Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)

Degree Level Undergraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City East

Duration
4 year(s) full-time

Mode
On-campus

Program Code
IHSP

SATAC Code
414502 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Internal): 80.00 (for 2024)
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they
fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any
remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects

OR
Higher education study
- Complete or partially complete a recognised higher education program at Bachelor or higher level at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete a Diploma level program at a recognised higher education institution
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Advanced Diploma level or above
OR
Work and life experience
- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Aim

The program is designed to provide graduates with advanced knowledge and skills for professional practice in speech pathology and provides research training for students wanting to proceed to further study or a research career.

Content & Structure

This program will develop an understanding of typical and acquired communication development, swallowing
disorders and clinical practice in speech pathology.

A major section of the early years of the program focuses on the study of anatomy, physiology, biopsychosocial
issues and is undertaken with other health sciences students. The second year of study focuses on three
streams: human communication science, clinical disorders in speech pathology practice, and assessment methods. The third year has a focus on specialist topics in speech pathology practice and speech pathology fieldwork. The fourth year involves thesis or project work, and advanced speech pathology fieldwork.
Students will be required to apply their learning during supervised clinical practice throughout the third and fourth
years of the program in the UniSA Allied Health Clinic and in professional practice settings.

The program requires completion of 144 units of study.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

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From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
Study Period 1, 2 or 3
Aboriginal Health: Culture, Community and Country	HLTH 1063	4.5
Physiology Essentials 100	BIOL 1051	4.5
Applied Psychology	BEHL 1005	4.5
Introduction to Human Communication Science	HLTH 1061	4.5
Study Period 4, 5 or 6
Head, Neck and Brain	HLTH 1060	4.5
Introduction to Evidence Based Practice and Research in Health Sciences	HLTH 1049	4.5
Speech and Voice Science	HLTH 1064	4.5
Studies in Language Development	HLTH 1062	4.5
SECOND YEAR
Study Period 1, 2 or 3
Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice	HLTH 2049	4.5
Speech Pathology Assessment Practices	HLTH 2050	4.5
Speech Sound Disorders	HLTH 2051	4.5
Child Language and Literacy Disorders	HLTH 2047	4.5
Study Period 4, 5 or 6
Acquired Language Disorders	HLTH 2058	4.5
Stuttering and Cluttering	HLTH 2059	4.5
Motor Speech Disorders	HLTH 2052	4.5
Hearing Disorders	HLTH 2060	4.5
THIRD YEAR - PROFESSIONAL STREAM
Study Period 1, 2 or 3
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Social Communication and Behaviour	HLTH 3091	4.5
Disorders of Communication and Cognition	HLTH 3092	4.5
Voice: Assessment and Management	HLTH 3093	4.5
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 1	HLTH 3082	4.5
Study Period 4, 5 or 6
Feeding and Swallowing Disorders	HLTH 3080	4.5
Technology and Multi Modal Communication	HLTH 3079	4.5
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 2	HLTH 3083	4.5
Advanced Evidence Based Practice	HLTH 3057	4.5
FOURTH YEAR - PROFESSIONAL STREAM
Study Period 1, 2 or 3
Integrated Speech Pathology Professional Practice A	HLTH 4022	4.5
Planning, Innovation and Evaluation in Health A	REHB 4054	4.5
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 3	HLTH 4020	9
Study Period 4, 5 or 6
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 4	HLTH 4021	9
Integrated Speech Pathology Professional Practice B	HLTH 4023	4.5
Planning, Innovation and Evaluation in Health B	REHB 4055	4.5
THIRD YEAR - RESEARCH STREAM			Note(s): 4
Study Period 1, 2 or 3
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Social Communication and Behaviour	HLTH 3091	4.5
Disorders of Communication and Cognition	HLTH 3092	4.5
Voice: Assessment and Management	HLTH 3093	4.5
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 1	HLTH 3082	4.5
Study Period 4, 5 or 6
Feeding and Swallowing Disorders	HLTH 3080	4.5
Technology and Multi Modal Communication	HLTH 3079	4.5
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 2	HLTH 3083	4.5
Health Science Honours Preparation	REHB 3010	4.5
FOURTH YEAR - RESEARCH STREAM
Study Period 1, 2 or 3
Health Science Honours Thesis	REHB 4012	9
Integrated Speech Pathology Professional Practice A	HLTH 4022	4.5
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 3	HLTH 4020	9
Study Period 4, 5 or 6
Speech Pathology Fieldwork 4	HLTH 4021	9
Integrated Speech Pathology Professional Practice B	HLTH 4023	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. To undertake field/clinical placements students are required to have current criminal history and screening checks as published by the Clinical Placement Unit (unisa.edu.au/CPU). These checks will list disclosable court outcomes that may prevent field / clinical placement involvement and subsequently may prevent completion of the program.

2. Students will be required to satisfy the standard of dress and behaviour prescribed by institutions in which the clinical placements are undertaken. Failure to satisfy such requirements may prevent them satisfying the requirements for the completion of the program.

3. Attendance requirements apply to the clinical components of the program. Students enrolled in courses with a clinical component will need to attend on a full-time basis for the duration of the clinics.

4. Students who do not maintain continuous enrolment in this program after commencing work integrated learning placements, or are returning from a period of absence of more than 12 months after the 2nd year in the program will be required to undertake a competency assessment and/or recency training at an upfront cost, in addition to the program tuition fees. This is to ensure students have maintained competency in the required skills to protect the safety of the public during work integrated learning arrangements.

Notes

1. Students may be required to spend time in a placement outside Adelaide in a country or interstate location.

2. Students may be required to undertake fieldwork placement outside normal university teaching weeks.

3. Students are strongly encouraged to study on a full-time basis. Students seeking part-time study must discuss this with the Program Director prior to enrolment. Part-time students are normally expected to complete the program in eight years.

4. Normally students who achieve a credit level average in the courses which make up the first and second years of the program may be considered for the research stream. Normally a quota for places will apply. The invitation to students will be made at the commencement of the third year of the program.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program has received provisional accreditation with Speech Pathology Australia. The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) is undertaking accreditation processes in accordance with the accreditation procedures of Speech Pathology Australia.