Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration: 
2 years full time
Location: 
Footscray Park
Delivery mode: 
In person
Start date:
31 July 2023
Application due dates:
Direct applications are due on 23 July 2023 for our next intake which starts on 31 July 2023.
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Overview

Become a speech pathologist and begin a rewarding career helping people learn to communicate more effectively, with the Master of Speech Pathology from Victoria University.

Speech pathologists – also known as speech therapists – work with people who have language, communication or swallowing difficulties. They play a crucial role in society, treating physical and social conditions related to speech, language and swallowing, and providing advice and support to carers, educators, families and communities.

By studying our masters degree, you will graduate well prepared for real-world speech pathology practice.

You will gain expertise in assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. Through supervised professional practice in education, health or community settings, you will acquire practical work-based experience needed to confidently begin your career.

The course has been designed to meet the accreditation standards of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) and is currently in the qualifying phase of accreditation. VU will seek accreditation of the award prior to the first cohort of students graduating in line with the SPA accreditation process for new courses. Subject to its accreditation, successful graduates will be eligible for membership of Speech Pathology Australia, enabling them to practise in Australia.

During your degree you will have the opportunity to complete supervised professional practice in a range of real workplace settings including education, health and community contexts.

Work-based placements are required by Speech Pathology Australia in order to meet the minimum skills, knowledge base and professional standards required for entry-level practice in Australia.

Our on-campus health science simulation labs will also offer you the ability to develop your skills in treating patients in realistic clinical scenarios.

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Study Speech Pathology at Victoria University - Transcript

Careers

With a masters qualification, you’ll be prepared for work in the rapidly growing speech pathology field.

Speech pathologists are in increasing demand for work in the following fields:

  • government and non-government organisations
  • education
  • health
  • disability
  • welfare
  • community-based organisations
  • health promotion
  • policy development
  • academic teaching and research
  • private practice in speech pathology (also known as speech therapy).

Speech pathologists can also work with professional voice users such as auctioneers, teachers, actors and singers, coaching them on how to use their voices safely.

Salaries & job prospects

Find the average salary and job growth rates for a speech pathologists on the Australian job-data site, Labour Market Insights.

Play a crucial role treating physical and social conditions related to speech, language and swallowing.

Course structure

To be eligible for the Master of Speech Pathology, students are required to complete:

  • 192 credit points of Speech Pathology Core studies

Year 1, Semester 1

Year 1, Semester 2

Year 2, Semester 1

Year 2, Semester 2

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Exemplify readiness to enter the profession for speech pathology practice in Australia;  
  2. Conceptually map 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. Elucidate 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. Advocate for the learning needs of individuals across the speech pathology domains with respect to facilitating their goals;  
  5. Demonstrate a complex and multifaceted understanding of professionalism including ethics, adherence to regulatory and professional standards, the need to reflect on performance and lifelong learning as evidenced in the delivery of a range of speech pathology practices;  
  6. Verify the cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and apply established theories to different contexts in evidence-based practice;  
  7. Substantiate cultural responsive and safe practices, value diversity among peoples and engage in decolonising practices that acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as Traditional Owners of Australian lands; and  
  8. Adapt and contextualise communication conventions for diverse contexts.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: Full-fee

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admission & pathways

Inherent Requirements

'Inherent requirements' are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of a course. These should be met while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes.

You need to be able to demonstrate that you hold, or can acquire, the inherent requirements for this degree.

We may be able to make reasonable adjustments to help you manage circumstances that impact your studies – provided these don't fundamentally change the academic integrity of the degree.

Read more about inherent requirements.

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree, or equivalent in a health or bioscience related discipline with evidence of the inclusion functional anatomy and neurology of the speech system.
A minimum GPA of 4.5 out of 7.0 or a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60 percent. This course has assumed knowledge requirements.

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.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous 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 chair or academic adviser.

Additional information

The Master of Speech Pathology assumes requisite knowledge in linguistics and phonetics. Where students do not meet this requisite knowledge, on admission, they will be provided with access to two units:
• HHB3002 Phonetics and Phonology, and
• HHB3004 Communication and swallowing across the lifespan,
They will be able to assess their own learning through the use of quizzes within each unit.

If previous studies have not equipped students with the assumed knowledge for the Master of Speech Pathology, Victoria University recommends that students do not commence the degree until they have undertaken studies in these areas.

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

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Available start dates:
  • 31 July 2023

Before you apply

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

  • Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
  • Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Find out more about applying for our courses.

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 23 July 2023 for our next intake which starts on 31 July 2023.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

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At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.