Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Gain the comprehensive education needed to work successfully as a Speech Pathologist, providing services across the lifespan to people whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is affected by communication or swallowing impairment resulting from developmental difficulties, social disadvantage, illness or accident. The advocacy, diagnostic and therapeutic services needed by such persons are made available within a variety of settings: early childhood, schools, clinics established in hospitals, community health centres, mental health agencies, aged care services and private practices.

Speech Pathologists also conduct research into a wide range of issues related to communication and swallowing. Applicants are encouraged to seek work experience in speech pathology and related areas prior to application, however this is not mandatory.

Practical experience

In order to complete this degree, students will need to fulfil placement requirements to undertake compulsory field placements. Placements are provided in a range of settings including childcare centres, state and independent schools, disability services, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health centres and aged care facilities. In third year, students will typically undertake two placements of one to two days per week throughout the semester. In fourth year, students will typically undertake two block placements of six to eight weeks. These may be undertaken in Adelaide, regional areas of South Australia and the Northern Territory and, in some circumstances, overseas.

Graduates will meet the entry level standards of Speech Pathology Australia which enables practise in Australia and many other countries around the world including the UK and in Asia.

Equal Consideration

Equal consideration is a central principle of the admissions process. Equal consideration means that all applicants who have the same selection rank for a degree (or a subquota within a degree) are treated equally i.e. either all or none will be entitled to an offer, provided application deadlines and other application requirements are met by the set deadline.

Applicants who lodge an application by the relevant closing date and comply with all the application requirements, including having all grades/results by the required deadline, will be guaranteed equal consideration in the selection process. If however, an application is lodged late or does not comply with all the application requirements, including having all grades/results by the required deadline, they will not be guaranteed equal consideration.

Applicants who have applied on time but shuffle this preference after the Change of Preference deadline will not be guaranteed equal consideration. Applicants who have applied on time will be required to have all pending or missing grades and/or adjustment factors finalised no later than 31 December 2025 to be guaranteed equal consideration.

Applicants are advised that should they receive an offer for a place in this degree, they will be required to enrol in topics by the enrolment deadline stated in the letter of offer from SATAC. If they do not enrol via the Flinders University Student System by the specified date and maintain enrolment, their offer in the degree will be forfeit. Applicants who receive an offer for a place in this degree should also note that if they subsequently receive an offer to a higher preference, their offer will be deemed superseded and will be forfeited.

Honours

On completion of this degree there is an opportunity to apply for a one-year Honours degree. For further information, please visit our One Year Honours webpage.