Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology)
at Curtin University, Western Australia.
A four-year Speech Pathology Australia accredited degree at the Bentley campus with placements across Perth public hospitals, NDIS providers, schools and rural WA. Research links through Curtins enable Institute.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Curtin University Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology). We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year covers the science foundations: anatomy and physiology of speech, hearing and swallowing, linguistics and phonetics, normal communication development, and an introduction to the speech pathology profession. You learn how communication and swallowing work and how they develop across the lifespan, with practical and laboratory work alongside theory. Second and third year move into clinical knowledge and practice: speech-sound and language disorders, fluency, voice, swallowing (dysphagia), acquired and developmental communication disorders, and assessment and intervention methods. You build skills in clinical reasoning, assessment tools and therapy planning in Curtin's on-campus clinics before applying them on external placement in hospitals, schools and community settings. Fourth year focuses on complex and adult neurogenic practice, professional reasoning and a research or evidence-based project supported by Curtin's enable Institute, alongside extended clinical placement blocks. On completion you are eligible for Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status with Speech Pathology Australia.
Example first-year subjects
- Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
- Linguistics and Phonetics
- Typical Communication Development
- Foundations of Speech Pathology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Health, Behaviour and the Speech Pathology Profession
How you will be assessed
- Supervised clinical placement competency assessments
- Practical skills assessments and clinical OSCEs
- Phonetic transcription and language-analysis tasks
- Case-study and intervention-planning assignments
- Written exams in anatomy, linguistics and clinical units
- Research or evidence-based project in the later years
Placement and industry experience
Speech Pathology Australia accreditation requires substantial supervised clinical placement. Curtin runs on-campus student clinics and arranges external placements across Perth tertiary hospitals (Royal Perth, Fiona Stanley), NDIS and disability providers, schools, community-health services and rural and remote sites through WA Country Health Service. Placements build from short early blocks to extended full-time fieldwork in the later years. Students must meet fitness-to-practise, police-check and immunisation requirements, and the degree leads to CPSP eligibility.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as Speech Pathology Australia certified practising speech pathologists in Perths public hospitals, NDIS providers, schools and rural WA Country Health Service.
- First-year jobs typically include hospital roles at Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley, paediatric speech pathology in NDIS providers and rural roles across WA.
- Many alumni progress to specialty practice (adult neurogenic communication, dysphagia, paediatric language) or pursue postgraduate clinical research.
Professional accreditation
- Speech Pathology Australia accredited
- Eligible for Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status
Typical first jobs
- Graduate speech pathologist in WA public hospital roles
- Paediatric speech pathologist with NDIS and disability providers
- School-based or early-intervention speech pathologist
- Community-health or rehabilitation speech pathologist
- Rural and remote speech pathologist with WA Country Health Service
- Adult neurogenic or dysphagia clinician
- Private-practice speech pathologist
Graduate starting salary
$62,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
The four-year accredited degree leads directly to eligibility for Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status with Speech Pathology Australia. Graduates work across hospitals, NDIS and community providers, schools and rural WA. Postgrad options include graduate certificates and masters in areas such as dysphagia, paediatric language and adult neurogenic communication, plus research Honours, masters and PhD study through the enable Institute. Experienced clinicians move into specialty practice, clinical education, private practice and service leadership.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- People who like language, communication and helping others
- Patient, detail-oriented communicators who enjoy clinical work
- Students happy to spend extended time on clinical placement
- Those interested in working across children and adults
- People who can balance science, practice and reflection
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a research-only or office-bound career
- Those uncomfortable with close, hands-on client work
- People who dislike anatomy, phonetics and exam-heavy study
- Students unable to meet placement and fitness requirements
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology) as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at Curtin
Sources
- https://www.curtin.edu.au/study/offering/course-ug-bachelor-of-science-speech-pathology--bh-spech/
- https://www.tisc.edu.au/
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Curtin University handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/curtin/bachelor-of-speech-pathology.