COURSE CURRICULUM

The BSc Speech and Language Therapy program at Essex is structured over three years, combining theoretical learning with extensive practical experience to prepare students for professional practice. In the first year, students build a foundation in clinical and professional capabilities, phonetics and linguistics, psychology, biological and medical sciences, and societal structures and education, alongside their first practice placement. Year two focuses on developing core clinical skills, including the identification, assessment, and management of speech and language needs, eating, drinking, and swallowing, research methods, and professional capabilities, complemented by a second practice placement. In the third year, students consolidate their learning with a final practice placement and advanced study in social, emotional, and cognitive communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing, research, and clinical and professional capabilities. Across the program, practical placements are integrated with academic study to ensure students gain hands-on experience in real-world clinical settings while developing the skills, knowledge, and professional attributes needed for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. This integrated approach equips students to work effectively with clients of all ages, addressing communication and swallowing difficulties, and fosters the development of empathy, critical thinking, and professional judgment essential for a successful career as a speech and language therapist.