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How to become a Speech-Language Therapist

Helps people with speech, language and swallowing difficulties.

Apply early

Selection programmes like this often close months before the standard application deadline, and marks alone don’t guarantee a place. See the Dates page for the exact closing dates.

What does a Speech-Language Therapist actually do?

More about this career

Helps people with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties – from children with developmental delays to stroke survivors relearning to speak. Works in hospitals, schools, private practice and early childhood development settings.

Where this degree can take you

  • Paediatric Speech Therapist
  • Augmentative Communication Specialist
  • Dysphagia (Swallowing) Specialist
  • Voice Therapist

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Life Sciences

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the degrees we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 5 of 5 degrees
  • Life Sciences – asked for by 3 of 5 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 2 of 5 degrees
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 1 of 5 degrees

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each degree links to the page it came from.

Degrees that lead here

5 degrees at 5 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Partly verified

Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology

School of Health Care Sciences

SMU APS 25

  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Another language – Another language (Home or First Additional) at level 4.
  • Life Orientation: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Two further subjects at level 3 or better.

Closes 31 July 2026 for undergraduate programmes (applications open 1 April 2026) - notably earlier than most universities in this batch.

Source: View the official page (smu.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

B Speech-Language & Hearing Therapy

Medicine & Health Sciences · 4 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 60 %

  • Mathematics: 50%
  • Physical Sciences: 50% OR Life Sciences: 60%
  • Two languages – Two languages at 60% are required.

Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher. About 30 students are selected.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Cape Town

Selection programme

BSc Speech-Language Pathology

Health Sciences · 4 years

UCT Faculty Points Score 340 out of 600

  • Mathematics: 60% OR Mathematical Literacy: 70%
  • Physical Sciences: 65% OR Life Sciences: 65%
  • English: 65% if it is your Home Language, 65% if it is your First Additional Language
  • Next 3 subjects: 60%
  • NBT – NBTs are compulsory and must be at Intermediate level or above.

The 340 shown is the APS sub-minimum (out of 600). Selection: Band A FPS 715, Band B WPS 670, Band C 510 / 515 / 600. About 40 places.

Source: View the official page (uct.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Pretoria

BA Speech-Language Pathology

Humanities

UP APS 32 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)

Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of the Witwatersrand

BA Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology: Speech-Language Pathology

Humanities · 4 years

Wits APS 34 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • NBT – The NBT must be written by 17 August.

An APS of 30-33 may be wait-listed.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every degree above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?