Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
ATAR:
Lowest selection rank*: 82.15
*Offers made in 2022. More about ATAR
Duration: 
4.5 years full time
Location: 
Footscray Park
Delivery mode: 
In person
Start date:
24 February 2025
Application due dates:
View How to apply
Apply

Overview

Turn your passion for social equity and health science into an exciting profession in the field of speech pathology, sometimes referred to as speech therapy.

This Australian-first dual degree will prepare you to support those with communication and/or speech and swallowing challenges.

As a speech pathologist, you’ll play a crucial role in enabling communication and/or speech and improving swallowing disorders to enhance quality of life for those experiencing these difficulties, as well as supporting their families and broader community.

With plenty of opportunities for practical learning throughout your degree, you’ll be prepared for work in the speech-pathology field across complex and diverse settings.

The course combines the practical and theoretical study of communication and swallowing disorders with human development, biomedical sciences, human rights and principles of social justice to enable you to graduate as a well-rounded practitioner.

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 courses prior to the first cohort of students graduating to enable graduates to be eligible for membership with Speech Pathology Australia, in line with the SPA accreditation process for new courses.

Year 1

Semester 1
Semester 2

Year 2

Alternative entry point for selected VU students (see the Admissions section on this page for information for applicants with higher education study).

Semester 1
Semester 2

Year 3

Semester 1
Semester 2

At this point – after Year 3, Semester 2 – you can exit the course with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences.

Year 4

Semester 1
Semester 2

Year 5

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

At VU you can spend part of your degree studying overseas all while gaining credits towards your course.

Immerse yourself in a new culture and learn from a new perspective, while building experiences that will help you to stand out in the competitive job market.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

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Study Speech Pathology at Victoria University - Transcript

Careers in speech and language sciences

With both a bachelor and masters qualification, you’ll be prepared for work in the rapidly growing speech pathology industry.

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

Find the average salary for a graduate speech pathologist at PayScale.

Now is a great time to be a speech pathologist – here's why

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences/Master of Speech Pathology, students will be required to complete:

- 432 credit points of Core studies.

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

Year Five

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

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-ethics, adherence to regulatory and professional standards, the need to reflect on lifelong learning-evidenced in accurate delivery of a range of speech pathology practices as appropriate and relevant to the context;  
  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 evinced in evidence-based practice;  
  7. Substantiate cultural responsive and safe practices, value diversity among individuals 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: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

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.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

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.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

  • Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
  • an Australian or overseas equivalent or
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

NA

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English.
PLUS
A study score of at least 20 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (any), Psychology, Sociology, Texts and Traditions, Health and Human Development, or LOTE (any)

Subject adjustments

A study score of 30 in Biology, Chemistry, English (any except EAL) Mathematics (any), Psychology, Sociology, Texts and Traditions, Health and Human Development, or LOTE (any), or a study score of 35 in English (EAL) equals 5 aggregate points. Overall maximum of 20 points.

ATAR profile

VU course code: HCSP

VTAC course code: 4301011051

Campus: Footscray Park

ATAR profile of people who received an offer for the Bachelor of Speech and Language Sciences/Master of Speech Pathology.
  ATAR
(Excluding adjustment factors)		 Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Highest rank to receive an offer 82.65 91.35
Median rank to receive an offer 76.45 87.40
Lowest rank to receive an offer 70.95 82.15

 

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Completion of a relevant Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in the Health, and /or Community Services pathways or similar.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Completion of at least two semesters of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent) in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Education or similar.
OR
Completion of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent) in any discipline
Second year entry:
Completion of at least two Higher Education semesters in one of the following courses at Victoria University:
• Bachelor of Health Science (HBHL)
• Bachelor of Applied Movement Sciences/Master of Physiotherapy (HCPT)
• Bachelor of Nursing (HBNB)
• Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery (HBMA)
• Bachelor of Human Nutrition (HBNT)
Note: Meeting the minimum requirement for entry to second year does not guarantee entry. Places are limited and applicants will be competitively ranked based on their course WAM in their first two semesters of Higher Education study

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Applicants that completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English.
PLUS
A study score of at least 20 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (any), Psychology, Sociology, Texts and Traditions, Health and Human Development, or LOTE (any).

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Additional information

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

Selection criteria assistance

Let us know which qualifications you have studied and we will help you find the admission information that most applies to you.

Which of the following qualifications have you studied, or are currently studying?

Still not sure? Make an enquiry and one of our advisors can assist.

Student profile

Take a look at a student profile to get an overview of students who have previously enrolled in this course.

Pathways & credits

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.

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.

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:
  • 24 February 2025

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 through VTAC

Apply through VTAC if any of the following apply to you:

  • you are applying for more than one course
  • you are completing Year 12 in 2023
  • you have an existing VTAC application to study in 2024

VTAC course code: 4301011051

VTAC very late applications are due 14 January 2025.

Apply via VTAC

Special Entry Access Scheme

You can apply for consideration of your life circumstances during the application process by submitting a VTAC Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application.

Apply direct to VU

Apply directly to VU if any of the following apply to you:

  • you are a current VU student
  • you are only applying for this course and are not completing Year 12 in 2023

Direct applications are due on 16 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 24 February 2025.

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.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Get help

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.