Study the Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Study Speech Pathology at Flinders

Help people with communication and swallowing difficulties.

Gain the comprehensive education needed to work successfully as a speech pathologist. Speech pathologists provide services across the lifespan to people whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is affected by communication or swallowing impairment resulting from developmental difficulties, social disadvantage, illness or accident.

Fast facts

Course facts at a glance.

Domestic

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International Student

I am not a citizen of
Australia or New Zealand.

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I am a
Domestic Student

I am an Australian or New Zealand Citizen.

I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).

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Prerequisites

None

Assumed knowledge

None

2024 selection rank

78.00

Guaranteed selection rank

90.00

TAFElink

Advanced Diploma or above

Adjustment factors available

Yes

SATAC code

214352

Delivery mode

In person:

– Bedford Park

Online: No

Duration

4 years full-time
Deferrable: Yes

Annual indicative fee

2024: $13,557

How are these fees calculated?

Start dates

– March

Student and ATAR profile

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Student and ATAR profile

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Why study Speech Pathology at Flinders

Learn from award-winning educators and an innovative evidence and enquiry-based curriculum
Prepare for the multidisciplinary world of speech pathology with a variety of group projects
Benefit from one of the highest number of placement hours for a speech pathology degree in Australia
Offers a research pathway for high-achieving students via our honours program
Sub-quotas available for rural and remote applicants

Your career

Speech pathology graduates are employed in a wide range of settings around the world and work with people of all ages, their carers/families, services, communities and other professionals across a wide variety of agencies. Employment prospects are good, although opportunities in the public sector are naturally influenced by government policy.

Potential occupations include:

speech pathologist
project officer
researcher
manager
policy advisor.

Potential employers include:

healthcare sector (including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health services, mental health services)
aged care sector
disability services sector
education sector (including mainstream, special schools and special education units)
early childhood education sector
private practice
youth justice.

Professional accreditation/recognition

Graduates will meet the standards of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), the national accrediting body, which will enable them to practise in Australia and many other countries around the world including the UK and Asia.

What you will study

First year A typical first year may include:	core topics in introductory anatomy and physiology, anatomy and physiology of speech, child development and learning, psychosocial aspects of speech pathology, research methods in speech pathology, linguistics and phonetics, and an introduction to clinical skills and practice.
Second year A typical second year may include:	core topics in communication development and disorders from birth to pre-school and school age to adolescence study of motor speech disorders, and voice and swallowing disorders practice experience in a range of settings.
Third year A typical third year may include:	core topics in acquired language disorders and complex disorders involving child and adult populations a number of speech pathology practicums.
Fourth year A typical fourth year may include:	a core topic in research methods in speech pathology study of clinical skills and practice covering transition to practice a number of extended speech pathology practicums.

View study program

Practical experience

The degree provides you with practical experience that prepares you for the workforce.

In third year, you will typically undertake two placements of one to two days per week throughout the semester.
In fourth year, you will typically undertake two block placements of six to eight weeks. These may be undertaken in Adelaide, regional areas of South Australia and the Northern Territory and, in some circumstances, overseas.
Placements are provided in a range of settings including childcare centres, state and independent schools, disability services, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health centres and aged care facilities.

What you will need

Prior to attending practical placements, you must complete a police check and be immunised in accordance with the relevant state or territory immunisation standards, for example Health Immunisation for Health Care Workers in South Australia 2014 Policy Guideline. Information will be provided to you prior to placement.

ATAR and Student Profile Information

ATAR and Selection Rank profile

The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2024. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published

ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds	ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors	Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer	99.35	99.95
Median rank to receive an offer	90.90	93.75
Lowest rank to receive an offer	62.70	74.65

Student Profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2024 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – the number of students is less than 5
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

Applicant background (Semester 1, 2024)	Number of students	Percentage of all students
Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	5	10%
Vocational education and training (VET) study	<5	<5
Work and life experience	<5	<5
Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	29	56%
Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test)	8	15%
Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways)	<5	<5
International Students	<5	<5
All students	52	100%

Add Innovation and Enterprise
to your degree

At Flinders University, we recognise that careers are evolving and the workplace of the future will look very different from today.

Whatever undergraduate course you are studying at Flinders, you can add innovation and enterprise electives to your degree to gain new, adaptable and transferrable skills that will equip you for the careers of tomorrow.

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Get inspired

Gain industry experience at Flinders

How to apply

Choose your preferred course.

Check the entry requirements and admission pathways available to you.

Choose other courses to include in your preferences.

Visit SATAC and submit your application online.

Admission pathways

Applicants can apply for this course using Year 12 qualifications, previous higher education study, TAFE/VET qualifications, or through adult entry (STAT/Foundation Studies/tertiary preparation course).

Find the entry path that’s right for you.

Explore our pathways

Rural and remote sub-quotas

An annual subquota is available for applicants from rural and remote areas. To be considered for the rural and remote subquota applicants must apply to SATAC in the normal way.

Applicants must also, within 10 working days after submitting the SATAC application, submit a Statutory Declaration to SATAC which confirms that they have lived in non-metropolitan areas of Australia (Remoteness Classifications RA2 to RA5) for at least 5 consecutive years, or 10 years cumulatively, from birth (i.e. during any period of their life). A Statutory Declaration form can be downloaded here (PDF 95KB).

Applicants can check their eligibility in accordance with the definition above using the search tool at the Remoteness Area (RA) Locator site. Filter your search using the ASGS Remoteness Areas (2016) layer.

Am I eligible?

Northern Territory sub-quotas

An annual subquota is available for applicants from the Northern Territory (NT). To be considered for the NT subquota applicants must apply to SATAC in the normal way.

Applicants who gain entry in this degree through the subquota will be registered with the Flinders NT and required to travel and reside in the Northern Territory for their final year clinical placements. The Flinders NT will subsidise travel expenses up to the equivalent of an economy class one-way fare. Contact the Flinders NT at fnt.placements@flinders.edu.au for further details prior to application.

Applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria to be eligible for consideration for a subquota place: must have their principal place of residence in the NT; or must have been resident in the NT for a minimum period of two years, within the last five years; or must be a recent graduate (within the last 5 years) or a current student of Charles Darwin University.

Applicants must also, within 10 working days after submitting the SATAC application, submit a Statutory Declaration to SATAC which confirms that they meet the criteria for the NT subquota.

Download a Statutory Declaration form

Choosing your preferences

When choosing your preferences through SATAC, other Flinders degrees you might want to include in your list are:

How to apply

Select your course.

Check entry requirements.

Check your eligibility for credit.

Apply online

Obtain certified documents.

Submit your application and documents.

View further details

English language pathways

If you don’t meet our English language entry requirements and need to improve your English language proficiency, you can do so through Flinders University Academy – or our approved English Language Instruction Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers.

This means that you can attend the required English language tuition at approved ELICOS providers and gain direct entry into university without an IELTS or TOEFL test.

Find out more

Academic program pathways

If you don’t meet our academic entry requirements, you can still gain entry to Flinders University through Flinders University Academy. With a range of diplomas, foundation and English language courses, students can find a direct pathway into the destination degree of their choice.

Find out more

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Course enquiries

Want more information about studying at Flinders University? Contact us to find out more – we’d love to help you decide if Flinders University is the right choice for you.

Course enquiries

For all course enquiries phone or email us or complete the course enquiry form.

1300 354 633

askflinders@flinders.edu.au

Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Study Speech Pathology at Flinders

Fast facts