Why I chose to study Speech and Language Therapy at Huddersfield
Lucy Steel
Speech and Language Therapy BSc(Hons)
Hi, I'm Lucy and I study Speech and Language Therapy. Whilst moving away from home was difficult, I am happy with the course I am studying, and I enjoy being in this town. Coming to Huddersfield has helped me become more independent and allowed me to explore places that I have never been to.
For as long as I can remember, I have always dreamed of a job where I can help others and so, naturally, this led me to look at jobs within healthcare.
I explored careers using the NHS website where I found the one for me - speech and language therapy.
You might be wondering what does a speech and language therapist do? Well, they work with individuals who may experience difficulties in speech, language, communication and/or swallowing. They work with patients to advocate for their needs and improve overall quality of life.
Having read about this career, I went on to speak to several speech and language therapists who were able to provide me with work experience opportunities that helped me understand if this was what I really wanted to do.
Also, I read real life stories of those who received speech and language therapy, and books by speech and language therapists about their experiences in the field. This helped me gain a better understanding of the profession and ensure I’d made the right decision.
My top tip for those unsure about their career choice would be to get work experience in an area you have an interest in. This really helped me understand the role and some of the theory I am now learning at university on my Speech and Language Therapy BSc(Hons) course.
How to choose a university
Once I decided on the best course for me, I started to consider which university I wanted to study at.
I spent time looking at different universities across the country online and exploring Open Days, to try and help me narrow it down to ‘The University’.
My advice for finding the right university for you is to go and explore it at an Open Day. You can learn so much about a place online, but it really helps to go and see it in person.
Going to Open Days allowed me to meet my future lecturers and some of the students on the course already. They really helped me understand where I envisioned myself being the best version of me.
I also loved the taster day I did at the University of Huddersfield as it gave me a feel for the teaching style, and I met the people who were going to be on my course in September. Additionally, it gave my family a chance to explore the University and local area with me so that they knew what it would be like for me to live in Huddersfield.
The benefits of Taster Days
I also loved the taster day I did at the University of Huddersfield as it gave me a feel for the teaching style, and I met the people who were going to be on my course in September. Additionally, it gave my family a chance to explore the University and local area with me so that they knew what it would be like for me to live in Huddersfield.
What stood out most to me about the University of Huddersfield was how much it valued collaborative working among the healthcare professions. During my work experience I had seen how important it was to understand varied healthcare roles and be able to work with others to deliver good care to patients, so seeing the University promote this collaborative approach was impressive.
This is shown particularly in the new Daphne Steele Building, which is the first building on the University's National Health Innovation Campus, dedicated to healthcare students. The building provides brand new facilities for us to learn and gain practical experience.
Another thing that really stood out for me was the Public Partnership Group (PPG) that works with the University and allows us to hear about real life patient experiences from the patients themselves. So far, I have really enjoyed the guest speakers from the PPG, and I cannot wait to meet more of them.
Now that I am here, I know that the University of Huddersfield was the perfect place for me to study my course. There have been many things that have made me feel good about my decision to come to Huddersfield.
One of them is that Huddersfield has everything I need, and nearby cities that I can explore on the train like York, Leeds and Manchester.
Huddersfield captured my heart through being a quiet countryside town with a lovely canal flowing through it. I love that there are plenty of good walks near me that me and my friends can do together. When I go on these walks, I always remember just why I chose to study in Huddersfield.
Some of my favourite places I've been to with friends so far include Marsden Moor and Castle Hill. Both have stunning views.
Whilst moving away from home was difficult, I am happy with the course I am studying, and I enjoy being in this town. Coming to Huddersfield has helped me become more independent and allowed me to explore more places that I have never been to.
It has also been really nice to have such a supportive university that constantly looks at ways to improve uni life so that students feel happier.
More student life articles?
What is life like studying at Huddersfield? Read other blogs written by our students.
Book an Open Day
Do you want to explore Huddersfield for yourself? Book on to one of our Open Days.