Speech and Language Therapy (pre-registration) with a Foundation Year
Speech and language therapy is the clinical profession dedicated to assessing and treating communication disorders and difficulties with eating, drinking, and swallowing. It serves people across the entire lifespan, from children with language delays and speech sound disorders to adults who have acquired communication difficulties following stroke, brain injury, or progressive neurological conditions. The profession requires a deep understanding of linguistics, psychology, anatomy, and physiology, combined with strong clinical reasoning and the interpersonal skills to work with individuals and families during often difficult and vulnerable times.
Keele University's five-year full-time Speech and Language Therapy with Foundation Year degree has a typical entry tariff of 104 points. As the course describes, you will embark on a dynamic and rewarding vocational career, transforming the lives of individuals, groups, and communities who experience challenges with communication, eating, drinking, or swallowing. The programme is informed by the latest research and taught by practitioners and expert staff.
The foundation year provides the academic and scientific preparation needed before progressing to the main clinical degree. You will study linguistics, phonetics, anatomy and physiology, psychology, child language development, and the full range of clinical conditions that speech and language therapists manage, alongside substantial clinical placements in NHS and community settings where you develop your practical skills under qualified supervision.
Graduation from an accredited programme and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council allows you to practise as a speech and language therapist in the NHS, independent practice, education, and a wide range of community and specialist settings. Many therapists go on to develop expertise in specific areas such as acquired neurological conditions, voice disorders, dysphagia, autism, or child language. Postgraduate study and research are well-established pathways in this profession, and the scientific and clinical training the degree provides is a strong foundation for advanced practice.