BMedSci Speech and Language Therapy pre-arrival information
Congratulations on securing your place to study Speech and Language Therapy with us this September. On this page you’ll find useful information and tasks to help make your transition to the University of Sheffield as smooth as possible.
We know this can be a busy time for you, and we want to make preparing to start your course as straightforward as possible. This pre-arrival page is just for new BMedSci Speech and Language Therapy students starting in September 2025. Here you’ll find information and tasks to complete specific to you and your course.
Complete your registration
Follow this link for a step-by-step outline of everything you need to do in order to complete your registration at the University.
Welcome Week timetable
Welcome Week is week commencing Monday 22 September and we've arranged a number of sessions and activities for you to attend.
View your Welcome Week timetable [Google Doc link]
Programme handbook
We've created an online programme handbook to help make your transition to University as smooth as possible. This document gives you a very brief overview of the BMedSci Speech and Language Therapy programme. You have probably seen some of the information before on our prospectus page.
Below you'll find a copy of our programme handbook site for the 2024/25 academic year. An updated version for the 2025/26 academic year will be shared with you on arrival.
View the BMedSci Speech and Language Therapy handbook (2024/25)
The handbook has a lot of information in it, but don't worry - we will go through the most important areas together when we meet in September.
Some parts of the handbook are only accessible once you have registered with the University so make sure you complete your registration in good time.
Semester 1 indicative timetable
Below you'll find a copy of our draft timetable for semester one.
Please note: this is a draft and is subject to change. Any changes to the below will be communicated to you by the Speech and Language Therapy team.
2025 semester one indicative timetable [Word Document download]
Modules
In your three years you will study the following modules:
Year one
Module title | Strand | Staff |
Professional Practice 1 | Professional Practice | Dr Emma Gregory |
Key Clinical Topics | ||
Participation and Society | Participation and Society | Gemma Sleman |
Speech, Language, Communication and Literacy Development in Children | Communication | Dr Sarah Spencer |
Language, Cognition and Communication in Adults 1 | Communication | Dr Emma Gregory |
Introduction to Practical Linguistics | Communication | Dr Traci Walker |
Biomedical Sciences | Biomedical Sciences | Dr Rosalyn Ferguson |
Year two
Module title | Strand | Staff |
Research Methods and Statistics | Research Methods | Dr Stuart Cunningham |
Key Clinical Topics 1 | Key Clinical Topics | Dr Caroline Haw |
Biomedical Sciences | ||
Communication | ||
Participation and Society | ||
Language, Cognition and Communication in Adults 2 | Communication | Prof Ray Wilkinson |
Speech and Hearing Science | Communication | Dr Ben Rutter |
Biomedical Sciences | ||
Professional Practice 2 | Professional Practice | Dr Emma Gregory |
Key Clinical Topics | ||
Language Analysis, Sound and Structure | Communication | Dr Traci Walker |
Developmental Differences of Communication | Communication | Prof Judy Clegg |
Year three
Module title | Strand | Staff |
Key Clinical Topics 2 | Key Clinical Topics | Dr Lucy Dyson |
Biomedical Sciences | ||
Communication | ||
Participation and Society | ||
Transition to Professional Autonomy | Professional Practice | Dr Emma Gregory |
Key Clinical Topics | ||
Evaluating the Evidence Base 1 | Research Methods | Dr Stuart Cunningham |
Evaluating the Evidence Base 2 | Research Methods | Prof Patty Cowell |
Professional Practice 3 | Professional Practice | Jon Smyth |
A copy of the above can be found here [Google Doc link].
Placements
You will also be on placements in each semester, right from your very first semester! Your first placements will be well supported and will probably be paired. By your final year, you will be working much more independently. You will all be placed in different settings for the placements, but the structure is as follows (details are subject to change):
Year | Placements | Sessions |
BMed1 | Paediatric | 10 |
Adult: Conversation Partners or Memory & Life Story | 8 | |
BMed2 | Paediatric: Sheffield Children’s Service | 16 |
Adult: AHPNM Aphasia Centre | 13 | |
Eating, Drinking and Swallowing (EDS) | 6 | |
BMed3 | Paediatric | 30 |
Adult | 30 |
A copy of the above can be found here [Google Doc link].
Occupational Health and DBS Clearance
You will have received an email explaining these processes. It is important that you complete these tasks as soon as possible to make your placements run smoothly. Please follow the links in the email.
Can’t find the email? Please email ahpnm@sheffield.ac.uk.
Recommended reading
We use a wide range of texts throughout the Speech and Language Therapy course and support you by providing multiple copies of key texts and/or electronic copies where possible. These will be available via the University Library once you have completed your registration.
There is no requirement to do any reading before you start the course, or to purchase any books before or during the course. However, some students prefer to have some information in advance should they wish to do some background reading before arriving.
Please note if you do want to buy books:
- Most of the texts are available to purchase online
- Students sometimes agree to share more expensive books between them, so its sensible to wait and discuss this with your fellow students when you arrive.
A copy of the list below can be found here [Google Doc link]
- Introduction to living with communication difficulties
You can get an introduction to living with communication difficulties from the website Communication Access UK. This website also includes free training which you could work through to get started on some simple strategies to support communication.
- Impact of communication difficulties
A good place to start your reading can be from the perspective of the person with the communication difficulty, their families and other texts focusing on the functional impact on their daily life.
Books
John-Dominique Bauby, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Harper Perennial, 2008.
Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump. Sceptre, 2013.
Grace Maxwell, Falling and Laughing: The Restoration of Edwyn Collins. Random House, 2010.
Robert McCrum, My year off: rediscovering life after a stroke. Picador, 1999.
Cynthia Pelman, Joshy Finds His Voice - A Story About Speech and Silence. Grosvenor House Publishing, 2014.
If you have come across any other books which you think we should add to this list, please let us know! We are happy to hear your suggestions about books we might have missed.
Websites
The Stroke Association: Effects of Aphasia: https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-is-aphasia/aphasia-and-its-effects
Stories from the Isle of Wight Stroke Club: http://www.patientvoices.org.uk/iowsc.htm (recommended stories: Vicious circles; The longest night; The most wonderful husband in the world)
Raising awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) website: https://radld.org/ and YouTube channel has videos you can watch to learn about DLD: https://www.youtube.com/user/RALLIcampaign
The National Autistic Society is a charity for autistic people and their families: https://www.autism.org.uk
- Anatomy and physiology
In your first year you will study a big module on Anatomy and Physiology. This is a module which students often worry about, as they might not have a very ‘science-y’ background. The core text for this module is:
Atkinson, M. & McHanwell, S. (2018) 2nd Edition. Basic medical science for speech and language therapy students. London: Whurr.
The book is co-written by Martin Atkinson, who previously taught Biomedical Science to our students for many years, and so demonstrates an understanding of SLT student needs. This is the book that students often report they would like to have familiarised themselves with prior to the course. Again, there is no requirement for you to do this. The course is well-supported and designed specifically for SLT students, and you will be provided with all the content you need to pass this module.
Student support
As a University of Sheffield student, you have access to a lot of support. There is an overview of support available on the University website.
If you have a disability or a specific learning need, please contact DDSS (the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service). We also have a Disability Liaison Officer in the School of AHPNM, and a Student Inclusion Officer, who you will meet when you arrive.
The University also offers a variety of study support. Some information can be found here: digital learning support and library information.
You will also have an Academic Tutor, who you will meet individually every semester. They will give you plenty of support and guidance during your studies.
Contact us
BMedSci Speech and Language Therapy Programme Lead
Professional Lead for Speech and Language Therapy
General contact details
Programme support: ahpnm-support@sheffield.ac.uk