Audiology is a clinical science involving hearing and balance assessment and rehabilitation. Hearing assessment usually involves the use of a number of specialised tests which help to ascertain the site or type of problem within the auditory system. Audiologists working in this area often work closely with otologists (ear specialists). Aural rehabilitation involves helping people with impaired hearing to cope with their hearing difficulties. This work usually includes fitting hearing aids or other devices such as the cochlear implant (bionic ear), training in the use of these devices and helping people to use their vision and other compensatory mechanisms in order to communicate effectively. This profession should be of interest to those with a scientific background who are interested in working with people.
The first year of the course provides the basic scientific background for audiology and an introduction to clinical work. The second year provides comprehensive training in all aspects of clinical audiology along with an introduction to research methods in the field. The course consists of formal lectures, seminars, practical work and student presentations along with a substantial clinical component. Students will be scheduled for supervised clinical work at our clinical school and at various hearing care facilities across Victoria. The course runs from February to November and is made up of lectures, practical sessions and clinics. Please see the Course and Subject Handbook for more information about the subjects and the time commitment.
The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology offers the Master of Clinical Audiology degree, which is a two year full time course. Since 1998, the Master of Clinical Audiology degree has been required for entry to the profession.
The aim of this course is to provide students with the necessary training to enter the profession of clinical audiology. The course provides comprehensive training in all aspects of clinical audiology along with an introduction to research methods in this field. Students who demonstrate an aptitude for research may be considered for PhD studies within the Department.
On completion of this course the students should have:
This MSc is structured to provide the theoretical, scientific, clinical, research and vocational skills necessary to practise enhanced otology, audiovestibular medicine and audiology. The programme is designed for ENT surgeons, audiovestibular physicians, paediatricians, GPs, neurologists and other trainees and physicians with an interest in the medical aspects of audiology who wish to develop or enhance their careers or specialise in otology.
Students will learn about the anatomy and physiology of the vestibulocochlear system and facial nerve, related disorders and pathologies, diagnostic techniques and management strategies in both children and adults. Clinical and surgical placements provide an opportunity to develop specialist skills and competencies in evidence-based medicine, multidisciplinary practice - including facial reanimation, skull base and cochlear implantation clinics - and translational research and ethics.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of three core modules (45 credits), five optional modules (75 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma, three core modules (45 credits), five optional modules (75 credits), full-time one year, flexible two to five years is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate, four modules (60 credits) is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
Please note: not all optional modules will be available in any given academic year. Please contact the department for more information.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and observation at accredited clinical placements. Assessment is through a combination of methods including unseen examinations, written assignments (essays and a dissertation), case presentations, clinical portfolios and vivas.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Otology and Audiology MSc
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
This MSc provides a firm foundation in the practice of audiovestibular techniques and their clinical applications for physicians who wish to enhance their careers or develop a research career in this field. This programme at UCL has a highly acclaimed track record in catering for a broad range of training needs of physicians both from the UK and abroad. Alumni include high-profile audiovestibular and ENT physicians, practising within the UK and internationally, with highly successful clinical, research or public health career trajectories after completing the programme. The Postgraduate Certificate option provides key theoretical foundations to inform evidence-based practice and translational research and is recognised for specialty training in the UK by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) for Audiovestibular Medicine. It also represents part of the General Medical Council approved theoretical assessment component.
Employability
On successful completion of this MSc graduates will have acquired wide-ranging skills which will enhance professional practice and future employability. Research skills gained will include data management and analysis, critical literature evaluation and an enhanced understanding of how evidence informs healthcare provision. For ENT surgeons at a foundation/core training level, the programme adds a substantial clinical and research dimension to an application for core/higher training. For those already in higher training, completing this MSc demonstrates a commitment to acquiring advanced research skills and the opportunity to develop an academic clinical career as a practising surgeon. For individuals in specialties allied to otology, the programme offers enhanced clinical and research skills relevant to careers in clinical research and service development.
The UCL Ear Institute provides a unique environment for graduate study and is the largest and most broad-based academic unit for research into hearing, auditory processing, deafness and vestibular research in the UK.
Students benefit from an interdisciplinary range of clinical and research expertise. Collaboration between disciplines provides integrated research projects utilising a wide range of clinical and laboratory techniques.
The associated University College London Hospitals (UCLH) house the largest clinical audiology and dedicated vestibular service in the country, and the first Cochlear Implant team in the UK. All students benefit from placements in UCLH and UCL Partners hospitals and excellent networking opportunities.
Our MSc Audiology course is aimed at science graduates who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of audiology.
The course focuses on the theoretical, practical and clinical basis of the science of audiology, including the identification, assessment, rehabilitation and management of adults and children with audiological and vestibular dysfunction.
Our course includes two short clinical placements in the north-west - one in an NHS audiology department and one in the independent sector - to help you gain valuable practical experience while you learn.
You will learn from internationally recognised experts at the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD) while studying on this course.
Clinical training
Once you have completed this MSc, you will need to undertake a further clinical training programme called the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) to achieve clinical competency and eligibility for registration as a qualified audiologist or hearing aid dispenser practicing in the UK. Non-EU students are not eligible to apply for the CCC programme.
Manchester offers this further clinical training through the CCC, which is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP).
Places on the CCC are limited, as we are constrained by regional clinical placement training capacity in the NHS. Places on the CCC are therefore offered via a competitive entry process which involves an interview, technical assessment and communication task in Semester 2 of the MSc Audiology course.
When considering applicants for the CCC, we seek individuals who have the personal qualities and skills required to succeed in a clinical training environment, including:
All successful applicants who are offered a CCC place will be allocated a clinical training placement in the north-west.
Please note that there is no funding available for the CCC programme and successful applicants will be required to self-fund travel costs, accommodation costs and the CCC programme fees. The CCC programme fees are currently £4,500 and are reviewed annually.
Information for international applicants
The CCC is only open to EU applicants. Non-EU applicants are not eligible to apply for a position on this course. We strongly advise international applicants to check if clinical training programmes are available to them in their home country before considering undertaking the MSc Audiology course at Manchester.
This course aims to:
Inter-professional learning
You will have the opportunity to attend some professional practice lectures and workshops alongside healthcare scientists from a variety of fields.
Practical experience
Gain valuable practical experience through two one week clinical placements, one in an NHS audiology department in the north-west and the other in the independent sector.
Research experience
You will be required to design and complete a research project as part of the course, helping develop your research skills and giving you the opportunity to focus on a specific area of interest within audiology.
Expert teaching
This course is led by members of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), an internationally recognised multi-million pound hearing research programme. Manchester's hearing health research is benefiting as part of a £28.5 million investment through the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, so MSc students will benefit greatly from studying in an intensive and high-quality research environment.
Many of the staff involved with this course are actively involved in either scientific or pedagogical research. Where possible, members of staff teach course units related to their research interests, so they are able to keep their teaching informed and up to date.
A large number of the teaching staff are also clinically trained audiologists, hearing therapists or hearing scientists.
We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, small group work, student-led seminars, problem-based learning and online learning.
In addition, you will be required to undertake independent study to further develop and consolidate your learning.
To develop clinical skills, you will be required to undertake practical skills training as part of the course.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
We use a variety of assessments within individual course units and across the course as a whole. All assessments require students to integrate knowledge and understanding, and apply this to your own practice relevant to the outcomes of each unit.
Assessment methods include:
A substantial and mandatory component of the MSc involves the design and completion of a high-quality research project. The research project component represents 33% of the MSc (ie 600 hours or four months' full-time study).
The project is completed under supervision in an area related to audiology. The research project is an opportunity for you to consolidate much of your previous learning and to pursue a specialist area of interest that is relevant to your future career in audiology.
You will use high-quality laboratory equipment and facilities for the teaching of practical skills. You will have access to these facilities outside of timetabled sessions to facilitate individual practice of procedures that carry minimal risk.
You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .
Our MSc Advanced Audiology Studies course is aimed at practising audiologists who want to prepare for advanced roles in clinical management, clinical practice, teaching and research.
The course consists of a mixture of audiology-specific units and those shared with health professionals from a range of other disciplines, enabling you to tailor the course to your own interests.
You will learn from internationally recognised experts at the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD).
You may choose to complete 60 credits for a PGCert (exit award) or 120 credits for a PGDip.
On successful completion of 120 credits, progression to the full MSc qualification allows you to explore, in depth, a specific aspect of audiology practice, policy, research or education in a 60-credit, 12,000 to 15,000-word dissertation.
Our course aims to:
Additional aims for the MSc are to enable you, through the systematic, in-depth, exploration of a specific area of audiology practice, policy, research or education to extend your knowledge, understanding and ability to contribute to the advancement of audiology knowledge and practice at an individual and/or organisational level.
Inter-professional learning
The course includes units in which students from a range of healthcare professions study core concepts and subjects together. You will also have the opportunity to study with professionals in areas related to audiology, such as teachers of the deaf.
Wide range of units
You can choose from a variety of units to customise the course to suit your own interests.
Expert teaching
This course is led by members of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), an internationally recognised multi-million pound hearing research programme.
Many of the staff involved with the course are actively involved in either scientific or pedagogical research.
Where possible, members of staff teach course units related to their research interests and are in a position to keep their teaching informed and up-to-date.
A large number of the teaching staff are also clinically trained audiologists, hearing therapists or hearing scientists.
We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, small group work, student-led seminars, problem-based learning and online learning.
You will also be required to undertake independent study to further develop and consolidate your learning.
Where appropriate, and with individual arrangements, some audiology units may include participation in practical skills laboratories.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
You will be assessed using a variety of methods within individual units and across the course as a whole.
All assessments require you to integrate knowledge and understanding, and apply this to your own practice relevant to the outcomes of each unit.
Assessment methods include:
The full MSc qualification requires an extended written piece of work (12,000-15,000 words) that focuses on a specific aspect of audiology practice, policy or research in the form of an extended literature-based review.
Taught units can be studied in any order except where there are specific pre-requisites.
Not all optional units may run each year and will be subject to minimum numbers. You will meet with your course director to plan out a pathway that meets your needs.
Part-time students on the PGDip or MSc course will need to complete 60 credits per year as required for the award. Attendance at the university will vary depending on which units you choose to take. Some units are delivered online, some face-to-face over a number of days, and others are delivered via traditional lectures on a weekly basis.
An exit award of PGCert is available to students exiting after completing 60 credits. This must include at least 15 credits of audiology-specific units from those available.
A maximum of 30 credits of individual course units can also be studied on a standalone basis.
Studying this MSc part-time alongside clinical practice has been a unique experience. The course was flexible and I was able to tailor my units to suit my career options as a paediatric audiologist.
The course gave scope to branch into deaf education. Combined with my audiology background, I feel I have broadened my scope as a paediatric practitioner.
Aminoor Rahman
You will use high quality laboratory equipment and facilities for learning practical skills. You will have access to these facilities outside of timetabled sessions to facilitate individual practice, with some limitation on procedures that carry certain risks eg aural impression taking.
You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .
We offer individual units from this MSc as standalone courses for continuing professional development, as well as units providing specialist clinical training .
Our course will prepare you to enter roles in clinical management and practice in audiology, as well as teaching and research.
This course is accredited by the RCCP.
Our world-leading MSc Audiology courses, underpinned by our pioneering research, enable both experienced clinicians and recent science/engineering graduates to accelerate their careers. The one-year MSc course provides scientific training in audiology and takes students from around the world. The two-year MSc course adds a 9-12 month clinical placements in the UK, Ireland and Jersey. All placement centres are approved and accredited by the University of Southampton and include a mixture of NHS and private clinics.
