Sept 2025 Entry
2.5 years
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This is a full-time programme. Only the full-time option will be offered.
Applications to our postgraduate programmes can be made without the assistance of agencies. Applicants should apply online via the Study@PolyU website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/study/pg.
Please note that all fields in the application form must be completed. We will not consider applications that do not provide details of academic qualifications.
We will not process applications unless all supporting documents are provided.
We have an admission quota and admissions operate on a rolling basis. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for interviews during the application period.
An incomplete application cannot be processed quickly and may reduce your chances of admission. Please complete all relevant fields in the application form and upload all necessary documents.
What's New
Programme Aims
The Master of Speech Therapy (MST) programme trains graduates who will practise as speech therapists in Hong Kong and serve as speech therapy advocates in mainland China and the Macau SAR. The programme is designed to equip students with the professional and academic knowledge, clinical and research skills, and attitudes and ethics necessary to work as entry-level speech therapists. The curriculum offers a unique approach to education and training in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, addressing speech therapy in both Chinese and bilingual contexts. Master’s programmes in speech therapy are widely adopted as entry-level degrees in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The MST programme offers Bachelor’s degree holders a pathway into the profession of speech therapist.
Characteristics
The MST teaching team is composed of academic and teaching staff with extensive teaching experience, proven research track records, and extensive clinical expertise. We adopt a hybrid teaching and learning approach: traditional lectures are taught in the first year, while the problem-based learning (PBL) approach is adopted in the second year. This approach promotes the integration of learning across different courses and enables students to put their theoretical knowledge into practice.
An essential part of speech therapy training involves supervised clinical practice. A Speech Therapy Unit (STU) has been created on the PolyU campus. The STU offers a platform for both in-house teaching and research through a service interface. For more details, please visit the STU website here.
The clinical placements in the MST programme are planned throughout the 2.5 years of the programme. They cover the assessment and treatment of speech, language, literacy, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders in clinical populations from infancy to old age. To prepare students to work in different speech therapy service settings after graduation, clinical placements are arranged not only at the STU but also with clinical education partners such as the Hospital Authority, non-governmental organisations, special and mainstream schools, and other service providers in the community.
The MST programme is the first speech therapy training programme in Hong Kong to have been awarded the status of "Full Endorsement" by the Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists (HKIST) since the launch of the institution-based assessment scheme in 2018. With this endorsement, MST graduates (including those who graduated before 2018) are eligible to apply to become Members of the Register of Speech Therapists accredited by the Department of Health.
Speech therapists provide assessment, treatment, and consultation services to individuals of different age groups with communication or swallowing disorders. To meet the demand for speech therapy services across all ages, the government has committed to creating hundreds of new speech therapist positions in both child and adult service settings over the past few years. The demand for speech therapists is expected to increase further as Hong Kong’s population continues to age.
Programme Structure
The Master of Speech Therapy is a full-time, entry-level professional programme based on a structured credit-earning model. The programme consists of a total of 91 credits, to be covered in 5 semesters and 2 summer terms, over a period of 2.5 years. Students must complete 22 credits of foundation subjects, 42 credits of professional subjects, and 27 credits of clinical education subjects. The programme comprises six main subject categories, reflecting its multidisciplinary nature: Linguistics and Language Sciences, Behavioural and Social Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Communication Disorders and Audiology, Clinical Education, and a research project.
Medium of Instruction
English (supplemented by Cantonese and Mandarin for Cantonese-speaking and Mandarin-speaking clients in clinical placements)
Core Areas of Study
Foundation Subjects
- Foundations in Biomedical Sciences I
- Foundations in Biomedical Sciences II
- Foundations in Behavioural and Social Sciences I
- Foundations in Behavioural and Social Sciences II
- Foundations in Linguistics and Language Sciences I
- Foundations in Linguistics and Language Sciences II
- Foundations in Linguistics and Language Sciences III
- Foundations in Linguistics and Language Sciences IV
- Professional Ethics and Academic Integrity
Professional Subjects
- Introduction to Communication Disorders and Audiology
- Introduction to Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Paediatric Communication Disorders: Assessment and Treatment I
- Paediatric Communication Disorders: Assessment and Treatment II
- Adult Communication Disorders: Assessment and Treatment I
- Adult Communication Disorders: Assessment and Treatment II
- Other Communication Disorders: Assessment and Treatment I
- Other Communication Disorders and Swallowing Disorders: Assessment and Treatment II
- Research Project I
- Research Project II
Clinical Education Subjects
- Clinical Practicum I
- Clinical Practicum II
- Clinical Practicum III
- Clinical Practicum IV
- Clinical Practicum V
- Clinical Practicum VI
- Clinical Practicum VII
- Case Conference
- Professional Ethics and Issues
Information on the subjects offered can be obtained from https://www.polyu.edu.hk/cbs/study/taught-postgraduate-programmes/master-of-speech-therapy.
(The above list of subjects is subject to revision.)
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Dr Ng Ho Yee Janet
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A Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from a recognised institution.
