Earning a Master of Speech Therapy degree from PolyU afforded me a variety of clinical experiences. Apart from on-campus clinical opportunities and external clinical placements, the programme has strong partnerships with mainland hospitals and clinical sites, which offered me comprehensive clinical exposure and experience spanning the entire scope of speech therapy practice. Another component of the degree that I valued highly was the problem-based learning (PBL) approach, in which students were encouraged to solve an open-ended clinical problem using their knowledge and experience, with support from the professors and clinical supervisors. This empowered me to develop my problem-solving skills and to become a “real” clinician, asking crucial questions by using critical thinking and my knowledge of the most recent evidence. The Master of Speech Therapy engendered an excellent sense of community within my cohort. I have developed strong lifelong friendships and an extensive professional network. Today, we still reach out to one another now for professional and socioemotional support, which indicates the value of these connections facilitated by the degree.

Winnie Ha (MST 2016)

The MST programme not only equipped me with theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills, but also developed my problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. My cohort and I were fortunate to gain a broad range of clinical experiences across various settings and specialty clinics, from paediatrics to geriatrics, rehabilitation facilities in China to public hospitals in Hong Kong, and patients ranging from people with voice problems to stuttering problems. The programme encouraged me to learn through problem-based discussions, and motivated me to take the initiative and responsibility for my learning. Thus, I learned to remain astute and versatile even after graduation and to value lifelong learning. I am extremely grateful for the constant guidance and support from the Department and my teachers – they have been instrumental in making me, and my classmates competent, compassionate and skilled speech therapists.

Daniel Chum (MST 2021)

Over the last two years, I have gained more knowledge and experience than I expected from studying the Masters of Speech Therapy. I have acquired knowledge of linguistics, medical science and psychology from attending lectures, and developed evidenced-based decision-making skills through the problem-based learning and clinical placements in different settings. I have made valuable friendships with fellow classmates and members of the MST teaching team. The teachers are always welcoming and supportive when I or my classmates need help, and they serve as good role models of professional attitude and compassionate care, as they have continued to prioritise clients’ and students’ benefits and safety even during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. I have no doubt that the MST program will prepare me to become a better health care professional with deeper insights into communication sciences and disorders.

Sirui Li (MST Year 2)