Our graduates have transformed audiology around the world, from starting the first audiology service in Rwanda, developing the national Chinese hearing test, becoming head of University department in Jordan to managing a hearing screening programme in the UK.
The one-year MSc Audiology course provides challenging and rewarding scientific training in audiology to help develop your knowledge, skills and attitudes to become a global leader in audiology, auditory research or a range of health-related fields. It provides those new to audiology with the foundations of the profession while also offering rich and challenging professional development for already qualified audiologists, speech-and-language therapists and other health professionals.
The year is divided into two semesters, with the last four months dedicated to your research project. You will attend taster clinics, develop research skills and investigate healthcare innovations in the field. At the end of your research project you will submit a thesis. There is also the option to exit the course at an earlier stage with a PG Cert or PG Dip.
The first year of the two-year MSc Audiology (with clinical placement) course is identical to the non-placement programme and adds a clinical placement in Year 2. The unpaid placement is a minimum of 40 weeks and a maximum of 52 weeks in duration. Applicants are all asked to apply for the one-year MSc Audiology course and are then allocated to their placements prior to commencing the first year of study. Placements are allocated on a first come first served basis and are in approved audiology services in the UK, Ireland and Jersey. UK applicants who complete the two-year MSc Audiology (with clinical placement) are eligible to register with RCCP and to work in the NHS as an audiologist. EU and international applicants should refer to the registration body’s guidance for international applicants. All graduates from the two-year MSc are eligible to apply for our stand-alone course as a route towards registering as a Hearing Aid Dispenser. EU and international applicants should refer to the HCPC guidance for international applicants.
This course provides a fast-track route to an audiology qualification for individuals who hold a degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline (linguistics, psychology, physics, behavioural science, biomedical science, speech and language therapy or some combination of these).
Audiologists work with patients to identify and assess hearing and/or balance disorders, recommending and providing appropriate rehabilitation and management. An audiologist will assist in the promotion of normal communication as well as the prevention, identification, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of the following: hearing and/or balance disorders that arise in the peripheral and/or central auditory and/or vestibular systems; functional hearing disorders; and central auditory processing disorders.
An audiologist should also be able to identify developmental or acquired disorders of speech, language and language processing caused by a hearing loss, and make referrals to an appropriate professional.
The course is organised in three broad strands. You will study supporting subjects such as linguistics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, neurology and research methods. You will learn theoretical audiology knowledge relating to hearing and balance, and you will carry out an element of professional practice through placement-based and university-based learning of practical clinical skills, clinical decision-making, reflection and professional issues. Knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in the theoretical modules are integrated and applied to clinical practice throughout the course.
The course is taught using a variety of interactive learning methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, laboratories, group work, role-play and interactive computer sessions. The development of interpersonal skills and professional skills and attitudes is also a major focus of the learning and teaching programme. Learning activities are guided using web-based programmes. A variety of assessments are used for example essays, individual presentations, electronic portfolios, group discussions, case studies, practical skills as well as a final dissertation. Class sizes are normally 10 - 15 students.
Each module which you study on campus will require you to attend classes and carry out independent work. Your attendance at QMU will depend on which module you are studying. In most instances, the taught elements of this course occur over three consecutive days. It is suggested that students use the other days for independent study.
The course provides graduates with eligibility to register with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) in the United Kingdom/ Academy of Health Care Scientists.
15 credits: Neurology for Speech Therapy and Audiology/ Linguistics and Culture in Signed and Spoken Languages/ Advanced Audiological Assessment/ Multidisciplinary Working
30 credits: Audiological Assessment/ Aural Habilitation and Rehabilitation/ Technology for Hearing Impairment/ Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation/ Research Methods
Level 10 credits
20 credits: Audiological Clinical Skills/ Professional Practice for Audiology 40 credits: Clinical Audiology 1,2 & 3 (placement modules) If studying for the MSc you will also complete a dissertation (60 credits).
Graduates may work within the National Health Service and private sector. A further assessment is required in order to work as a registered Hearing Aid Dispenser. There are also career opportunities for research in universities and research institutes.
