Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences/Master of Speech Pathology

This Australian-first dual degree taught with the VU Block Model will prepare you to support those with communication and/or speech and swallowing challenges.

As a speech pathologist, you’ll play a crucial role in enabling communication and/or speech and improving swallowing disorders to enhance quality of life for those experiencing these difficulties, as well as support their families and broader community.

With plenty of opportunities for practical learning throughout your degree, you’ll be prepared for work in the contemporary speech pathology industry across complex and diverse settings.

The course combines the practical and theoretical study of communication and swallowing disorders with human development, biomedical sciences, human rights and principles of social justice to enable you to graduate as a well-rounded practitioner.

The course has been designed to meet the accreditation standards of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) (external link) and is currently in the qualifying phase of accreditation.

VU will seek accreditation of the award courses prior to the first cohort of students graduating to enable graduates to be eligible for membership with Speech Pathology Australia, in line with the SPA accreditation process for new courses.

VTAC APPLICATIONS OPEN See this course in VTAC website (external link) and apply now.

To attain the Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences/Master of Speech Pathology, students will be required to complete:

• 432 credit points of Core studies.

Course structure and units

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

• Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
• an Australian or overseas equivalent or
• an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

NA

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English.PLUSA study score of at least 20 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (any), Psychology, Sociology, Texts and Traditions, Health and Human Development, or LOTE (any).

Subject adjustments

ATAR profile

Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences/Master of Speech Pathology:

VU course code: HCSP

VTAC course code: 4301011051

Campus: Footscray Park

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

• Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
• Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Completion of a relevant Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in the Health, and /or Community Services pathways or similar.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

• Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
• Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Completion of at least two semesters of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent) in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Education or similar.ORCompletion of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent) in any disciplineSecond year entry:Completion of at least two Higher Education semesters in one of the following courses at Victoria University:• Bachelor of Health Science (HBHL)• Bachelor of Dermal Sciences (HBDS)• Bachelor of Applied Movement Sciences/Master of Physiotherapy (HCPT)• Bachelor of Nursing (HBNB)• Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery (HBMA)• Bachelor of Human Nutrition (HBNT)• Bachelor of Paramedicine (HBPD)Note: Meeting the minimum requirement for entry to second year does not guarantee entry. Places are limited and applicants will be competitively ranked based on their course WAM in their first two semesters of Higher Education study.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

• Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
• Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Applicants that completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English.PLUSA study score of at least 20 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (any), Psychology, Sociology, Texts and Traditions, Health and Human Development, or LOTE (any).

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

• Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
• Special consideration for direct applicants.

Additional information

Students are notified at enrolment of professional practice requirements, including: appropriate uniform/attire, equipment, travel, 'Police Check' and 'Working with Children Check', First Aid certificate, record of immunization, and a signed agreement to nominate oneself as fit for practice. Students must pass essential pre-requisite units before undertaking clinical placements.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Pathways from VU courses

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Credit for skills and past study

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course coordinator or academic adviser.

Course Learning Outcomes for the Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences:

1. Elucidate the interaction between communication and swallowing skills and determinants such as physical, social, culture, emotional and psychological factors;
2. Conceptually map the impact of communication and swallowing difficulties for individuals and their communities and the community at large;
3. Exercise critical thinking skills to identify a problem, accumulate, evaluate and synthesise relevant evidence to propose a solution;
4. Demonstrate cultural responsivity, value diversity among peoples and engage in decolonising practices that acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as Traditional Owners of Australian lands;
5. Exhibit the expected communication conventions that the context demands, and the flexibility to change them as appropriate in diverse contexts
6. Demonstrate professional behaviour that includes adherence to principles of ethics, regulatory and professional standards, and the need for reflection.

Course Learning Outcomes for the Master of Speech Pathology:

1. Demonstrate readiness for entry level speech pathology practice in Australia and articulate how they can contribute to advancing the Speech Pathology Australia vision, detailed in the document Speech Pathology 2030;
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive, multidimensional understanding of the reciprocal impact of communication and swallowing difficulties for individuals and their families, friends, colleagues, and communities; as well as institutions and society at large, in terms of day-to-day activities; and participation in educational, vocational and recreational pursuits;
3. Expound a complex and multifaceted understanding of the interaction between communication and swallowing skills and the various determinants such as physical, linguistic, social, culture, spiritual, emotional and psychological factors; the physical and built environment and economic conditions;
4. Demonstrate knowledge about the learning needs of people with communication and/ or swallowing disorders with respect to facilitating their goals and advancing their communication and/ or swallowing skills;
5. Demonstrate a complex and multifaceted understanding of professionalism-ethics, adherence to regulatory and professional standards, the need to reflect on performance, lifelong learning-evidenced in accurate delivery of a range of speech pathology practices as appropriate and relevant to the context;
6. Demonstrate the cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different contexts evinced in evidence-based practice;
7. Demonstrate cultural responsivity, value diversity among peoples and engage in decolonising practices that acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as Traditional Owners of Australian lands; and
8. Communicate and interrelate effectively in diverse contexts by exhibiting the expected communicative conventions that the context demands and the flexibility to change the communication conventions as the context changes.