Division of Language and Communication Science

The Division of Language and Communication Science is the largest University provider of speech and language therapy education in the UK, with courses for students wishing to enter the profession and for qualified practitioners:

• BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy
• Postgraduate Diploma Speech and Language Therapy - graduate entry conversion course
• MSc Human Communication - for qualified practitioners
• MSc Joint Professional Practice (Language and Communication) - for therapists, school teachers and other professionals working in schools with children with speech, language and communication needs

We also run the BSc in Human Communication, which caters for students with a general interest in speech and language, but who are not seeking a professional qualification and also have a thriving PhD programme, with over 20 students currently registered.

The Division carries out cutting edge research into all aspects of speech and language disorder, including identification, therapy interventions and the impacts on quality of life.  Research into deafness and sign language is a further theme, with investigations of atypical signers, and signers with acquired language impairment. Current projects are funded by:

• Bupa Foundation
• ESRC
• Stroke Association
• Dunhill Medical Trust
• Nuffield Foundation.

The Division has strong links with the speech and language therapy profession and other practitioner groups. It regularly hosts seminars, conferences and other events that are open to the clinical community. Forthcoming events include: 

• Understanding early language problems: New measures, new evidence (Thursday, 21 June 2012)
• The British Aphasiology Society Therapy Symposium (6/7 September 2012)

The interdisciplinary Divisional staff team includes speech and language therapists, psychologists, phoneticians, linguists and audiologists.