PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc Speech and Language Sciences
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc.
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
All students awarded the MSc Speech and Language
Sciences (MSc SLS) are also eligible for recommendation to
the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
(RCSLT) for Membership and to the Health and Care
Professions Council (HCPC) to apply for registration as a
speech and language therapist (protected title).
Post-graduate Diploma Developmental Language Studies.
(For students who do not complete the masters programme
but have successfully completed specified MSc SLS first year
modules worth 120 credits.)
Post-graduate certificate Developmental Language Studies.
(For students who do not complete the masters programme
and do not meet the requirements for award of post-graduate
diploma, but have successfully completed specified MSc SLS
first year modules worth 60 credits.)
MSc Human Communication Science (For students who on
completion of the programme achieve the required academic
standard for award of MSc but do not meet the regulations for
award of MSc SLS.)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2008 intake onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Brain Sciences
Parent Department:
Research Dept of Language and Communication /
Research Dept of Developmental Science
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychlangsci/
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
See:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychlangsci/students/prospective/PGT/
TMSSPESLAN01
Length of the programme:
25 months
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Masters level (Level 7)
Healthcare programmes: speech and language therapy
Health and Care Professions Council: standards of education
and training
Health and Care Professions Council: standards of
proficiency for speech and language therapists
(+ framework for higher education qualifications descriptor for
a qualification at Masters level)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
PROGRAMME: The programme is a two- year full time MSc
programme (360 credits). It has 12 modules, all of which are
obligatory.
Module descriptors can be accessed at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lifesciences-faculty/degreeprogrammes/speech-languagesciences/msc_sls_more_structure/
First year modules (credits are indicated in parentheses):
HCSCGS11: Professional and clinical studies 1 (60);
HCSCGS12: Developmental speech, language and
communication difficulties (30); HCSCGS13: Psychological
and linguistic perspectives on development (15); HCSCGS14:
Phonetics and phonology (15); HCSCGS15: Linguistics (15);
HCSCGS16: Introduction to speech and hearing and
audiology (15); HCSCGS17: Anatomy & physiology of
speech, language and hearing (15).
Second year modules:
HCSCGS21: Professional and clinical studies 2 (60);
HCSCGS22: Management of acquired communication
difficulties (30); HCSCGS23: Disorder of vocal tract: structure
and function (30); HCSCGS25: Research methods (15);
HCSCGS26: Research project (60).
ASSESSMENT: For award of MSc SLS, students are
required to achieve an average mark of at least 50% for each
of the 12 modules and must also achieve a mark of at least
50% for each assessment component of HCSCGS11,
HCSCGS12 , HCSCGS21, HCSCGS22 and HCSCGS23,
and for the practical component of HCSCGS14.
For award of MSc Human Communication Science students
are required to achieve an average mark of at least 50% for
each of the 12 modules (as specified above). Where an
overall average of 50% or more is achieved, a maximum of
25% of the taught assessment (not including the HCSCGS26
project) can be condoned at 40-49%.
For award of Post-graduate diploma Developmental
Language Studies, students must achieve a mark of 50% or
above for modules totalling 120 credits - HCSCGS11 (60
credits) plus 60 credits from any combination of the following:
HCSCGS12 (30), HCSCGS13 (15), HCSCGS14 (15),
HCSCGS15 (15), HCSCGS16 (15) or HCSCGS17 (15)).
Where an overall average of 50% or more is achieved, a
maximum of 25% of the taught assessment can be condoned
at 40-49%.
For award of Post-graduate certificate Developmental
Language Studies (60 credits), students must achieve an
average mark of 50% or above in HCSCGS12 plus two of the
following modules: HCSCGS13, HCSCGS14, HCSCGS15,
HCSCGS16, HCSCGS17. Where an overall average of 50%
or more is achieved, a maximum of 25% of the taught
assessment can be condoned at 40-49%.
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
MSc Speech and Language Sciences
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Health Professions Council (HPC)
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit: ongoing
annual monitoring
process
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
To enable students to develop the skills and knowledge base required to practice competently as speech
and language therapists.
To enable students to assess and critically appraise theoretical and applied research relevant to speech
and language therapy.
To enable students to develop evaluation and research skills so that they can evaluate their own
practice, models of service delivery and client’s performance.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
• the theoretical foundations
underlying the processes of human
communication and how human
communication can be impaired
• the range of complementary
disciplines relevant to speech and
language therapy practice
Direct teaching in both large group and small
groups, practical classes, student –led tutorials,
self-study materials, supervised clinical placement
work.
Throughout the course students are encouraged to
take responsibility for their own learning and to
undertake independent reading to broaden their
knowledge and understanding across the range of
topics taught.
Assessment:
Students are assessed through a combination of
the following formats: ‘unseen’ examination, essay,
data exercise, report, written test, oral examination,
clinical placement work, and dissertation
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
a) Critically evaluate research findings
and theoretical perspectives.
b) Apply theoretical understanding to
clinical practice.
c) Reasoning skills - Generating
hypotheses, proposing arguments
and providing rationale
d) Identify and solve problem
a) Students undertake a supervised research
project, that includes critical evaluation of the
relevant literature. Tutorial sessions and hand-outs
encourage critical reading and evaluation of
research papers; Discussion of key issues in
teaching sessions promotes evaluation of theories;
Feedback on essays and course-works will
encourage critical evaluation.
b) Teaching in lectures and tutorials relates theory
to clinical practice; Course-works encourage
students to develop theoretical rationale for clinical
decision-making; supervised clinical placement
work.
c) Reasoning skills are promoted in tutorials and
seminar teaching, in analysing case data, and in
developing ideas for research projects.
d) Tutorials focus on identifying and resolving
‘problems’ encountered in clinical placements, with
peer support.
Assessment:
a) Essays and other course-works, marks are
awarded for critical evaluation and reasoning.
Research Project, includes literature review and
discussion.
b) Assessment of Clinical placement work, vivas,
course-works and written exams.
c) Essays, course-works, vivas, projects.
d) Vivas include questions requiring problemsolving skills.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
a) Transcribe and analyse
samples of spoken language
phonetically and linguistically.
b) Undertake statistical analyses of
data.
c) Assess clients with speech,
language and communication
difficulties.
d) Provide speech, language
and communication
intervention to clients.
e) Practice competently as a
speech and language therapist
in the pre-registration year
and thereafter.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
a) Lectures, tutorials, practical classes and
exercises.
b) Lectures and computer-based practical classes.
c,d, & e) Lectures, tutorials, work-shops,
supervised clinical placement work
Assessment:
a) practical exercises, course-works, test and viva.
b) Computer-based tasks
c,d & e) Written exams, vivas, course-works,
assessment of clinical placement work
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
a) Conduct a research project
under supervision.
b) Demonstrate good
Interpersonal skills
c) Demonstrate good verbal
and written communication
skills
d) Manage & facilitate group
discussions
e) Take Professional
responsibility
a) Supervised research project
b , c, & e) Supervised Clinical placement work
b, c & d) Chairing student – led tutorials
c) Making presentations in tutorials and other
larger group teaching
Assessment:
a) Research project
b & c) Vivas, assessment of clinical placement
work
d) assessment of clinical placement work, vivas
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Rachel Rees
Name(s):
Date of Production:
June 2008
Date of Review:
October 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
October 2014
October 2014
November 2014