Advanced Audiology is designed for practising audiologists looking to enhance their clinical skills. Graduates are eligible to apply for senior clinical roles in the NHS or private sector. A variety of specialist modules can be selected to suit students' professional needs. The programme has a strong research and evidence-based practice foundation.
A wide range of optional modules enables students to focus on specific advanced fields of audiology relevant to their professional practice. Students will learn about the latest research in each field and how to apply this to patient care and service delivery. Students will gain proficiency in using new tools and techniques in line with advanced-level practice.
MSc students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of three compulsory modules (45 credits), the research project and dissertation (60 credits), and five optional modules (75 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma, three core modules (45 credits), five optional modules (75 credits), full-time nine months is offered.
Core modules
Choose five options from the following:
Students choose five of the following optional modules.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000–12,000 words.
The programme is delivered through lectures, practical demonstrations and workshops, structured workplace/placement observation, online tutorials and assignments. Research skills will be obtained through lectures and the completion of a scientific research paper and poster presentation. Assessments include essays, reflective journals, case studies, clinical portfolios, unseen examinations and the research dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Advanced Audiology MSc
The programme provides audiologists with the required depth, breadth and up-to-date knowledge and competence to enable them to fulfil the needs of the higher practitioner roles.
The UCL Ear Institute's links with industry and healthcare providers allows students significant networking opportunities.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
The MSc pushes the boundaries in helping clinicians develop their skills and services, and innovate and design solutions to today’s hearing healthcare challenges.
The UCL Ear Institute is the largest and most broad-based academic unit for research into hearing and deafness in the UK, allowing students to benefit from the range of clinical and research expertise among its staff. The associated Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital houses the largest clinical audiology unit in the country.
The MSc programme is designed for practising professionals. A significant number of the optional modules are taught as Masterclasses (three- to five-day short courses) followed by tutorials and assessments. This allows students who continue to work part-time significant flexibility in how they structure their MSc programme.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Ear Institute
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
The Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc is designed to train students from other disciplines as audiologists. This unique two-year programme includes a 12-month clinical placement and provides the core knowledge, skills and clinical competencies necessary for employment as an audiologist and/or hearing aid dispenser.
The programme provides a detailed study of the hearing and balance mechanisms, their structure, function, pathology and assessment.
The successful student will become competent in a wide range of adult hearing assessments and adult hearing amplification and aural rehabilitation. In addition students will acquire skills that will allow them to assist in specialist areas, specifically balance and paediatric hearing assessments.
Students undertake modules to the value of 300 credits.
The full-time two-year programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits) in the first year, and four core clinical modules (120 credits) in the second year.
The postgraduate diploma two-year programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) in year one, and four core clinical modules (120 credits) in year 2.
Year one core modules
Please note: only first-year modules can be taken in flexible mode. The in-service clinical placement modules need to be completed in one year - equivalent to year two of the full-time programme.
Year two core modules
Research project/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 –12,000 words. This is submitted at the end of year one.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, case presentations, tutorials, enquiry-based learning, practical demonstrations and in-service clinical placements within accredited audiology departments in the NHS or private sector.
Assessment (formative and summative) is by essays, case presentations, mini -tests, final written and practical examinations, and dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc
It is anticipated that the majority of students will seek employment as audiologists within the UK, in both the NHS and private sector. The main area of activity is adult hearing assessment and rehabilitation. As experience is acquired, audiologists might develop an interest and expertise in balance assessment and rehabilitation, paediatric audiology, tinnitus, cochlear implants, middle ear implants, and bone-anchored hearing aids.
With further experience it is anticipated that graduates might also move towards management, research or teaching.
Employability
Although the programme is vocational and career-specific (audiology) some of our graduates have pursued academic careers, completing PhDs and taught doctorates. International students have used the knowledge and skills gained to promote and develop audiological services in their home countries. Graduates will also acquire many transferable skills, for example, excellent communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, the ability to work independently and in teams, and excellent interpersonal and research skills.
The UCL Ear Institute is a recognised international centre of excellence for research and training with strong links to the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital and other specialised audiology departments in London.
Our programme aims to ensure that graduates are scientifically literate at postgraduate level and clinically competent within an audiology setting, and that graduates from a relevant discipline acquire the knowledge and skills to practise as an audiologist and/or hearing aid dispenser or pursue a research career.
Our programme allows students the opportunity to network with a variety of different professionals, particularly audiologists, and doctors with specialist interests in ENT or audiovestibular medicine.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Ear Institute
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Our MClin Res Clinical Research course is aimed at nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and other non- medical/dental healthcare professionals who want to work in clinical research, or are already working in this area and want to develop the skills needed for other positions where research plays a key role.
You will develop in-depth knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of clinical research and skills in research methods relevant to applied research in a range of contemporary clinical practice settings.
The course is mainly delivered online, but is complemented by two compulsory four-day campus-based introductory and winter study schools, and one mid-semester study day in Semesters 1 and 2.
Most of the units that make up this course are shared with other students on master's and postgraduate research programmes at Manchester.
Our course has been designed to provide health professionals with the skills needed to manage and deliver research in clinical and health and social care settings, and to develop careers in clinical research, clinical and academic practice, or academic research with a strong clinical practice component.
The aims of the course are to:
Interdisciplinary learning
You will learn from renowned lecturers and practitioners from various fields including nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, social work, speech and language therapy, audiology, psychology, and medicine.
Strong collaborations
We have strong links with other courses at Manchester and with experts from the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) and the Manchester Academy for Healthcare Scientist Education (MAHSE).
The course content is primarily delivered online, giving you more flexibility over how you learn. You will also attend two four-day introductory and winter study schools and two mid-semester study days, allowing you to learn face-to-face and meet other students and staff at Manchester.
We use digital technology to ensure our supervision of and communications with students meet the high standards required for the learning process to work. This includes:
Find out more about postgraduate teaching and learning at Manchester.
We will assess your progress using a variety of summative assessment methods that enable the integration of theory and practice. They also build on the continuous formative assessment exercises that come with each individual unit, which include interactive, stimulating online exercises with regular self-assessment and feedback.
Our MClin Res comprises six taught units (90 academic credits in total) and a 90-credit dissertation unit comprising a thesis derived from the undertaking of a supervised, clinical research project.
The PGDip Clin Res comprises six taught units from (90 academic credits in total) and a mini-dissertation (30 academic credits).
The PGCert Clin Res comprises four taught units (60 academic credits in total).
Year 1
Full-time study
Six taught units in the following areas, plus a dissertation:
Part-time study
Four taught units from the following areas:
Year 2
Part-time study
Two taught units from the following areas, plus a dissertation:
We collaborate with other courses at Manchester and with experts from the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) and the Manchester Academy for Healthcare Scientist Education(MAHSE).
We are based in Jean McFarlane Building, which houses seminar rooms, IT facilities, clinical and interpersonal skills laboratories, and lecture theatres.
The University of Manchester also offers extensive library and online services to help you get the most out of your studies.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
This course is predominantly aimed at health professionals from a range of disciplines who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge in clinically focused research.
It is aimed at those who wish to pursue clinical/academic research careers eg research nurses, clinical trials coordinators and principal investigators.
The course provides comprehensive training in research, providing an excellent foundation for students who wish to go on to study for a PhD.
The Audiological Science MSc provides a detailed study of the hearing and balance mechanisms: their structure, function and pathology. The relationship between laboratory research and clinical aspects forms a key element: lectures, demonstrations and tutorials will be complemented by practical experience in the clinic and laboratory.
