Speech & Language CPD Units

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, research project and administration during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students for the course duration at the year of entry).

For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

We require an honours degree or an approved and relevant postgraduate qualification in speech and language therapy (minimum PGDip or equivalent - 120 credits at master's level) or relevant clinical experience (see 'Professional entry qualifications').

If you are being funded by an employer, we also require written support from your current employer permitting time to attend lectures and complete all learning and assessment activities.

Students who have not studied in a predominantly English-speaking country are required to hold IELTS 7.0, including 7.0 in the written section or TOEFL 100, including 25 in the written section.

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Applications are welcome from candidates with evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience (which the University accepts as qualifying you for entry) and a recognised health/education/social care-related professional qualification and/or employment in healthcare or education services.

Individuals applying via this route may also be required, upon application, to submit a short 500-word essay demonstrating your academic writing ability and critical thinking skills.

These units are suitable for those wishing to return to higher education.

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.

Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

All units carry 15 credits at master's level. The 'Working with Adults with Acquired Dysphagia' is available for 0 credits, where there is no final summative assessment.

Please contact pgtaught.slt@manchester.ac.uk for further details of our short courses.

Working with Adults with Acquired Dysphagia (0 or 15-credit options, available Sept-Jan & Feb-July)

Dysphagia can be a challenging and satisfying clinical area to work in. The clinical decision-making involved in dysphagia management cuts straight to the core of our societal and personal values. 

This unit is based on the RCLST dysphagia competencies 2014. You will progress from level A through to C (ie competent in the Clinical Swallow Examination or bedside exam, with knowledge of when to refer to instrumental assessment and/or other professionals).

Although this framework has been superseded by the RCLST 2021 competencies, the teaching content remains relevant to qualified SLTs and other healthcare workers who wish to develop their skills in working with adults with acquired dysphagia.

Please note, the unit does not cover adults with learning disabilities, paediatric dysphagia or highly specialist areas of practice such as tracheostomy management. 

You can work through the theory required for competency in independent assessment and management of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. You will access portions of the curriculum, which you can then apply to your everyday practice under the supervision of a more experienced speech and language therapist. 

Practical tasks are set after online sessions and are directly applicable to the content in the online lessons. For example, when learning about the cranial nerves, your practical task will be to carry out and interpret oro-motor examinations with your clients.

As well as support from your clinical supervisor(s) in your workplace, you can access the Discussion Board at any time to start a conversation with your academic tutors and peers.

You will check your progress through access to formative quizzes, and reflect on and evidence your journey to competency in a learning journal.

The distance learning model of the unit means you can learn at your own pace but have access to a tutor when you need one.

The unit is divided in to 20 separate parts and you can choose to study in either Semester 1 or Semester 2 of the academic year. This unit is available as a 15 credit bearing unit or a non-credit bearing unit for which you will gain a Post Graduate Certificate of Completion. The non-credit version requires that you engage in the discussion tasks and complete the formative assessments at the end of each part.

You must be a qualified SLT or registered healthcare professional working with adults with acquired dysphagia, registered with HCPC (or your equivalent governing body). You must have access to a clinical supervisor (a registered SLT or other health professional) competent in assessing and managing dysphagia in adults in your workplace. They will oversee and evaluate the practical learning tasks required to gain competencies in eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.   

New Horizons in Aphasiology (15 credits, available Sept-Jan)

This unit covers current clinical and theoretical treatment approaches in aphasiology for SLTs and other health professionals.

You will explore current main theoretical and clinical issues in two of a choice of three specialist areas: language recovery in the brain; connectionist modelling and aphasia therapy; and sentence and discourse therapy in aphasia.

You will focus on clinical assessment and the practicalities of treatment, with scope for consideration of your own clinical data or case studies.

Working with Bilingual Children and Their Families (15 credits, available Feb-July)

This course is for SLTs or those from related professions working with bilingual children with speech and language difficulties and their families.

You will develop the clinical and professional knowledge and skills required to deliver an equitable service to this growing population.

You will explore a range of current main theoretical and clinical issues including bilingualism in the UK, working with interpreters, code-switching, and collecting speech and language samples in other languages using the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Evidence-based practice in Speech and Language Therapy (2 units)

These unique units cover evidence-based practice methodologies for SLTs and other health professionals. Part of each unit is tailored specifically to service-level evaluations in health, education and social care.

You can tailor learning to your own needs and to those of the services and populations you serve before exiting the course with the tools to evaluate your service.

Part A: The evidence-based practice process and critical appraisal (15 credits, Sept-Jan)

The course covers topics such as the scope of evidence-based practice in SLT and evidence-based questions, and external evidence, assumptions and myths.

It also covers quantitative research methods and hierarchies and levels in evidence-based practice.

Part-B: Synthesis of evidence and service evaluation in SLT (15 credits, Feb-July)

The course covers topics such as understanding interpreting outcome data, synthesising evidence, making recommendations from bodies of evidence, practice-based evidence and its role in clinical decision-making, and qualitative research.

Each course will be delivered online, including 150 hours of study within the Blackboard e-learning platform using audio and video presentations, and online learning tasks including quizzes, reflection tasks, discussion boards, videos, and reading materials.

You will be able to access the materials throughout the course and will have full access to the University library's online resources.

You will access learning materials and complete formative assignments at your own pace.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk