-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose NUI Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at NUI Galway is all about here.
-
About NUI Galway
About NUI Galway
Since 1845, NUI Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
NUI Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at NUI Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at NUI Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Alumni, Friends & Supporters
There are over 90,000 NUI Galway graduates Worldwide, connect with us and tap into the online community.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At NUI Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Speech and Language Therapy
Course Overview
Speech and language therapists enable people with communication disorders and swallowing disorders to achieve their maximum potential. They are involved in assessing their clients’ communication and swallowing difficulties, and developing treatment programmes to meet their needs. They work closely with other members of the team, such as nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, teachers, etc, and work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, primary care health centres and schools.
The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) require that those in training have a minimum of 450 hours clinical education, 300 of which must be with a speech and language therapist, and 150 clinically-related. In their first year, students visit preschools and centres for people with disabilities, and throughout the course, qualified speech and language therapists supervise the students in training during their work-placement.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science), and any other subject recognised for entry purposes.
Additional Requirements
Duration
4 years
Next start date
September 2022
A Level Grades (2021)
nuigalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
25
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
Award
CAO
GY503
Course code
Course Outline
Year 1
- Psychology I
- Human Body Structure
- Human Body Function
- Practice Education I
- Professional Studies I
- Linguistics I
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Communication Impairments & Dysphagia I
Year 2
- Psychology II
- Neuroanatomy
- Neurophysiology
- Practice Education II
- Professional Studies II
- Research Methodology II
- Linguistics II
- Communication Impairments & Dysphagia II
Year 3
- Psychology III
- Practice Education III
- Professional Studies III
- Research Methodology III
- Linguistics III
- Communication Impairments & Dysphagia III
Year 4
- Practice Education IV
- Professional Studies IV
- Research Methodology IV
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Required SL122: Phonetics & Phonology - 15 Credits - Semester 1Required SI317: Human Body Function - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required AN240: Human Body Structure - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PS214: Developmental Psychology 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required SL124: Professional Studies 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required SL128: Communication Impairments & Dysphagia 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required SL126: Linguistics 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PS118: Introduction to Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required SL125: Practice Education 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Required SI209: Neurophysiology - 5 Credits - Semester 3Required PS159: Psychology 2: Health & Social Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required AN208: Neuroanatomy - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Required SL225: Communication Impairments & Dysphagia 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Required SL222: Professional Studies 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Required SL223: Linguistics 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required PS160: Research Methodology 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required SL221: Practice Education 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Required SL321: Psychology 3 - 5 Credits - Semester 5Required SL327: Communication Impairments & Dysphagia 3 - 15 Credits - Semester 5
Required SL323: Research Methodology 3 - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required SL324: Practice Education 3 - 15 Credits - Semester 5
Required SL325: Linguistics 3 - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required SL322: Professional Studies 3 - 15 Credits - Semester 5
Further Education
Graduates can go on to higher degrees in the field of science and health.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the degree course will have a professional qualification and may work in a variety of settings such as:
- Community Clinics/Health Centres
- Day Centres
- Rehabilitation Centres
- Individuals' Homes
- Child Development Centres
- Hospitals
- Mainstream and Special Schools
- Language Classes
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
Practice education begins in first year, when students visit pre-schools and centres for people with disabilities. Throughout the course, there is a combination of one-day weekly placements in the on-site clinic and block placements in the community where students are given the opportunity to learn under the supervision of a qualified speech and language therapist. The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) requires that speech and language therapists in training undertake a minimum of 450 hours clinical education, 300 of which must be with a speech and language therapist and 150 of which can be clinically related.
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
Occupational Health Service
In year on students are required to pay a €200 fee towards a subsidised Occupational Health Service provided to students of the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences in compliance with all relevant legislation and standards.
EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Levy €140 - payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.
Find out More
The School of Health Sciences
Speech and Language Therapy
T 353 (0)91 492957
F 353 (0)91 495540
E healththerapies@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/speech_language_therapy/
What Our Students Say

Jenna O'Neill | BSc (Speech and Language Therapy)
...This course really appealed to me due to the broad range of subject areas covered, taking in psychology, linguistics, anatomy and physiology. The best part of the course was the clinical placements which give you the opportunity to link what you are doing in the classroom to its practical application. It also provided great insight into the range of possible working environments, from hospitals to schools and community clinics. It is a challenging, enjoyable and rewarding course which leads on to a great career...