Students learn how people develop, or are born with, hearing and/or balance difficulties; how to test for hearing and balance problems and how to rehabilitate or habilitate patients with these problems. They learn the theory and science underpinning these practical clinical skills including acoustics and the anatomy and physiology of the auditory and vestibular systems.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a research project (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma, eight core modules (120 credits), full-time nine months is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000–12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical demonstrations, and clinical placements. Practicals will consist of observations followed by supervised testing for rehabilitation and diagnostics in the Ear Institute’s specialist Skills Laboratory. Assessment is by essays, presentations, written examinations, clinical practical examinations and the dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Audiological Science MSc
Many graduates are now employed as audiologists either within the NHS or private sector or work as hearing aid dispensers.
Please note that the Audiological Science MSc does not meet the requirements of the UK regulatory bodies on its own. The programme provides the required theoretical skills and knowledge for clinical registration in the UK but does not provide the practical training required. Applicants wishing to practise as an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser in the UK will need to transfer to the Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc (two-year full time). This is subject to availability and there is a competitive interview process.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
As well as working as audiologists, graduates have also pursued academic careers, completing PhDs and taught doctorates. International students have used the knowledge and skills gained to promote and develop audiological services in their countries. It is suitable for audiologists who have no graduate-level qualification in audiology and wish to develop their careers, or academic researchers who have a specialist interest in audiology.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The UCL Ear Institute is the largest and most broad-based academic unit for research into hearing and deafness in the UK. Students benefit from the range of clinical and research expertise among its staff.
The UCL Ear Institute is associated with the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, which houses the largest clinical audiology unit in the country, and works closely with NHS audiology departments to provide placement and observation opportunities for students.
The programme has close links with healthcare providers and industry (e.g. hearing aid manufacturers) providing students with access to the latest practice and technology and excellent networking opportunities.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Ear Institute
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website
Physician associates first joined the NHS workforce nearly ten years ago and are now employed throughout the UK in increasing numbers.
Physician associates are permanent members of the medical team, responsible for performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and recommending therapy. The role of physician associates is increasingly important within the healthcare workforce and individuals with this qualification are in demand.
Our PGDip in Physician Associate Studies aims to develop the skills required to become an effective practitioner through a combination of teaching and practical placements.
You will be trained according to the medical model and will work in collaboration with doctors and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage a wide range of common and complex diseases,
A range of benefits are provided by the University to support your career development:
On successful completion of the course and having passed the national examinations and fulfilled all required competencies, you will spend a further two years in clinical practice within the NHS by applying for a range of posts with primary and acute care providers.
You will develop:
Extensive clinical training
You will receive over 1,600 hours of clinical training, including placements across the full range of medical specialities at teaching hospitals and primary care providers.
Work abroad
You have the opportunity to develop your skills by working abroad in Year 2. Travel bursaries are available to support this.
Specialist course
This course has been developed as a stand-alone postgraduate taught programme with a graduate-entry ethos and a fully integrated course structure based on clinical presentations rather than body systems.
Excellent teaching
We use a combination of problem based learning (PBL) tutorials, small group teaching and lectures to deliver a course with very high levels of staff-student contact time and excellent student satisfaction. The curriculum is delivered through a mixed methods approach incorporating early clinical skills training, reflective practice, clinical immersion, a short elective, distance learning, and a dedicated 'preparation for practice' block.
We use a structured programme of formative and summative assessments to examine the knowledge and skills that you must develop. You will undertake written and OSCE examinations at the end of each year and will maintain a portfolio for personal and professional development (PPD).
The course is non-modular, providing you with an opportunity to develop and consolidate skills throughout each year of the course.
Taught content is delivered in blocks of study of increasing complexity alongside the two longitudinal themes of Personal and Professional Development (PPD) and Consultation Skills (CS), with assessment periods at the end of each year. Each taught block feeds seamlessly into the next and all components of the programme are compulsory.
You have the option of spending an elective period in a speciality of your choosing.
Course content for Year 1
The first year of the course begins with a four-month period of intensive study where you will develop your understanding of the essential basic and clinical sciences that facilitate safe and effective practice.
After this 16-week taught block, you will rotate through a series of medical and surgical placements, each incorporating a short period of university-based teaching.
