Clinical Speech and Language Studies (M.Sc.)

NFQ Level 9
1 year full-time

Overview

Course 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: Dysphagia, Voice, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

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. Students will also be able to design and implement, with a degree of autonomy, and with due regard to ethical considerations, small-scale research studies in their chosen 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 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 first year by full-time students and second year by part-time students. All other modules are in first year.

During the programme, students must also complete a minimum of 80 hours 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.

Click here for further information on modules/subject.

Introduction to Clinical Speech and Language Studies (M.Sc.) at Trinity

This video outlines the programme details for the programmes in Clinical Speech and Language Studies and in Dysphagia at Trinity College Dublin.

Course Details

Awards

NFQ Level 9

Next Intake

September 2025

Course Coordinator

Dr. Ciarán Kenny

Closing Date

30th April 2025

students working in library/>

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold at least 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.

Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, you can learn more at: www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/postgraduates/garda-vetting.php

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. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, click here.

Apply

To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below

Get in Touch

Telephone Number

+353 (0)1 8961496

cslssec@tcd.ie

Website

www.tcd.ie/slscs/postgraduate/taught-courses/clinical-speech-language

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

Register Your Interest

What I enjoy most is the variety of modules, with a mixture of theory and practical classes. I also love interacting with people and putting my new knowledge and skills to use. I think my course at Trinity will benefit my career as it will provide me with the necessary qualifications, skills, knowledge and training to pursue a successful career as a speech and language therapist.

Fiona Sheils

Student