and paediatric client groups before you undertake external placements.

Practical experience and placements

Get hands-on experience by undertaking placements from first year. 

Placements take place in a wide range of clinical settings, including within NHS organisations, schools and the private and voluntary sector. You'll work with a range of children and adults to develop your clinical competence and profile. This breadth of experience will help you decide which area of speech and language therapy to pursue when qualified.

Clinical placements take place during term-time, either weekly or in a single block.

By the end of the degree, you will have amassed around 600 hours' experience in observing and treating patients with communication and swallowing problems. This is in excess of the minimum number required by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Placement support

Placements are organised by our in-house team. They are selected to give you a variety of experiences and the opportunity to work alongside enthusiastic professionals in a well-supported environment.

Our clinical tutoring team provides specialist training in areas such as CV writing and interview preparation and support you during your placements.

Your personal placement profile enables you to identify your development across the programme to become an independent clinician.

Some funding for travel, accommodation and childcare is available from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Learning Support Fund.

Plenty of placement opportunities

“I chose to study at Reading for multiple reasons.

"The modules on the course are interesting and tailored to help students develop their theoretical knowledge and several practical and clinical skills.

"Placement opportunities during the programme are plentiful, and the on-site Speech and Language Therapy Clinic fosters the development of a good clinician.”

UAE student, MSci Speech and Language Therapy

Optional modules

During your final year, you’ll pursue your own interests through optional modules. This allows you to develop specialist knowledge in the subject.

Modules that could be available include: Language and Communication in Genetic Disorders, Disorders of Eating, Drinking and Swallowing, and Multilingualism and Impairment across the Lifespan.

Life in the School

Find out about life as an undergraduate student in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences.

Athena SWAN Silver Award