Why speech and language therapy?
A rewarding healthcare profession
Speech and language therapists support and care for people of all ages with communication, eating, drinking or swallowing problems. It’s a rewarding career that requires excellent communication and clinical skills.
Learn to be a speech and language therapist at Manchester and you'll thrive in a friendly and supportive environment at a university ranked 3rd in the UK for the subject (Complete University Guide 2025).
You'll graduate with practical experience and a recognised qualification, ready to start your professional life.
Speech and language therapy at Manchester
Preparing you for a rewarding career
Our degree is designed to help you develop these essential skills and is also accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
Informed by service users
Practical experience and patient care are at the heart of our degree. That’s why we involve service users in developing our curriculum.
Watch a video from a recent art workshop with speech and language therapy students and stroke survivors.
How you learn
Teaching on the course
We blend scientific study and clinical enquiry with practical, hands-on experience.
We work closely with local NHS providers to make sure that we prepare you to meet the highest possible workplace standard.
Year 1
Study science, psychology, sociology and linguistics as they apply to speech and language therapy.
Gain an understanding of typical speech, language and swallowing.
Develop professional, academic and clinical skills.
Four-week block clinical placement in the north-west.
Year 2
Study disorders of speech, language, communication and eating, drinking and swallowing.
More clinically focused study in linguistics, phonetics and research methods.
Develop professional, clinical and critical thinking skills.
Six-week block clinical placement in the north-west.
Year 3
Study more complex developmental and acquired communication, swallowing disorders and lifelong disabilities.
Move towards professional autonomy in your final year.
Professional preparation and development of leadership skills.
Six-week block clinical placement in the north-west.
Quality placements
Get hands-on practical experience through three block placements totalling 16 weeks.
We organise your placements for you in a mix of clinical and educational settings across the north-west. Plus, we support and supervise you through the whole process.
Service learning
Work in collaboration with community groups, organisations and schools to expand your skills and knowledge through service learning.
Supporting you through your degree
Thanks to our small class sizes, you will learn in a supportive environment. You’ll get:
- a warm welcome from your personal peer mentor, a student from a higher year who will help you navigate life on your course;
- peer assisted study sessions to support your learning outside lectures;
- access to our friendly speech and language therapy society.
From our students
A week in the life of a children’s speech and language therapist
Manchester graduate Charlotte explains a typical week in her role as a children’s speech and language therapist at Stockport NHS Trust.
Read the blog : A week in the life of a children’s speech and language therapist.
Gaining practical experience in speech and language therapy
BSc student Jasmine discusses the value of practical experience and the benefits of a hands-on approach.
Read the blog : Gaining practical experience in speech and language therapy
Why I chose to study speech and language therapy
Jasmine explains how she decided to go into the field of speech and language therapy.
Read the blog : Why I chose to study speech and language therapy
Becoming a paediatric speech and language therapist
Hira talks about how the Manchester BSc prepared her for the world of work.
Read the blog : Becoming a paediatric speech and language therapist
My first job in speech and language therapy
Laura talks about life in her first speech and language therapist job after university.
Read the blog : Working life after my degree in speech and language therapy.
How embracing my stammer helped me to fulfil my dreams
Richard reveals how his stammer led him to the BSc and into a role working with young people.
Read the blog : How embracing my stammer helped me to fulfil my dreams
Course information
Our speech and language therapy degree
Our three-year course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, enabling you to apply for registration after graduation. Learn more on the course page:
Making an application
Apply for speech and language therapy
If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].
If you’re ready to apply to the speech and language therapy degree at Manchester, here’s what you need to know.
Contact us
Have any questions? Get in touch.
In the Biosciences section
Undergraduate information
There's more to discover about becoming an undergraduate on our Faculty and main University websites. Here are some links to get you started.