Campuses and locations
The University of Newcastle is a multi-campus institution offering programs in a number of locations.
I am a prospective
student, looking to study at
Newcastle
Duration4 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 10 years maximum.4 years full-time.
Mode of deliveryFace to Face
Start datesSemester 1 (21 Feb 2022),
Semester 1 (21 Feb 2022),
FeesFind information about indicative course and program fees.AUD 37,970 (indicative annual fee, 2021)
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). Find out more about fees
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). Find out more about fees
English proficiencyIELTS overall minimum - 7.0, IELTS section minimum - 7.0 Find out more about IELTS.
Program Code12318
75.15
86.88 (Median SR)
This was the minimum selection rank for recent school leaver offers this year. It may change next year.
Entry requirements
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.
Study speech pathology
Secure your future with highly specialised training, exciting placements and flexible outcomes.
Speech pathologists are allied health professionals responsible for the assessment and treatment of children and adults with communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan, such as developmental and acquired speech and language disorders, cleft lip and palate, voice disorders and stuttering.
When you study a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) at the University of Newcastle, you are accessing the most comprehensive degree of its kind in Australia, opening up experiences and job opportunities like no other.
Why study with us?
- Our speech pathology graduates get jobs with 87% securing employment within four months of completing their degree (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019).
- Hands on learning with 20+ weeks of clinical placements throughout your studies ensure you gain comprehensive professional experience.
- Exciting international placements such as our International stream enrich your learning and skills development.
- On-campus speech pathology clinics provide easy access to industry experience via our Stuttering, Voice, Speech Intelligibility and Speech Pathology in Schools (SPinS) Clinics.
- Globally recognised qualifications and Australian accreditation opens up multiple opportunities and career options.
Avni's Story: Combining politics and medicine to support those in need
87% Employed
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within four months of graduation
20+ Weeks
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of clinical experience
Over 90%
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satisfaction with speech pathology learning resources
World top 200
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for Linguistics
What you will study
You will develop competencies and learn the necessary skills to confidently take on the full range of conditions that speech pathologists assess and treat, including:
- All acquired and developmental human communication disorders
- Swallowing disorders
- Speech disorders
- Fluency disorders
- Voice disorders
- Communication disorders of neurological origin
Students will study a variety of foundation courses including:
- Linguistics
- Psychology
- Bioscience
- Anatomy
As part of the honours component in this degree you can choose from the study pathways outlined in the Speech Pathology handbook .
Program plans
Download a program plan for further details on your degree's structure and what courses you will study.
These program plans are applicable to new students. Current students should refer to the program handbook to access the plan relevant to the year they commenced.
Career
Career opportunities
Gain professionally accredited expertise in all areas of speech pathology. The strong experience-based nature of this degree, along with an internationally recognised professional accreditation, prepares University of Newcastle graduates for immediate professional employment. In fact, 83% of our 2019 graduates were employed within four months of completion (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019).
Opportunities exist in:
- hospitals
- community health centres
- schools
- rehabilitation units
- nursing homes
- specialist disability services
- academic research
- management positions
- private practice
Bachelor of Speech Pathology graduates can find employment in a variety of roles in many different types of organisations. The list below provides typical job titles for graduates of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Health Promotion Officer
- Rehabilitation Consultant
- Research Scientist
- Speech Pathologist
- University Lecturer/Academic
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for graduates with the skills gained upon completion of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Audiologist
- Disability Services Manager
- English As A Second Language Teacher (ESL Teacher)
- Exercise Rehabilitation/Injury Management Advisor
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Music Therapist
- Voice or Vocal Coach
Professional recognition
Speech Pathology Association of Australia
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) degree is accredited by the Speech Pathology Association of Australia, the national peak body for speech pathology in the country.
The Association offers a Continuing Professional Development program, as well as many other benefits and resources for students and practising professionals. Accreditation is recognised in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States of America.
Societies and associations
Student societies and associations enable you to enrich your learning and grow your networks. Below are some of the groups University of Newcastle speech pathology students can access:
Practical experience
This degree requires students to participate in placements in NSW services or facilities, including NSW Health facilities. During placement, students will be subject to the policies and procedures of the placement facility. Students must meet all the Speech Pathology Placement Requirements including a National Criminal Record Check, NSW Working with Children clearance and meet all the NSW Health Verification requirements. For more information visit the University of Newcastle website.
Develop impressive real-world skills with more than 20 weeks of clinical placements and a comprehensive range of practical experiences throughout your studies. The program will provide you with clinical education and experience that is sufficient in both quality and quantity so that you gain confidence and meet professional accreditation requirements.
At the University of Newcastle, our dedicated professional experience unit will ensure that you gain the best placements preparing you for successful careers.
Clinical placements
Locations
Intensity
20+ weeks clinical experience throughout your studies.
