Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)

  • 95
    Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR
  • Duration

    4 years full-time
    (or part-time equiv.)
  • Start Dates

    February

  • Location

Transform lives through the power of communication

Speech pathologists help us make use of arguably our most precious capability— communication. As humans, we are innately social, our lives revolve around connecting with others through eating, drinking, work and play. Speech pathologists help people of all ages to participate in their life and connect with others.

Talented speech pathologists are already highly sought-after, and demand is growing fast.

What will you study during a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)?

Our Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) equips you to diagnose and treat conditions across the full scope of speech pathology practice; speech and language, swallowing, fluency, voice and multimodal communication. Our courses have an emphasis on inter-professional and culturally responsive practice and the degree facilitates the development of transferrable skills through real-world learning experiences.

In over 800 hours of clinical based training, you’ll have the opportunity to work with children and adults of all ages in public and private health, community, disability, education and aged-care settings. With many of the courses taught by certified practicing speech pathologists, the degree places an emphasis on real-world experience. 

You’ll gain high-level knowledge and skills in:

  • head and neck anatomy and neurophysiology
  • speech and language development, linguistics and phonetics, motor speech, aphasia, cognition and swallowing
  • current public health and justice system topics
  • working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities
  • evidence-based, person-centred care.

You’ll regularly access our purpose-built training facilities and state-of-the-art simulation suites—among Australasia’s most advanced. In addition, you’ll benefit from collaborative learning with key complementary disciplines: physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

From late third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry—and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.

Where could a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) take you?

You’ll graduate eligible to pursue a wide range of career opportunities. You could help children with disabilities or developmental delays connect with their peers by overcoming social communication challenges. You might help a person who has had a stroke regain their ability to eat and communicate, or support a patient in end of life care. Perhaps you’ll enable adults with acquired or traumatic brain injuries to communicate with others, or you may work as part of a therapeutic team working towards achieving the person’s goal of gaining employment.

The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) is undertaking the Qualifying Accreditation process in accordance with the accreditation procedures of the national professional body, Speech Pathology ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog.

*Entry into the research stream will be based on academic merit.

Note: This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required.  If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice. 







Explore your career in Speech Pathology

Hear how access to state-of-the-art learning facilities, diverse clinical placements, and a close-knit community of peers, has prepared students like Sachiel for a fulfilling career in a field that's always in demand.







  • Very strong employment growth predicted (up to 35% by 2026)*
  • 750-1000+ hours of placement
  • Simulation-led teaching and brand-new facilities


*×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn Government, Labour Market Insights, 2023.

Entry Requirements

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.
I am a:

Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

Admissions information

SATAC Code 354261
2024 CSP ATAR 70
2024 CSP IB 26
Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR 95
Guaranteed Entry Score - IB 38.25
Deferment Yes - 2 year
Intake

February

Additional Entry Requirements

Rural Background Entry Pathway:

If you have as of 31 December in the year prior to degree commencement, spent at least five 5 consecutive years, or 10 years cumulatively, in an ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn Standard Geographic Classification - Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) RA 2-5 area, from birth, you are eligible to apply under the Rural Background entry pathway. The time frame is based on the location of your primary residence. Please refer to Remote Area locations (RA) for further guidance. Rural Background Entry (RBE) pathway applicants are required to sign and submit a statutory declaration with your SATAC application as the only acceptable proof of rural background.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application process:

  1. Submit a South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn Tertiary Admission Centre (SATAC) application online.
  2. Submit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Declaration Form. You must upload the form as part of your SATAC application.
Selection Criteria
Recent Secondary Education

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors).

Higher Education Study

You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). There are places in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) reserved for ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide students, however students with study from other institutions are also considered. A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA.

Work and life experience

To be eligible to sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2025. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2025 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2024 or 2023), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2023). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components.

Other Entry Pathways

2024 Admissions Data for school leavers
ATAR
(raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer 63.35
Median ATAR to receive an offer 87.7
Highest ATAR to receive an offer 99.35
Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer 70.3
Median Selection Rank to receive an offer 91.23
Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer 99.95
Minimum eligibility score 70
Additional criteria considered Selection rank only
  • Admissions Transparency Data
    Student Profile
    Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2024
    Number of students Percentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    20 22.5%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study n/a N/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    <5 N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    66 74.2%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/A N/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    <5 N/A
    International students <5 N/A
    All students 89 100.0%

Ready to Apply?

Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide.

Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.

Fees and Scholarships

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $9,905

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

Scholarships

Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.

Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.

To browse scholarships offered by the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog, visit:

To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog, visit: External Scholarships

Careers

Career Readiness

Qualified speech pathologists have a wide range of career options in metropolitan and rural settings. They work in public and private hospitals, schools, community health care centres, aged care, rehabilitation centres, paediatrics, private practice, education and research.

