Entry requirements  

Q: Regarding the 3.0 CGPA requirement, does that pertain to the certificate grades only or to the whole degree?  

A: The CGPA requirement pertains to your undergraduate degree overall, rather than only to the CLSS portion of your degree. Note that meeting this CGPA does not guarantee admission.  
  
Q: Is there a minimum grade I must achieve in each of the CLSS courses?  

A: Rather than grade requirements by course, to continue in the CLSS program students must maintain a 3.0 CPGA upon completion of 60 units.  

Course and experience requirements  

Q: Besides the CLSS courses and stats course, are there additional recommended related coursework?  

A: Coursework in the following areas is recommended: Linguistics, Education, Psychology, Health Science, and Neuroscience. 

Q: For the statistics course requirement, can you provide examples that are accepted?   

A: Any undergraduate statistics course is acceptable. Recommended: STAT 201, 203, 205; PSYC 210. 

Q: Do you require volunteer or work experience in speech-language clinics or research labs?  

A: Although there is no formal requirement for lab or clinical experience, it is recommended that students gain experience in volunteering with individuals who have communication disorders or developmental difficulties. Personal experiences with family members who have conditions which impact their communication and participation are also considered relevant. Other related experience: Coaching, tutoring, art therapy, music therapy. 

Q: If I am currently taking courses (whether repeat courses or additional ones) at the time of application, how will those course outcomes affect my application?  

A: An offer of admission that is made to a student who is still taking courses will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of the course. Any specific conditions such as a certain grade level will be outlined in the offer.  

Timeline of application cycle

Q: When is the deadline to submit the internal expression of interest document to the Linguistics Student Advisor?  

A: To be admitted for February intake (e.g., Feb 2028) for an upcoming year, students must submit their expression of interest 16 months prior (e.g., October 2026).  

Q: When is the deadline to submit my completed application (including all supporting documents such as letter of intent, recommendation letter from instructor, transcripts, etc.) to UC MSLP?   

A: To be admitted for February intake for an upcoming year, students must submit all components of their application to UC MSLP by October 1 of the previous year (e.g., Oct 1, 2027 deadline for Feb 2028 intake).  

General 

Q: How many applications does Canterbury MSLP receive each year? Is the program competitive?  

A: The number of applications varies each year and the program is competitive. For the 2026 intake, 120 applications were received, and 32 offers were extended (27% of applicants). 

Q: How many seats are reserved for SFU pathway students?   

A: Five seats are reserved.  

Q: What are the evaluation criteria for admission?  

A: While your CGPA is a significant aspect of evaluation, UC MSLP also considers factors such as work, volunteer and personal experience, the applicant's reason for desiring to become an SLP, how well you present yourself in the interview, and letters of recommendation.  

Q: Is a letter of recommendation from an SFU instructor necessary for the application?   

A: Two recommendations are needed to support your UC MSLP application. Having an SFU instructor as one recommendation source is appropriate.

Q: Is providing a CV/resume part of the MSLP application process?   

A:  No, a full CV/Resume is not part of the process. A statement of interest, academic transcript and two recommendations are key written components.

Q: What is the length of the MSLP program and when does it start?  

A: Intake occurs every February (around the 3rd week) and students complete the program within 2 years, including coursework and the clinical placements.  

Statement of interest (Letter of intent) 

Q: What type of content should be included in the statement of interest?  

A: Content should include reasons for choosing speech‑language pathology as a career, specific personal attributes that would be relevant for the profession, and your relevant academic and non-‑academic accomplishments.  

Interview 

Q: What sort of preparation should I do for the interview?  

A: Repeatedly rehearse discussing topics such as why you want to be an SLP, your related work and volunteering experiences, and what skills and qualities you possess that will make you a successful SLP. You will be asked how you might respond in a hypothetical clinical scenario and also about responsive ways you might work with children. The interview provides the opportunity to explore spoken and written language ability and areas of academic performance or interpersonal communication skills. 

Q: What are some typical interview questions?  

A: Why do you want to be a SLP? Describe your experiences interacting with individuals who communicate differently. What would you do in a situation with a child who does not want to do planned activities?  

Fees 

Q: What is the cost of the program and when is payment due?    

A: The tuition fee is approximately $91,800 NZD for the full 2-year program for international students (as of 2027). This is due to policies of NZ immigration authorities, rather than Canterbury, as International students must have a valid student visa to study in NZ and need to provide evidence they have prepaid their tuition fees as part of a visa application. The estimated amount that you need to pre-pay will be specified within your Offer of Place document. An additional annual student services levy (NZD$1,200) is payable once each year.