Duration
Placements range from one-day observation visits to five-week intensive block placements.
Schedule
Placement occurs throughout the whole year including during University breaks.
International Stream
You may also develop clinical skills and experience through various international placement opportunities. The program also offers students exciting opportunities through its well-regarded International stream.
International Stream
The University of Newcastle has strong regional and international links with specific emphasis on the Asia Pacific Region. Apart from diverse placements in Australia, you can enrich your practical experience further through our exciting International stream.
Why choose the International Stream
- Gain distinctive graduate skills, knowledge and practical experience
- Enjoy flexible study options
- Work in a variety of settings with diverse populations and cultures
- Gain wider and better understanding of broader health issues locally, regionally and internationally
- Experience other cultures and languages - network, gain friends and enhance work skills with cultural and linguistic advantages
- Contribute to the development of speech therapy internationally with an emphasis in the Asia Pacific region.
For more information, you may download and print our Speech Pathology - International stream flyer (PDF, 1.3MB).
On-campus speech pathology clinics
Additionally, some clinical placements will be based within the University's Speech Pathology Clinic centre. Specialised clinics treat members of the public and include:
Study with us
Hear from our students
Listen to our students talk about their degree and life at the University of Newcastle.
How to apply
Applying for Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
I am a prospective
student, looking to study at
Newcastle
Let's just check you are eligible
Pick your situation from the list below for more information.
If you are an international student, read the information below before completing an application.
As someone who recently completed secondary education, either at high school, TAFE or another VET provider, you will generally be considered for entry based on your Selection Rank (SR). Some degrees have additional entry requirements such as auditions or interviews and where required you will find these listed on the relevant degree page.
Try to choose what you are most interested in and then research some back up options with lower Selection Ranks (SR) to put as your later choices. A good tip is to look at degrees that may have similar first year subjects. This will help you reduce your overall study time if you want to apply to transfer to your degree of choice after the first year. We also recommend choosing one of our free pathway programs as a backup option as your fifth preference on your UAC application. Selection Ranks (SR) requirements for our degrees do change from year to year so only use the Selection Rank (SR) as a guide.
You should start planning your way into uni from Year 10 onwards. Think about:
- Using our study areas to narrow down study options based on what you are interested in
- Come and speak to us at events like Open Day, Schools Visit Day and campus tours
- Check the Assumed Knowledge and Recommended Studies of the degrees you are interested in
- If you are a high performer you can get a head start by completing some uni subjects while still at school
- Sign up to our mailing list for regular updates
- Have a look at adjustment points and other entry schemes that may give you an extra boost
- Decide on some back up options like Open Foundation and other entry pathways if you don't get the required marks
- See our Application FAQs .
- Have questions? Ask a student. We know you must have heaps of questions about university life – what’s needed to get into your degree, where to go for support, what on-campus accommodation is available and of course, where to find the best coffee. Jump on our website to chat to one of our Student Ambassadors.
Secondary results don’t have a use-by date, so even if you completed high school 20 years ago, these results may be used to apply to the University of Newcastle. You can use your ATAR or equivalent (UAI, TER etc) to apply irrespective of when you completed Year 12.
It can be complicated to calculate your Selection Rank (SR) based on high school results prior to the introduction of the ATAR in 2009. Contact us at 1300 275 866 and let us do the calculating for you.
If you don’t think you will meet the Selection Rank (SR) for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:
- Open Foundation
- Complete this program full-time (in a single semester) or part-time (up to 2 years) to get guaranteed entry to over 40+ degrees or to receive a new University Selection Rank.
- Yapug
- Complete this program full-time (in two semesters) or part-time (up to 2 years) to gain entry into an undergraduate degree at the University of Newcastle.
- Diplomas
- Complete a diploma either full-time or part-time to get entry into one of our related Bachelor degrees.
- Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Admission Scheme
- Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
- Elite Athlete Program
- Get adjustment points and support by applying as an elite athlete.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test
- Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.
For advice on these other options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866.
If you studied vocational education and training, the type of qualification, whether or not you completed it, and if it was graded or competency-based will all be taken into consideration to assess your eligibility for admission. TAFE and private providers, as well as some universities, typically offer Certificate III, IV and Diploma Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) awards. Some also offer Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees.
For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. Selection ranks from different individual qualifications are not combined or added together to form a rank. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission. Different selection ranks are assigned to VET courses with graded assessment and competency based (ungraded) assessment. The tables below provide information on how to assess your selection rank based on your AQF qualification.
TAFE Guaranteed Entry
Many of our students come to us after completing TAFE studies. You can gain guaranteed entry into many of our 2021 undergraduate programs if you have previously completed an accredited Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma at TAFE or another registered training organisation (RTO).
