Program Overview

Clinical Speech and Language Studies (M.Sc.)

The Clinical Speech and Language Studies (M.Sc.) program at Trinity College Dublin is designed to provide qualified Speech and Language Therapists with opportunities to advance their academic knowledge and professional practice skills within specific clinical specialisms: Dysphagia, Voice, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Overview

The aims of the course are to provide qualified Speech and Language Therapists with opportunities to advance their academic knowledge and professional practice skills within specific clinical specialisms. Graduates will demonstrate excellence in clinical practice through extending and enhancing their existing theoretical knowledge base with a critical awareness of new insights and developments within their chosen clinical specialist area.

Is This Course For Me?

The course provides additional specialist qualifications to already qualified Speech and Language Therapists and does not serve as initial qualification to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist. Those without an existing qualification in Speech and Language Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology should therefore not apply.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have gone on to become expert clinicians in their field and to administer clinical practices. Other graduates have also continued to run research studies in their chosen clinical specialist area and pursued further education and academic research, such as a Ph.D.

Course Structure

Applicants wishing to pursue Dysphagia or Voice may do so on a full-time basis, with core modules and a dissertation completed in one year. Modules take place over 12 weeks within the academic year. Each week consists of five full days of teaching. Students must attend Trinity College Dublin for these teaching weeks. Additional assignment work, self-directed learning, and clinical work must be conducted outside of these weeks.

Course Content

Students will take the following modules:

• Advanced Clinical Skills (AAC, Dysphagia or Voice)
• Dissertation
• Evidence Based Practice
• Research Methods 1 (quantitative focus)
• Research Methods 2 (qualitative focus)
• Research Methods 3 (research design and research ethics focus)

The Dissertation module is associated with the research project that must be completed by the student. This module is taken in the first year by full-time students and the second year by part-time students. All other modules are in the first year.

During the programme, students must also complete a minimum of 80 hours of clinical work in their chosen specialist area. Students who take the Dysphagia specialism and who have not completed a qualifying course in dysphagia will have to complete additional preparatory work. These students must have at least 40 of the required 80 clinical hours supervised by Speech and Language Therapists recognised by the Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies at Trinity.

Course Details

• Awards: NFQ Level 9
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Coordinator: Dr. Ciarán Kenny
• Closing Date: 30th April 2025

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold at least a 2.1 Honours degree in Clinical Speech and Language Studies or an equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy. Those without a qualification in Speech and Language Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology should not apply.

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section of the university's website.

Testimonial

The course provides a solid foundation for a clinical or research career, with opportunities to gain theoretical knowledge and acquire practical and clinical experience in the assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of voice disorders. Students can obtain the necessary skills to start a new career and become part of a multicultural community with access to various clubs and societies.

Related Courses

• Applied Linguistics (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Chinese Studies (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Clinical Speech and Language Studies (Dysphagia) (P.Grad.Dip.)
• English Language Teaching (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Linguistics (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Speech and Language Processing (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)