Graduate-entry, Professional Speech Pathology Programs in Australia

Macquarie University School of Speech and Language Pathology

Program Overview - Master of Speech and Language Pathology

University and Faculty:	Macquarie University Division of Linguistics and Psychology
Program:	Master of Speech and Language Pathology
University Location:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
City Population:	4 million
Student Population:	30,000
Campus Location:	North Ryde, Sydney
Program Duration:	Two years
Semester Intake:	February each year
Next Intake:	February 2012
Est. Total Tuition:	$72,320 (2012 fee; estimated, over two years)

The Master of Speech and Language Pathology (MSLP) at Macquarie University began in 2001. It prepares graduates for the profession of Speech Pathology, enabling them to work clinically with individuals with developmental or acquired communication disorders. The program enables individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree in a related field to qualify as speech pathologists in two years and obtain a master's degree. It follows the Speech Pathology Association of Australia Competency Based Standards for Speech Pathologists and is accredited by the Speech Pathology Association of Australia.

Macquarie's MSLP program provides students with basic knowledge of both institutional and societal structures as well as political influences of importance to individuals with disabilities. This is aimed to increase their understanding of optimal ways of facilitating participation and advocacy for individuals with communication impairments.

Why Canadians Enjoy the Program

"I really enjoy the class sizes and the experience that everyone brings to the table. I also like how we have progressive clinical starting in the first month of school right until the end."
T. Simmons
Dalhousie University graduate
Macquarie Master of Speech and Language Pathology

Professional Certification/Accreditation Information

Upon graduation, you are eligible to apply to become a speech pathologist in Canada. For a detailed overview of the certification process, please review the website of the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA): http://www.caslpa.ca

It is imperative that you understand the requirements and procedures associated with entering the speech and language pathology profession in Canada. It is your responsibility to meet the necessary requirements to become a member of the regulatory body in your province, if necessary. Currently in Canada, only six provinces require mandatory registration with a regulatory body.

Scholarships

Every student who applies (and accepts) via OzTREKK and commences his/her studies at an OzTREKK Australian university will receive a $500 scholarship from OzTREKK.
Click here for more information about the OzTREKK Scholarship!

Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians

To be eligible to apply, you must have the following:

• Completed an undergraduate degree (preferably in the fields of linguistics or psychology). Applicants with degrees in related areas, such as teaching, allied health, medicine, or nursing, will be considered on an individual basis; some bridging coursework may be required.
• Achieved a minimum cumulative average of at least 65 percent to be considered.
• Various prerequisite subjects, including Language Description, Introduction to Psychology, Introductory Statistics, Statistical Data Analysis, Phonetics and Phonology, Introduction to Psycholinguistics or First Language Acquisition, Physiological Psychology and Learning, Developmental Psychology, Cognition and Perception, Speech Physiology, Human Biology, Grammar and Meaning, Developmental Speech and Language Disorders, and Acquired Speech and Language Disorders.

Please note the above criteria are minimum requirements. Due to the clinical nature of this program, spaces are limited; therefore, entry is competitive. Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee a place in the program.

Macquarie University Master of Speech and Language Pathology applicants must submit a personal statement to be assessed with their application. In the personal statement, it is important that applicants demonstrate an understanding of the scope of speech pathology as it is practiced in Australia, since this is where they will be developing their knowledge and skills.

Reference letters are not required, although many applicants include them, with the aim of demonstrating relevant work or clinical experiences.

When completing an application, applicants should include course outlines for all relevant undergraduate linguistics, psychological, statistics, and human biology subjects. Applications are assessed based on the applicant's academic background and standing, as well as an applicant's understanding of speech pathology as practiced in Australia and relevant personal experience of speech pathology or related fields.

If a successful applicant does not meet all prerequisites, a conditional offer will be issued by Macquarie University, which outlines a qualifying program that must be completed prior to beginning the Master of Speech and Language Pathology. The student's qualifying program will consist of the prerequisite units not already completed. Upon completion of these prerequisite units, the student is eligible to accept the offer to the Master program. The qualifying program prerequisite units can be completed at Macquarie University (either on campus or in external/distance education mode) or via a Canadian university which offers subjects deemed equivalent to Macquarie's prerequisite subjects.

Students who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree may apply, as long as they will have graduated prior to commencing the program at Macquarie University.

Total Number of Places in the Program: Approximately 8 places for international students

Application Deadline for the February 2012 intake: Oct. 31, 2011. OzTREKK recommends students apply much earlier in the year, preferably in May/June 2012 for the 2013 intake, as there are limited places available.

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Shannon Tilston