Complete Graded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma
| Grade Point Average | Rank - AQF Diploma | Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5+ | 95 | 96.95 |
| 6.25-6.49 | 93 | 95.25 |
| 6.00-6.24 | 90 | 93 |
| 5.75-5.99 | 88 | 91 |
| 5.50-5.74 | 86 | 89 |
| 5.25-5.49 | 83 | 86 |
| 5.00-5.24 | 81 | 83 |
| 4.75-4.99 | 78 | 80 |
| 4.00-4.74 | 75 | 76 |
Complete and Incomplete Ungraded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma
| Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma | Rank - AQF Diploma |
|---|---|
| 76 | 75 |
Complete Graded AQF Certificate III or AQF Certificate IV
Please note: Certificate III qualifications and below are not accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing program.
| Grade Point Average | Rank - AQF Certificate III | Rank - AQF Certificate IV |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5+ | 78 | 90 |
| 6.25-6.49 | 78 | 88 |
| 6.00-6.24 | 77 | 86 |
| 5.75-5.99 | 76 | 84 |
| 5.50-5.74 | 75 | 82 |
| 5.25-5.49 | 73 | 80 |
| 5.00-5.24 | 71 | 78 |
| 4.75-4.99 | 69 | 75 |
| 4.00-4.74 | 67 | 73 |
Complete Ungraded AQF Certificate III and AQF Certificate IV
| Rank - AQF Certificate III | Rank - AQF Certificate IV |
|---|---|
| 67 | 73 |
Note: Incomplete VET studies must be AQF Diploma level or above and more than 0.2 of a full time student (FTE) to be considered for admission.
It is probably best to contact our Enquiry Centre on 1300 275 866 to discuss your qualifications and grades. Our team are happy to advise you on your options.
Your previous qualifications may also make you eligible for credit to your degree. This will cut down on your study time. You can apply for credit before you start. See our credit page for more information.
If you don’t think you will meet the requirements for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:
- Open Foundation
Complete this program full-time (in a single semester) or part-time (up to 2 years) to get guaranteed entry to over 40+ degrees or to receive a new University Selection Rank. - Yapug Complete this program full-time (in a single year) or part-time (up to 2 years) to gain entry into an undergraduate degree at the University of Newcastle.
- Diplomas Complete a diploma either full-time or part-time to gain entry into a related Bachelor's degree
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Scheme
Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. - Educational Access Scheme
Get up to four points if you have experienced educational or other disadvantage. - Elite Athlete Program
Get adjustment points and support by applying as an elite athlete. - Special Tertiary Admissions Test
Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.
If you completed higher education or partial higher education studies your grade point average (GPA) (or Grade Average as a percentage for pathway programs like Open Foundation or Yapug) can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. To ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. The selection rank from this qualification is not added to your ATAR. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission.
If you have completed a degree and want to move onto postgraduate study please see our Postgraduate website.
Bachelor degree studies
| Min GPA (>0.5FTE*) | Selection Rank |
|---|---|
| 6.5+ | 97.30 |
| 6 | 93.40 |
| 5 | 86.30 |
| 4 | 77.65 |
| 3 | 67.25 |
*Your GPA can only be calculated if you have completed at least 20 units of study. A full-time study (FTE) load is usually 80 units per year.
Completed pathway (also known as enabling or tertiary preparation) programs
| Overall Grade Average | Selection Rank |
|---|---|
| >97 | 99.55 |
| 80 | 84 |
| 70 | 77 |
| 60 | 70 |
| 50 | 65 |
If you are currently studying a degree at the University of Newcastle and want to transfer across to another degree, please see our Internal Transfers page for current students for more information.
If you have completed or are soon to complete an Enabling Pathways program (Open Foundation or Yapug) you can apply with us directly for free for most degrees. Please visit the Your Next Move website for more information.
If you want to transfer or complete a tertiary preparation program at another university you will need to apply through UAC. Please contact our Enquiry Centre 1300 275 866 for information and advice.
If you think you may be eligible for credit please visit our credit section.
If you’re applying on the basis of overseas secondary qualifications, there are some that are considered as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. Note that equivalence of qualifications alone does not guarantee entry into programs. For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, your overseas qualification will be converted to a selection rank so you can be compared to other applicants.
For advice on your options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or visit AskUON.
If you haven’t completed any formal secondary, VET or higher education studies we offer a range of options to get you on the pathway to your dream degree. Our recommended pathways are:
Pathway programs (Open Foundation and Yapug)
The University of Newcastle is the largest provider of pathway programs in Australia. If you haven’t studied for a while, or your high school results weren’t what you expected, you can start at university with one of our pathway programs. Our pathway programs offer guaranteed entry to over 40+ University of Newcastle degrees. When you complete this program your Grade Point Average as a percentage can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. The programs on offer are:
- Open Foundation
Completing our Open Foundation pathway program will award you a new rank to apply to uni. Finish Open Foundation in just a single semester or take your time - up to 2 years. Flexible study supports you to learn at your own pace, including online, part-time or full-time options. - Yapug
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student you could complete our one year Yapug pathway program. - New Diplomas
Complete a diploma either full-time or part-time to get entry into one of our related Bachelor's degree.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
The Special Tertiary Admissions Test or STAT is an aptitude test, organised through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), that assesses a range of competencies considered important for successful tertiary study. If you are over 18 and not a current Year 12 student, results from the STAT multiple-choice test can be used for entry into some (but not all) of the degrees offered at the University of Newcastle. Make sure you look into which degrees accept STAT for entry.
