The new SFU–Canterbury Master of Speech and Language Pathology Pathway will address the gap between the increased demand for speech language pathologists and the limited pathway options for students in British Columbia. This pathway expands graduate study options for students interested in pursuing a career in speech language pathology. Students who complete the Certificate in the Linguistics of Speech Science during their undergraduate degree now have a direct pathway to UC’s Master of Speech and Language Pathology (MSLP) program with admission as early as February 2028. Recent alumni of the certificate who meet the eligibility requirements are also encouraged to apply.

“This pathway provides an excellent opportunity for SFU students to train for a career in the high-demand profession of speech and language pathology and, at the same time, seek the life-changing experience of studying abroad,” explains FASS Associate Dean of Graduate Postdoctoral Studies, Kate Slaney.

The partnership guarantees a limited number of seats for eligible SFU undergraduate students. Those accepted to the program are also eligible to receive a tuition fee reduction of 10% at UC.

“Entry into an MSLP program in Canada is so competitive that many students have to apply several years in a row and in the end still have to find programs out of country,” Linguistics department chair Panos Pappas explains. “By opening up the possibility of early admission to the very successful program at the University of Canterbury, this pathway will provide many students with greater clarity about their career options.”