Program Overview

Introduction to the Orthophonist Program

The orthophonist program is a five-year course of study that combines theoretical, practical, and interdisciplinary teachings.

The Profession of Orthophonist

Orthophonists are healthcare professionals who provide treatment for speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders in patients of all ages. They work with patients who have communication, language, or cognitive disorders, as well as those with oro-myo-facial dysfunction. Orthophonists collaborate closely with physicians and may work with other paramedical professionals, such as physiotherapists, orthoptists, and psychologists.

Professional Perspectives

The profession can be practiced as a liberal profession or as a salaried position in the public or private sector, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

Profile of Professionals

To be successful in this field, one must possess good communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as a high level of expression and mastery of the French language. Additionally, orthophonists must have strong analytical and logical reasoning skills, as well as patience, attention to detail, and an open-minded approach.

Access to Studies

Admission to the program is based on specific criteria, which can be found in the admission requirements section.

Organization of Studies

The program is divided into two cycles:

• The first cycle lasts three years (180 ECTS credits) and is equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
• The second cycle lasts two years (120 ECTS credits) and is equivalent to a master's degree. Upon completion of the fifth year, students are awarded a certificate of capacity in orthophonics at the master's level, after validating all course units, clinical competence, and a final thesis.

Teaching Documents

Various documents are available to guide students through their studies, including:

• M3C PDF
• Schedules for each year of study (available in PDF format)

Courses and Internships

The program combines theoretical, interdisciplinary, and practical teachings, using simulation techniques.

• In the first year, courses are shared with medicine and other paramedical training programs, as well as with the language sciences program at the Faculty of Arts, Letters, Languages, and Human Sciences.
• These courses provide knowledge and skills in areas such as:
  • Language sciences and linguistics
  • Psychology and educational sciences
  • Neuroscience and language cognition
  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatrics and geriatrics
• Students participate in internships, which are credited with ECTS points, as part of their clinical training:
  • First cycle: observation internships (in schools, retirement homes, nurseries, liberal offices, care structures) and clinical internships
  • Second cycle: clinical internships with progressive autonomy in patient care (in areas such as oral language, DYS disorders, disabilities, neurology, otolaryngology, etc.)
• Students in the second cycle can pursue a research track, which includes scientific and methodological courses, as well as a research internship.

Places of Teaching

Courses are taught on the Timone Health Campus and the North site of the Faculty of Medical and Paramedical Sciences in Marseille, as well as on the site of the Faculty of Arts, Letters, Languages, and Human Sciences in Aix-en-Provence.

Tuition Fees

The annual tuition fees are:

• Contribution to student life and campus: 103
• University registration fees: 555 The program is also accessible through continuing education: 5,574

Program Details

For more information on the program, including admission requirements, course schedules, and teaching documents, please refer to the relevant sections.