Course Overview

About This Course

Speech pathologists recognise the importance of communication and swallowing as activities that enable people to participate fully in their daily lives. They work with individuals, groups, families and communities to support the development, rehabilitation and maintenance of effective communication and swallowing skills across the lifespan. ACU's speech pathology program prepares you to assess and diagnose difficulties with speech, language, voice, fluency, multi-modal communication and swallowing, and enables you to provide intervention and support that is person-centred, culturally sensitive and evidence-based. You will recognise the dignity of the human person and your responsibility towards the common good, and have opportunities to put your values, knowledge and skills into action through professional practice and community engagement activities in Australia and overseas. Professional practice placements begin in first year and continue each semester: an observation day in Year 1; around eight half-days of simulation and twelve half-days of placement in Year 2; around ten half-days of simulation and twelve to fifteen full days of placement in Year 3; and approximately 30 full days of placement in each semester of Year 4. Students also complete 20 hours of community engagement placement in Years 1 and 3. To qualify for the degree you complete 320 credit points: 40 credit points of inter-professional units, 170 credit points of speech pathology theory units, 90 credit points of integration and practice units and 20 credit points of Core Curriculum units. The course is accredited by Speech Pathology Australia and is taught on ACU's Brisbane, Melbourne, North Sydney and Canberra campuses.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

1200 Mair St, Ballarat, VIC 3350

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

AUD $10,898

Duration

4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Intakes

Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2027 (Applications open August 2026)

Study Mode

Full-time or part-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students

An applicant must comply with ACU's Admission to Coursework Programs Policy. To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at Year 12 level, or equivalent:
- Australian Capital Territory: a study score of at least 133 in English-T (Major) or ESL (Major); and a study score of at least 97 in one of Biology-T, Chemistry-T or Physics-T
- New South Wales: English (Standard) (Band 4) or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (Band 4); plus at least one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Band 2)
- Queensland: English (Units 3 & 4, C); one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Units 3 & 4, C)
- Victoria: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any English other than EAL; and a study score of at least 25 in one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics
Indicative ATAR: 81.20 (Brisbane), 75.00 (Canberra), 84.10 (Melbourne), 91.00 (North Sydney).
Applicants with higher education study: if you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, ACU will assign you a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration and grade point average, and prior study or relevant work experience may make you eligible for credit or recognition of prior learning.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission.

International students

Applicants require the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate, including studies in biology, chemistry or physics. Applicants must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy Schedule 4.
Honours: the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) program is embedded into years 3 and 4 of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Pass) program. To be eligible to apply for admission to the honours program, a student must have completed 160 cp from years 1 and 2 of the pass degree, with a grade point average of at least 5.50.
English language requirements:
IELTS (Academic): overall score 8.0, with an individual score of 8.0 in all bands
PTE Academic: 79, with a minimum of 79 in all four communicative skills
TOEFL (internet-based): total of 110, with a minimum of 30 in writing, 26 in speaking, 29 in reading and 28 in listening
Cambridge C1 Advanced: a minimum of 200, with a minimum of 200 in all tests

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Our graduates have pursued careers in:
• Early intervention services for children
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation centres
• Mental health services
• Community health services
• Aged care services
• Private practice research

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

SPA (Speech Pathology Australia)

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units40 units

ALHT106

Psychology for Allied Health

HLSC120

Indigenous Health and Culture

ALHT210

Neuroscience for Allied Health

ALHT211

Research and Evidence - Informed Practice in Allied Health

SPHY100

Communication and Development Across the Lifespan

SPHY102

Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Pathology

SPHY103

Linguistics and Phonetics for Speech Pathology

SPHY105

Foundations of Speech Pathology Practice

SPHY201

Language Disorders (Developmental)

SPHY202

Language Disorders (Acquired)

SPHY209

Speech disorders (developmental) and hearing

SPHY205

Motor Speech Disorders (Acquired)

SPHY301

Swallowing, Feeding, and Mealtime across the Lifespan

SPHY303

Voice Disorders Across the Lifespan

SPHY304

Fluency Disorders Across the Lifespan

SPHY309

Language, literacy and cognition across the lifespan

SPHY310

Community Development, Public Health and Speech Pathology

ALHT420

Global Perspectives of Community-Centred Practice

SPHY405

Workplaces and Work Readiness for Speech Pathology

SPHY406

Disability and Technology in Contemporary Speech Pathology Practice

SPHY407

Professional Reasoning in Speech Pathology - 1

SPHY408

Professional Reasoning in Speech Pathology 2

SPHY101

Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice

SPHY203

Speech Pathology Practice 2A

SPHY207

Speech Pathology Practice 2B

SPHY302

Speech Pathology Practice 3A

SPHY305

Speech Pathology Practice 3B

SPHY415

Speech Pathology Professional and Reflective Practice 4A

SPHY416

Speech Pathology Professional and Reflective Practice 4B

PHCC102

Being Human

PHCC104

Ethics and the Good Life

PHCC106

Making Sense: Practical Reasoning for Life and Career

THCC100

Revolutionary Values: Christianity in History

THCC101

People Matter: Catholic Social Thought

TPCC100

Life and Meaning: Imagining Ourselves through Art and Cinema

PHCC201

The Origins of the Sciences and Contemporary Challenges

THCC200

Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective

THCC202

Sacred Land: Australian Indigenous Spiritualities and Catholic Thought

TPCC201

Ecology and Justice

TPCC202

Conflict, Violence and Peace-making

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bachelor of Speech Pathology take to complete?

The Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University has a duration of 208 weeks (approximately 4 years).

Does the Bachelor of Speech Pathology include practical work experience?

Yes, the course includes a mandatory work component of 1,190 hours in total, which equates to 35 hours per week over 34 weeks of practical placement.

At which campuses can I study the Bachelor of Speech Pathology?

The Bachelor of Speech Pathology is offered at four Australian Catholic University campuses: Canberra (ACT), North Sydney (NSW), Brisbane (QLD), and Melbourne (VIC).

What is the estimated total cost of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology for international students?

The estimated total course cost for international students is AU$216,480, which covers tuition fees only, with no additional non-tuition fees listed.

Is the Bachelor of Speech Pathology eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

The course may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a Bachelor Degree (Skills Level 1 qualification) with a duration greater than 92 weeks, and its narrow field of education (Rehabilitation Therapies) may align with the Skills Level 1 priority list. Eligibility is reviewed yearly and requires at least one active enrolment at the time of review.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $70,000 to $85,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $85,000 to $100,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $100,000 to $120,000 per year

Career Paths

Graduate Speech PathologistPaediatric Speech PathologistHospital Speech Pathologist (Acute Care)Community Health Speech PathologistSchool-Based Speech Pathologist

Key Skills

Clinical assessment and diagnosis of speech, language, and swallowing disordersEvidence-based intervention planning and therapy deliveryDysphagia (swallowing) assessment and managementAugmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device use and prescriptionPhonological and phonetic analysis

Full Course Overview

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