Please see the for further information.

The ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Industry Placement

Students will be introduced to clinical placement in the third year of study and will be required to complete 800+ hours of clinical placement in a range of metropolitan and rural settings throughout the program.

Professional Accreditation

The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) is undertaking the Qualifying Accreditation process in accordance with the accreditation procedures of the national professional body, Speech Pathology ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog.

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Speech Therapist

Degree Structure

The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) requires four years of full-time study or students can choose to study part time over a longer period.

In the first year of study, you will be introduced to anatomy, physiology, public health and health research courses, with a focus on Speech Pathology principles.

From the second year onwards, study is specific to the profession and will focus on establishing knowledge relating to typical communication development, linguistics, general psychology and advanced anatomical ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of the head and neck, while being introduced to the importance of client-centred care.

The final two years of the program include the analysis of words, impact of swallowing difficulties, cultural diversity, consideration of clients who speak a language other than English, and the role of a speech pathologist. You will learn how to diagnose and treat speech and language problems, including stuttering, voice and swallowing difficulties caused by developmental delays or brain injuries.

Clinical placement courses within the third and fourth year of the program provide you with an opportunity to apply learning in professional practice settings, under the supervision of qualified and registered clinical professionals.

From late third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry— and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.

* Eligibility for entry to the Research Stream will be determined by a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for the courses which comprise the first and second years of the program, and the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor within the School. Students with a cumulative GPA of 5 or greater will be notified of their eligibility for entry to the “Research Stream” at the commencement of the third year of the program. Eligible students who wish to undertake the Research Stream will be required to contact the School of Allied Health Science and Practice Honours Coordinator to discuss their area of interest and project the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor.

Example Study Plan

Level I
S1 HLTH SC 1400

Biosciences for Human Health A
HLTH SC 1401

Communication in Professional Practice
HLTH SC 1404

Evidence Based Practice in Allied Health 1
SPEECH 1000

Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice
S2 HLTH SC 1403

Biosciences for Human Health B
HLTH SC 1402

Foundations of Health and Wellbeing
HLTH SC 1405

Psychological Foundations for Allied Health


Linguistics for Speech Pathology A
Level II
S1

HLTH SC 2400

Evidence Based Practice in Allied Health 2

SPEECH 2000

Communication and Swallowing Across the Lifespan

SPEECH 2001

Anatomy and Physiology for Speech and Swallowing



Linguistics for Speech Pathology B

S2

SPEECH 2003

Speech Production and Aural Rehabilitation

SPEECH 2004

Clinical Reasoning in Professional Settings

SPEECH 2005

Speech Pathology Clinical Skills and Practice

ELECTIVE COURSE

Level III – Industry Honours Stream
S1

SPEECH 3000

Speech Pathology Assessment and Management A (6 units)

SPEECH 3001

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice A

SPEECH 3002

Preparing for Speech Pathology Practice

S2

SPEECH 3003

Speech Pathology Assessment and Management B (6 units)

SPEECH 3004

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice B

SPEECH 3005

Speech Pathology Industry Project A

Level IV – Industry Honours Stream
S1

SPEECH 4000

Speech Pathology Assessment and Management C

SPEECH 4001

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice C

SPEECH 4002

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice D

SPEECH 4004A

Speech Pathology Industry Project A 

S2

SPEECH 4004B

Speech Pathology Industry Project B 

SPEECH 4003

Transition to Professional Practice

SPEECH 4005

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice E

SPEECH 4006

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice F

Level III – Research Honours Stream
S1

SPEECH 3000

Speech Pathology Assessment and Management A (6 units)

SPEECH 3001

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice A

SPEECH 3002

Preparing for Speech Pathology Practice

S2

SPEECH 3003

Speech Pathology Assessment and Management B (6 units)

SPEECH 3004

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice B

HLTH SC 4400

Allied Health Research Project Planning

Level IV – Research Honours Stream
S1

SPEECH 4000

Speech Pathology Assessment and Management C

SPEECH 4001

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice C

SPEECH 4002

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice D

HLTH SC 4401A

Allied Health Honours Research Project A

S2

HLTH SC 4401B

Allied Health Honours Research Project B (6 units)

SPEECH 4005

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice E

SPEECH 4006

Speech Pathology Clinical Practice F

Assessment

Assessment in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) consists of formative and summative work including but not limited to; essays, case studies, tests, oral presentations, practical assignments, tutorial participation, structured clinical assessments and written examinations. Both face-to-face and online methodologies will be used.

Related Degrees

The ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Tuesday, 17 Dec 2024