MSci Speech and Language Therapy Interview

The MSci (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy course includes all the academic rigour of the Allied Health Professions accredited degree, including the opportunity to carry out research. Once you graduate from the MSci (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy programme, you can apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, which will then allow you to work as a Speech and Language Therapist for a wide range of clinical populations with speech, language, communication, and swallowing conditions.

Applicants for this course will be assessed for entry using an interview and a written task, in addition to the academic requirements. This interview is an opportunity for us to check that you have sufficient understanding of what the course entails, what the role of a speech and language therapist (SLT) looks like, and whether you hold the personal and professional values required to train and work as a speech and language therapist (SLT) in the NHS and beyond.

Once you have submitted your application via UCAS this will be reviewed by our Admissions team, who will consider your overall academic performance alongside your personal statement and reference. If your application meets our initial selection criteria, you will receive an email from the Admissions team inviting you to attend an online interview, which will take place via Microsoft Teams. The email will contain instructions on how to book a date for your interview.

You will also need to complete and return a written task before you attend the online interview.

We are fully committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our admissions and interview processes. If you would like to request any specific requirements or adjustments around accessibility for your interview, please email SLTAdmissions@reading.ac.uk. Please rest assured that requesting reasonable adjustments or having specific requirements will not affect the outcome of the interview or our decision on whether you are offered a place on the course.

Approximately one week before the date of your interview, a member of staff from the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences will send an email to you containing instructions on how to complete and return the written task. You will need to complete and return the written task before the date of your interview.

Please note, the email containing instructions for the written task will be sent to you from SLTAdmissions@reading.ac.uk. If you have not received the email containing instructions for the written task at least 48 hours before the date of your interview, please email SLTAdmissions@reading.ac.uk. Please note that, occasionally, our emails could arrive in your junk/spam folders – please check your junk/spam folders carefully for the email containing instructions for the written task before contacting us.

The online interview will consist of two parts: an introductory talk, which will include a Q&A session, and a 1:1 interview. The introductory talk will start at 10:00 (UK time) and is expected to last for approximately 30 minutes. The introductory talk will be given by a member of our academic staff and the Q&A session will take place with one of our current students. You will be in a group of up to 18 interviewees for this part of the online interview.

Your 1:1 interview will take place after the introductory talk and is expected to last for approximately 20 minutes. Please note, we will be arranging 1:1 interviews with up to 18 candidates on each interview date and the 1:1 interviews are scheduled to take place between 10:40 and 14:20 (UK time) on each interview date. You will be allocated a 20-minute slot for your 1:1 interview within this time frame. As a result, there may be a gap of up to 3 hours and 30 minutes between the introductory talk and the start of your 1:1 interview.

Your 1:1 interview will take place with either a member of our academic staff or a speech and language therapist colleague.

At any time during the interview, you may request that your interviewers repeat or clarify a question. This does not affect the mark awarded for your performance and you will not be penalised for this. You may take notes during the interview.

The interview will comprise of five assessed questions. These are used to:

1. Establish your motivation to study on the MSci (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy course and understand what steps you have taken to ensure this is a fully informed decision
2. Explore what personal strengths you have which make you a good candidate for this programme of study
3. Assess your understanding of the SLT role
4. Assess the extent to which you understand the different types of clients you’ll be working with in your placement year
5. Ensure you have the necessary personal attributes needed to work with clients in service as an SLT

Once you have answered the last of the assessed questions, you are then free to ask any questions you may have about the programme or life as a student at Reading (it can be helpful to write these down beforehand, so you don’t forget anything important).

Approximately one week before the date of your interview, a member of staff from the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences will send two Microsoft Teams invitations to you via email:

• The first Microsoft Teams invitation will include a link to join the introductory talk.
• The second Microsoft Teams invitation will include a link to join your 1:1 interview at a designated time. 

If you have not received the emails containing the Microsoft Teams invitations at least 48 hours before the date of your interview, or if you are from a country where Microsoft Teams does not function, please email SLTAdmissions@reading.ac.uk. Please note that, occasionally, our emails could arrive in your junk/spam folders – please check your junk/spam folders carefully for the emails containing the Microsoft Teams meeting invitations before contacting us.

It is very important that you understand what the MSci (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course entails (especially what the SLT role looks like), so please take the time to ensure you are sufficiently prepared to speak about this in your interview.

To find out more about the MSci in (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Reading, please refer to our course information.

To learn more about the SLT role, please refer to:

• Information about the role of a speech and language therapist on the NHS website

   

• The job profile of a speech and language therapist on the Prospects website

   

• Information about the speech and language therapy profession on the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) website

The interviewers will provide a recommendation to the Admissions team as to whether you have met the standard required in the interview to be eligible to receive an offer to study with us at Reading on the MSci (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy programme.

The University Admissions team will contact you to let you know the outcome. If the interviewers don’t feel that you are suitable for the MSci (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy, an offer is normally made to study with us on the BSc Psychology and Language Sciences programme instead (subject to receiving the required qualifications).

Free Online Course to help with your interview

We’ve developed a free online course, Stress-Free University Interviews, for students who have received interview offers from the University for interviewing subjects. The course is designed to help you make the most of your skills, build confidence, and practice those all-important interview techniques.

University Interview Preparation Course - Online Course - FutureLearn