If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.
If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.
Non-Award Admission
If you want to do one or two subjects at the University of Newcastle but not a full degree you can apply for non-award admission. You may want to do this for preliminary work for a higher degree, professional requirements or because of an interest in the area.
Find out more and apply by visiting Non-Award Admission.
Cross-Institutional Study
If you are currently at another university and want to do one or more subjects at the University of Newcastle for credit you can apply for Cross-Institutional Study.
Find out more and apply by visiting Cross-Institutional Study.
If you have more than one of the qualifications listed above they may all count towards your application. We are always happy to provide advice and discuss your circumstances so please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or by submitting a question using AskUON. Otherwise check out our application FAQ.
Senior secondary school qualification
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools. To check if your qualification is recognised for direct entry into the University of Newcastle, please refer to the entry requirements below.
Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.
The Australian Government operates a student visa program that enables people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to undertake study in Australia. A person who wants to undertake a course of study under the student visa programme must obtain a student visa before they can commence a course of study in Australia. A successful applicant must be both a genuine temporary entrant and a genuine student.
An applicant who is a genuine temporary entrant will have circumstances that support a genuine intention to temporarily enter and remain in Australia, notwithstanding the potential for this intention to change over time to an intention to utilise lawful means to remain in Australia for an extended period of time or permanently. All Australian education providers must have strategies and arrangements in place to ensure that all students and prospective students meet the requirements with Direction 69 as a condition of admission to the institution.
When your application for admission is received, the University of Newcastle will assess this against university entrance requirements including: minimum age, English and academic entry requirements. To comply with Australian law your application will also be assessed to check that you are genuinely seeking temporary entry to Australia to study. You may be asked to provide the University of Newcastle with evidence addressing Ministerial Direction 69 as part of finalising your admission. If the University forms the opinion that you are not a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) it may refuse to assess your application, withdraw an offer of a place, or cancel your confirmation of enrolment.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia will also assess each application for a student visa (subclass 500) against the applicant’s intention to stay temporarily in Australia as a genuine student. The criteria for this assessment are outlined in Ministerial Direction 69. Applicants that don’t satisfy the criteria under Direction 69 will not be granted a student visa.
For more information, please refer to the following areas of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website:
Other things to consider
Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:
Admission to this program is available to Australian students, residents and international students. Admission information for Australian students and residents is available here. Admission information for international is available here. During the admission process adjustment factors may be applied to your Selection Rank. Please visit our website to see if you are eligible.
All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy here.
Applicants for this program must satisfy a minimum English Language Proficiency Standard equivalent to an IELTS overall minimum of 7.0 with no subtest result below 7.0.
HSC Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Advanced English or equivalent.
This degree requires students to participate in placements in NSW services or facilities, including NSW Health facilities. During placement, students will be subject to the policies and procedures of the placement facility. Clinical placements commence in second year of the program. Clinical placements typically involve attendance from 8.30am to 5.00pm, and vary in intensity (e.g. one day a week for 20 weeks, two days a week for 10 weeks, and so on), and may occur during or between semesters (mid or end year). Students can expect to relocate for up to 12 weeks during fourth year, e.g. Hunter area, Central Coast, Sydney, rural NSW. Students must meet all the Speech Pathology Placement Requirements including a National Criminal Record Check, NSW Working with Children clearance and meet all the NSW Health Verification requirements .
NSW Health Verification Requirements
In addition to meeting the University's overall requirements for academic progression, students must satisfactorily complete the following courses to progress in their program.
SPTH4080 - Clinical Practice 1
SPTH1080 - Introduction to Speech Pathology
SPTH4090 - Clinical Practice 2
SPTH2080 - Clinical Practice
SPTH3080 - Clinical Practice
You can look at NUPrep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.
You should also think about degree add-ons like combined options or a Diploma in Languages. If you would like to learn an additional language alongside your main bachelor degree, then this program is for you. Languages offered include: Australian Sign Language (Auslan), Chinese, French, German and Japanese.
Ok, great, let's go!
Apply to study this degree through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
You can select up to five preferences in your UAC application, so have a look around and select some back-up options. Put the degree you are most interested in first.
Apply to study in Australia
Both students and education agents can submit applications online. This is our preferred way of application. You can save your application after you have started, and come back to it later.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.