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Applicants should satisfy one of the following requirements for English proficiency:
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Level 5 or above in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) English Language;
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Grade D or above in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) Use of English;
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An overall Band Score of 7.0 or above in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS);
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A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 100 or above for the Internet-based test or 600 or above for the paper-based test;
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Grade 5 or above in English A at International Baccalaureate (IB); or
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the equivalent.
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Applicants should satisfy one of the following requirements for Chinese proficiency:
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Level 4 or above in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) Chinese Language;
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Grade D or above in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) Chinese Language;
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Grade 5 or above in Chinese Language A Standard & Higher Level at International Baccalaureate (IB);
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Grade 6 or above in Chinese Language B Higher Level at International Baccalaureate (IB);
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Level 2 or above in the Shumian Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi 書面漢語水平考試 (SHSK);
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Total score of 240 or above in the Chinese Proficiency Test 汉语水平考试 (HSK level VI 六级); or
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the equivalent.
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Applicants should be able to communicate verbally in both Cantonese and English effectively; proficiency in Mandarin (Putonghua) is preferred.
For further information on academic matters, please contact:
Programme Leader, Dr Ng Ho Yee Janet (tel: (852) 2766 7432; email: janet-hy.ng@polyu.edu.hk).
For general information, please contact:
CBS General Office (tel: (852) 2766 4869; email: cbs.tpg@polyu.edu.hk).
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Admission preference will be given to those with a first degree in linguistics, psychology, speech and language sciences, or a medical or health-related discipline.
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All applicants must submit a personal statement in English. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.
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Starting from the 2024/25 cohort, students must complete the compulsory 1-credit subject “CBS5T01 Professional Ethics and Academic Integrity” to satisfy the Academic Integrity and Ethics (AIE) requirement for graduation. No fees will be charged for this subject.
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Please click here to download.
HK$6,200 per credit.
(Note: No fees will be charged for the 1-credit subject “CBS5T01 Professional Ethics and Academic Integrity”)
| Date | Time | Venue | Remark |
| 12 Nov 2024 (Tue) | 06:30PM - 08:30PM | Online via Zoom |
Registration: https://polyu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uehmgmvPRgmz1dq01evTtg Language: English Remarks: Another Information Seminar will be held in January 2025. Relevant information will be announced later on this page. |
By embarking on a transformative academic journey in the Master of Speech Therapy programme at PolyU, I found myself immersed in a field where growth and enlightenment intersected seamlessly. From the depths of dedicated study to the challenges of real-world application, this experiential odyssey unveiled layers of self-discovery and professional growth.
Through the programme's diverse curriculum and opportunities, I have developed my ability to help a wide range of patients, instilling both competence and confidence.
Under the careful guidance of mentors who embodied the perfect blend of professionalism and genuine compassion, I internalised the crucial tenets of self-care, continuous learning, and the art of forging empathetic bonds with patients.
Since graduating, my career has been a diagnostic adventure, constantly revealing unexpected paths that enrich my understanding of the intricacies of the field. Guided by the practice acquired during my academic years, I am inspired to continually pursue and implement new knowledge, fostering a dynamic evolution in my practice and a deep understanding of the field.
The MST programme at PolyU was instrumental in providing me with a solid foundation of theoretical and clinical experience that shaped my clinical mindset as a budding speech therapist.
One of the greatest strengths of the programme is the resources devoted to a problem-based approach to learning, in which complex, real-life clinical scenarios are presented and we must exercise critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning in groups to arrive at creative yet practical solutions.
These skills are then tested in a series of clinical practicums, where we receive hands-on exposure to a wide range of clinical settings and populations, from paediatric articulation therapy in our on-campus Speech Therapy Unit to post-stroke dysphagia rehabilitation in public hospitals across Hong Kong.
The teaching and experience I received throughout the programme have instilled a sense of clinical confidence, competence, and professionalism in my work today, and will continue to inform my learning for years to come.
The last 2 years have witnessed my fastest growth, toughest mentality, and fullest heart. As a complete novice in speech sciences and linguistics, I was immersed in new theories and knowledge that I had to acquire, internalise, and apply to clinical placements. Meanwhile, problem-based learning was a fruitful experience. I discussed with my groupmates the core concepts and clinical decisions to consider in the cases. Above all, I learnt to keep an open mind and be humble, and to be aware of my own shortcomings while learning from others’ strengths. The programme emphasises theory-driven and evidence-based practices, so I had to equip myself with sufficient knowledge and clinical reasoning. There are always obstacles to overcome when dealing with new clients, and I am grateful to all the professors, lecturers, and clinical supervisors for their guidance. My classmates, especially my placement partners, have been my comrades in adversity, keeping me motivated and positive even under pressure. Overall, the appreciation of my clients, the enrichment of my knowledge, and my personal growth have been the most precious gifts of this journey.
A personal Statement in English (800 to 1,000 words) is required.
Optional
Required
Proof of English proficiency.
Proof of Chinese proficiency.
Optional
