Why Study / Key Benefits

• Professional four-year undergraduate qualification preparing students for clinical work in speech and language pathology.
• Focuses on communication and swallowing disorders affecting children and adults.
• Combines academic study with substantial supervised clinical fieldwork.
• UC has its own Speech and Hearing Clinic, allowing students to work with real clients under qualified clinical supervision.
• Fieldwork can take place in preschools, schools, hospitals and clinics in Christchurch and throughout New Zealand, with opportunities for overseas placements.
• The qualification is accredited by Te K?hui Kaiwhakatikatika Reo K?rero o Aotearoa | New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA).
• UC describes the programme as Aotearoa New Zealand’s most established Speech and Language Pathology degree and says it has trained a majority of the country's speech-language therapists/pathologists.
• Students develop clinical, research, communication, assessment and therapy-planning skills.
• The programme is particularly suitable for students interested in healthcare, human communication, linguistics, psychology, education and rehabilitation.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The degree consists of an Intermediate Year followed by three Professional Years.

Intermediate Year – 120 points

Required:

• STAT101 Statistics 1 – 15 points

At least one of:

• HLTH106 Te Wero – M?ori Health Issues and Opportunities
• MAOR165 Tuakiri: Culture and Identity
• MAOR172 Science, M?ori and Indigenous Knowledge
• TREO110 Te Ngao T?: Conversational M?ori for Absolute Beginners
• TREO111 Te Ngao Pae 1: Introductory Reo 1

The remaining Intermediate Year points are selected from 100-level UC courses.

First Professional Year – Year 2

All listed professional courses are compulsory:

• HEAR243 Introduction to Audiologic Assessment and Management
• SPSC222 Child Language Practice 1
• SPSC223 Applied Linguistics and Language Acquisition
• SPSC232 Speech Sound Disorders
• SPSC262 Neuroscience of Swallowing and Communication
• SPSC281 Observation and Clinical Practice 1
• SPSC282 Clinical Practice 2
• A further 15 points at 200 level.

Key academic areas include speech and language development, clinical linguistics, audiology, speech sound disorders, neuroscience, communication disorders and clinical observation.

Second Professional Year – Year 3

Compulsory courses include:

• SPSC320 Child Language Practice 2
• SPSC322 Motor Speech and Voice Disorders
• SPSC351 Stuttering and Cluttering
• SPSC365 Dysphagia and Related Disorders – Diagnosis
• SPSC366 Dysphagia and Related Disorders – Management
• SPSC369 Acquired Neurogenic Communication Disorders
• SPSC381 Applied Research and Clinical Practice 3
• SPSC382 Clinical Practice 4.

This stage develops knowledge of childhood language disorders, motor speech and voice disorders, fluency disorders, swallowing disorders and acquired neurological communication disorders.

Third Professional Year – Year 4

Compulsory courses include:

• SPSC420 Professional Studies
• SPSC461 Evidence-based Case Integration in the Aotearoa Context
• SPSC483 Clinical Practice 5 – 30 points
• SPSC484 Clinical Practice 6 – 30 points

Students must also complete at least one of:

• SPSC490 Research Project – 30 points
• SPSC491 Capstone Project – 15 points

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements within the BSLP(Hons).

Instead, the degree provides specialist professional training across areas such as:

• Speech and language development
• Child language disorders
• Speech sound disorders
• Applied linguistics
• Language acquisition
• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Swallowing and dysphagia
• Motor speech disorders
• Voice disorders
• Stuttering and cluttering
• Acquired neurogenic communication disorders
• Clinical assessment
• Clinical intervention
• Evidence-based practice
• Research
• Professional practice.

Programme Highlights

• 480-point professional honours degree.
• Four years full-time.
• 300 hours of supervised clinical practical work required under the 2026 regulations.
• Up to 50% of coursework can involve fieldwork depending on the year of study.
• Real-client clinical experience.
• UC Speech and Hearing Clinic.
• Clinical experience across schools, preschools, hospitals and clinics.
• Research component in the final Professional Year.
• NZSTA accreditation.
• Strong integration of theory and clinical practice.
• Opportunity to work with clients across different ages and backgrounds.

Career Outcomes

Graduates can pursue careers involving communication, speech, language, swallowing and related health services.

Potential career areas include:

• Speech-language therapist/pathologist
• Paediatric speech and language services
• Hospital-based communication and swallowing services
• School-based speech-language services
• Private speech-language clinics
• Rehabilitation services
• Aged-care/rest-home services
• Research and development
• Communication-assistive technology
• Clinical administration and related health services.

Possible further study at UC includes:

• Master of Audiology
• Master of Science in Speech and Language Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy in Speech and Language Sciences
• Master of Speech and Language Pathology.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current 2026 BSLP(Hons) regulations came into force on 1 January 2026.

The most important special requirement for international applicants is that entry to the Professional Years is limited.

To apply for the First Professional Year, students must:

• Successfully complete the Intermediate Year.
• Meet the required academic standard.
• Submit an application.
• Provide a statement of interest.
• Provide two letters of recommendation.
• Participate in an interview if shortlisted.
• Meet the programme's English requirement.

Selection considers:

• Academic merit
• Statement of interest
• Letters of recommendation
• Interview performance.

The programme is therefore not a simple automatic progression from Year 1 to Year 2.

Progression also requires:

• Passing all compulsory professional-year courses.
• Normally achieving at least a B- average in compulsory courses in each Professional Year before progressing.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student studying this full-time UC qualification in New Zealand, the relevant visa is generally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to Immigration New Zealand eligibility.

Current key requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for tuition fees or an approved scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Good health and character.
• Genuine intention to study in New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.

Current published visa information:

• Visa cost: from NZD 850
• Maximum stay: up to 4 years
• Processing: 80% within 8.5 weeks
• Applications are submitted online
• Immigration New Zealand strongly encourages international students to apply approximately three months before intended travel.

Living-fund requirement for tertiary students:

• NZD 20,000 per year for study lasting one year or more
• NZD 1,667 per month where the course of study is shorter than one year.

Work rights:

• A student visa may allow up to 25 hours of work per week during study.
• Full-time work may be permitted during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions attached to the visa.