University of Queensland
Master of Speech Pathology Studies
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Develop the theoretical knowledge, clinical expertise and research skills needed for a career in speech pathology, preparing you to assess and support people with communication, feeding and swallowing difficulties.
Course overview
The University of Queensland's Master of Speech Pathology Studies is designed for graduates from a range of disciplines seeking to enter the speech pathology profession. The accelerated program develops the knowledge and clinical skills needed to support people of all ages experiencing communication, feeding and swallowing difficulties.
You'll explore speech, language, literacy, voice, fluency and swallowing, alongside anatomy, physiology and person-centred communication. You'll learn to assess and support children with communication and feeding difficulties and adults experiencing acquired communication or swallowing conditions. Through research-focused courses, practical learning and interdisciplinary activities, you'll strengthen your clinical reasoning and ability to apply evidence-based approaches to professional practice.
Delivered at UQ's St Lucia campus over two years, the program begins in Summer Semester and combines campus-based learning, simulated patient experiences and supervised clinical placements. You'll undertake practical learning from your first year, progressing to full-time clinical placement blocks in the second year. Placements may include hospitals, educational facilities, private practices and UQ's Speech Pathology and Telerehabilitation Clinics. Accredited by Speech Pathology Australia, the program prepares graduates for professional roles in speech pathology across healthcare, education and community settings.
Key facts
What you will study
At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.
To earn the Master of Speech Pathology Studies, you must successfully complete 40 units, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.
Core courses
Complete 36 units from all of the following courses:
- Anatomy & Neuroanatomy Fundamentals for Speech Pathologists
- Professional Practice & Person-Centred Communication Skills
- Health Sciences Research Discovery II
- Physiology of Systems & Clinical Application to Speech Pathology Practice
- Communication & Feeding Skills in Children I & Professional Practice I
- Communication and Swallowing Skills in Adults I
- Health Sciences Research Evaluation II
- Communication and Feeding Skills in Children II
- Communication & Swallowing Skills in Adults II & Professional Practice II
- Language & Literacy & the School Environment
- Mental Health & Justice & Working with the Community
- Management of Adult Voice and Fluency Disorders
- Management, Leadership & the Private & Disability Sectors
- Professional Practice III
- Roles & Opportunities for Contemporary Speech Pathology
- Professional Practice IV
- Graduate Transition to Professional Practice
- Working with the Community and in Private Practice
Flexible course options
You must complete four units from one of the following options:
Research pathway
- Health Sciences Research Advanced Project II (four units)
Non-research pathway
- Case Integration for Speech Pathologists
- Speech Pathology Research Project: Service Development through Action Learning
Selected courses must include at least four units at level 3 or higher.
Health Sciences Research Advanced Project II is completed across two semesters.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in any discipline.
- A minimum GPA of 4.0 on UQ's 7-point scale.
Applicants whose bachelor's degree was completed more than 10 years before commencing the program must have completed either a postgraduate program or at least one semester of full-time equivalent approved university study within the previous 10 years.
Entry is competitive, and places are limited. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements will be offered a place, subject to providing evidence of their status upon admission. Applicants must also meet the program's inherent and clinical placement requirements.
English language requirements
Applicants who are required to demonstrate English language proficiency must meet the following requirements:
- IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.0, with a minimum of 8.0 in speaking and 7.0 in listening, reading and writing.
- TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 100, with a minimum of 25 in listening and reading, and 27 in writing and speaking.
- PTE Academic: Overall score of 72, with a minimum of 82 in speaking and 72 in listening, reading and writing.
- Cambridge English Scale (CES): Overall score of 185, with a minimum of 200 in speaking and 185 in listening, reading and writing.
Bridging English (BE) and the Occupational English Test (OET) are not accepted.
Other ways of meeting English language requirements may be available. Contact the university for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates may pursue career opportunities in roles such as:
- Speech Pathologist
- Paediatric Speech Pathologist
- Speech and Language Pathologist
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Private Practice Speech Pathologist
- Disability Speech Pathologist
- Rehabilitation Speech Pathologist
- Community Speech Pathologist
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $46,950 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.