Why Study / Key Benefits

Massey’s Master of Speech and Language Therapy is an advanced postgraduate qualification designed for people who are already qualified speech and language therapists. It focuses on developing advanced clinical, theoretical and research expertise rather than providing initial professional training.

Key benefits include:

• Advanced study of speech and language therapy practice, theory and current professional issues.
• Development of research skills that can be applied to clinical practice and contribute to the speech and language therapy knowledge base.
• Focus on evidence-based practice and research methodology.
• Flexibility to study full-time or part-time.
• Distance and online study options.
• Assignments and thesis topics can be tailored to the student's professional interests.
• Students receive academic mentoring from staff with expertise relevant to their subject area.
• Students with an appropriate Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (Honours) qualification can potentially receive 60 credits of recognition of prior learning and proceed directly towards the thesis component.
• The qualification can provide a foundation for progression to PhD study.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification is parts-based, meaning students must complete Part One before progressing to Part Two. Students must achieve at least a B grade average in Part One to progress.

Research Pathway

Part One:

• 271711 Critical and Current Issues in Speech and Language Therapy – 30 credits
• Research-methods study – 30 credits

Part Two:

• 271808 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 – 60 credits
• 271809 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 – 60 credits

Total: 180 credits.

271711 Critical and Current Issues in Speech and Language Therapy examines critical and current trends affecting speech-language therapy clinicians and researchers.

Research-methods options include:

• 168711 Health Research Design and Method – 30 credits
• 175746 Psychological Research: Quantitative Data Analysis – 15 credits
• 175750 Qualitative Methods in Psychology – 15 credits
• 267721 Research Methodologies in Education – 15 credits
• 267741 Indigenous Research Methodologies – 15 credits.

These courses cover areas such as:

• quantitative and qualitative research
• research design
• research ethics
• statistical analysis
• qualitative inquiry
• mixed-methods research
• Indigenous research frameworks.

Professional Pathway

The qualification regulations allow a Professional Pathway structure consisting of:

• 90 credits of compulsory professional courses
• 30 credits of research-methods courses
• 60-credit professional project

The professional courses include:

• 271710 Evidence-Based Practice in Speech and Language Therapy – 30 credits
• 271711 Critical and Current Issues in Speech and Language Therapy – 30 credits
• 271712 Theoretical Issues in Speech and Language Therapy – 30 credits

The Part Two professional project is:

• 267860 Professional Inquiry – 60 credits.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The Master of Speech and Language Therapy is awarded without a formal specialisation.

Students can nevertheless tailor assignments, research and thesis topics towards their professional interests and client caseloads. Massey describes this flexibility as an opportunity to develop specialist expertise in an area of individual interest.

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 9 master's qualification.
• 180 credits under the standard pathway.
• 1.5 years full-time.
• Part-time option available.
• Distance and online delivery.
• Available to international students studying online outside New Zealand or on campus in New Zealand.
• Designed specifically for people who are already qualified speech and language therapists.
• Strong emphasis on research and evidence-based practice.
• Flexible research-topic selection.
• Academic mentoring.
• Research pathway includes a substantial 120-credit thesis.
• Advanced entry can reduce the programme to 120 credits for eligible students with an appropriate Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (Honours) qualification and B average.
• Provides a foundation for potential PhD progression.

Career Outcomes

The qualification is designed to advance the expertise of existing speech and language therapy professionals rather than provide initial professional qualification. Massey identifies speech-language therapy as a career area associated with the qualification.

Potential professional applications include:

• Advanced speech-language therapy practice
• Specialist clinical roles
• Clinical research
• Research and academic work
• Professional inquiry and service development
• Evidence-based practice development
• Policy or programme development related to communication and swallowing services
• Further postgraduate research, including potential PhD study.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current programme-specific points are:

• The MSpchLangTher is a research/advanced-study master's for qualified speech-language therapists, not an entry-to-practice qualification.
• Students seeking initial qualification to practise as a speech-language therapist should instead consider Massey's Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy with Honours.
• The current Professional Pathway is not offered for 2026.
• The Research Pathway consists of a 30-credit compulsory course, 30 credits of research methods and a 120-credit thesis.
• A B average in Part One is required to progress to Part Two.
• The qualification has no formal specialisation.
• Eligible Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (Honours) graduates with at least a B average may receive 60 credits of recognition of prior learning and complete a 120-credit programme.
• International graduates should check NZSTA requirements separately before assuming that the master's permits professional registration or employment in New Zealand.
• Individual research-methods courses may have restrictions against similar courses, so the final course combination must comply with Massey's approved programme structure.

International Student Visa Requirements

There are two different situations for an international student.

Online study from outside New Zealand

Massey explicitly states that MSpchLangTher is open to international students studying online outside New Zealand.

If the student remains outside New Zealand and studies entirely online, a New Zealand student visa is generally not required simply to undertake the online programme.

Study in New Zealand

If the student intends to physically study in New Zealand, the relevant visa is normally the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's circumstances.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the Fee Paying Student Visa:

• Costs from NZ$850
• Can be issued for up to four years
• Has an 80% processing timeframe of up to eight weeks
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider
• Requires evidence of sufficient tuition funding or an applicable scholarship
• Requires sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor
• Requires acceptable medical/travel insurance
• Requires applicants to meet health and character requirements
• Requires a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
• Requires evidence that the applicant can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.