Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy is the clinical health profession concerned with the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders and difficulties with swallowing. It serves people of all ages, from infants with developmental speech and language delays to adults who have experienced stroke, head injury, neurological disease or cancer affecting the voice, speech or swallowing. Speech and language therapists work across a wide range of settings, including the NHS, schools, social care and the independent sector, and their work combines scientific assessment with the highly personal and relationship-centred dimensions of clinical practice.

At Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh the four-year full-time programme leads to both a BSc (Hons) and a Master of Speech and Language Therapy, offering an integrated qualification that prepares you thoroughly for professional registration. You will develop expertise in speech and language development, the assessment of communication disorders across different conditions and age groups, and the evidence-based therapeutic approaches used to support communication and swallowing. Clinical placements run throughout all four years, giving you practical experience in a range of settings alongside your academic development.

On-campus specialist clinical facilities add further depth to your practical training.

Speech and language therapy is a regulated profession, and qualifying graduates are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, which is required to practise in the UK. Graduates work across NHS hospitals, community services, schools, early years settings and specialist residential and day services. Some go on to develop specialist expertise in areas such as autism, acquired neurological conditions, cleft palate or augmentative and alternative communication.

Postgraduate research in speech and language sciences is also a route for those drawn to the academic and scientific dimensions of the profession.