Speech & Language Therapy
The BSc Speech and Language Therapy provides the knowledge, skills and confidence for a career that will improve the lives of children and adults with communication disorders or swallowing difficulties. Over the four years of the course, you will gain specialist knowledge for a rewarding career, as well as general skills in communication, problem-solving and teamwork.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H4 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Lab Science H4
Additional Requirement H4 in a Language other than English
The following are considered Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry and Agricultural Science.
Fitness to Practise
This programme is subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy.
Student Garda Vetting
All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme.
Vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Acts) once a student has accepted their place on the programme. This involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Siochána provide this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence).
All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries of residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there.
Further information can be found on our Student Garda Vetting page.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
If you are a person who likes to help others, and you are interested in a career in understanding how difficulties with speech, language and swallowing impact on people’s lives, then the course in Speech and Language Therapy will interest you.
The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences will educate you into a health profession in which you will use linguistic, social, behavioural, medical and other scientific knowledge to provide assessment and treatment for both children and adults who have developmental or acquired disorders of speech, language and swallowing.
While an interest in science and language is important for this career, the ability to interact socially with all age groups (including very young people and older adults), and the ability to empathise with people, are also essential qualities of speech and language therapists.
The course in SLT was established as part of a national response to a shortage of SLTs in Ireland. It aims to educate students to provide the highest level of service to individuals with communication and swallowing disorders, as part of a healthcare team.
The course involves extensive and varied work experiences (practice education) in Years 2, 3 and 4. This work experience involves taking on clients, under supervision, both inside and outside of Cork city.
As successful communication abilities are so vital to normal human development and social interaction, interventions by SLTs can have profound and far-reaching effects on quality of life and well-being.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 5
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 32
Entry 2025
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2025 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2025 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2025 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2025 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2025. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2025, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2025 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Course Outline
The BSc Speech and Language Therapy provides the knowledge, skills and confidence for a career that will improve the lives of children and adults with communication disorders or swallowing difficulties. Over the four years of the course, you will gain specialist knowledge for a rewarding career, as well as general skills in communication, problem-solving and teamwork.
The course is broad and varied, and students study Behavioural Science, Anatomy, Physiology, Linguistics and Speech Science as well as Speech and Language Therapy theory, assessment and treatment approaches. A strong emphasis is placed on using the most recent scientific evidence to underpin your clinical practice.
Most learning within the university takes place in small-group tutorials, and much of your work is self-directed. You will have plenty of opportunities for clinical work experience (practice education) in UCC’s Brookfield Clinic and further afield in hospitals, schools, community care, and disability services.
The BSc Speech and Language Therapy course is designed to ensure graduates have the knowledge, skills and values to meet the demands and challenges of working within the healthcare profession.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
You will accrue a minimum of 450 hours of placement in a range of settings across the four years. These placements will be arranged for you by the department. Placements take place throughout the south of the country, therefore, students must be prepared to travel outside of Cork City and County and may need to arrange accommodation near placement sites. Both travel and accommodation for placement will involve costs to students.
Year 1 Modules
All modules 5 credits unless otherwise stated.
AN1061 Anatomy of Speech and Hearing
PL1025 Fundamentals of Physiology
SL1004 Communication, Learning and Behaviour across the Lifespan
SL1005 Preparation for Academic and Professional Learning
SL1006 Language Acquisition
SL1007 Speech, Hearing and Swallowing Sciences I (10 credits)
SL1008 Introduction to Language Studies
SL1009 Introduction to Communication Disorders I (10 credits)
SL1010 Introduction to Communication Disorders II (10 credits)
Year 2 Modules
Neuroanatomy and Embryology for Speech and Language Therapy; Introduction to Research Methods; Speech, Hearing and Swallowing Sciences; Communication Disorders in Children; Language Sciences; Practice Education
Year 3 Modules
Applied Neurology for Speech and Language Therapy; Advanced Research Methods; Language Sciences; Speech, Hearing and Swallowing Sciences; Communication Disorders in Adults; Practice Education
Year 4 Modules
Research-Based Dissertation; Practice Education; Dysphagia; Mental Health and Communication Disorders; Advanced Research and Practice in Speech and Language Therapy
Assessment
Written exams take place in both Semesters but not all modules have formal examinations and many modules use other types of assessment. In the Speech and Language Therapy programme you are assessed throughout the year in a variety of ways on your acquisition of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Some of the methods we use include oral presentations, video case exams, clinical portfolios, essays, multiple-choice-question exams, group projects, phonetics practicals, reflective papers, and research reports. Detailed written feedback is provided to each student on their assessment performance.
Tessa Dorosh
clinicaltherapies@ucc.ie
clinicaltherapies@ucc.ie
http://www.ucc.ie/en/speech/