The curriculum is built around a core content of common clinical situations that are then organised according to their relative complexity. The content of each taught block is delivered using a problem-based learning (PBL) approach through the study of clinical cases/scenarios.
Each case integrates elements of the taught content and you will learn about and reflect upon the related biomedical, behavioural and population sciences appropriate to the case.
PBL is supported by small group teaching, lectures and workshops to form a truly integrated curriculum with very high levels of contact time.
Course content for Year 2
The second year of the course provides more advanced specialist instruction in the core medical and clinical sciences alongside a comprehensive programme of clinical reasoning to prepare you to sit your national postgraduate examinations.
This course is part of a wider collaboration across the north-west. We work in partnership with Health Education England and the Universities of Liverpool and Central Lancashire to develop the physician associate role across the region.
The three universities collaborate in interviewing applicants and you apply directly to the HEE North West physician associate programme, indicating your preference of university on the application form.
You will have access to medical facilities at the University (similar to students studying the Medicine MBChB course) with a focus on clinical teaching and highly advanced clinical simulation.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
Elements of the course will be available for CPD in 2018. Please contact us for further information.
Our MRes Experimental Medicine (Hearing Health) programme will give nurses, doctors, audiologists, clinical researchers and research programme managers the skills needed to work in early phase clinical studies.
You will learn how to master experimental medicine with a focus on Hearing Health through a combination of traditional teaching and hands-on learning, through spending a year working closely with the Experimental Medicine Hearing Health Team of the Biomedical Research Centre while also taking four structured taught units.
The taught units will see you learn the details of designing and delivering Phase 1 clinical studies, understanding the pre-clinical data required before a clinical programme can commence, and how to optimise early clinical studies to provide evidence for progressing a promising drug or intervention into Phase II/III clinical testing.
Alongside the taught elements, you will have a named supervisor and be exposed to tasks required in the setup, delivery, interpretation and audit of a clinical study.
Nursing, physician and audiology students may participate in patient care, including new and follow-on patient clinics, treatment and care-giving episodes with patients.
For non-registered clinical researchers and research programme managers, no direct patient contact is envisaged and you may participate in clinical trial setup, protocol amendments, database setup, data entry, costing and billing for clinical research.
You will be able to choose two aspects of your direct clinical trial research experience to write up for your two research projects in a dissertation format. This will give you the skills and knowledge required to critically report medical, scientific and clinically related sciences for peer review.
The primary purpose of the MRes in Experimental Medicine (Hearing Health) is to provide you with the opportunity to work within a premier Biomedical Research Centre and, through a mix of taught and experiential learning, master the discipline of experimental medicine related to hearing health.
Extensive practical experience
You will spend most of your time gaining hands-on experience through completion of two research projects working closely with the Experimental Medicine Hearing Health Team of the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.
Taught by experts in Experimental Medicine within dedicated research and clinical trials facilities
You will also have opportunities to interact with and learn from experimental medicine researchers across a range of different fields within the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and the Manchester Clinical Research Facility and thereby broaden your knowledge and experience of experimental medicine.
This course is suitable for audiologists from a wide range of clinical settings who are interested in aural rehabilitation. The course will provide you with further knowledge and skills in adult and paediatric aural rehabilitation to support career development and progression for qualified audiologists.
The course aims to create an intellectually stimulating opportunity for you to develop academic knowledge and research skills, thus enhancing your practice in rehabilitative audiology. Suitable for international, UK and local audiologists, the course will develop knowledge of the evidence base in practice and further develop critical thinking, clinical reasoning and research knowledge.
The course is organised in three broad strands:
Knowledge, understanding and skills acquired across the course will be integrated and applied in the clinical setting throughout all modules. This course will ensure that the audiologist acquires the advanced knowledge required to work with complex Audiological cases as well as managing service input.
PgCert in Hearing and Communication
The PgDip/MSc (Post-Registration) in Rehabilitative Audiology is open only to qualified audiologists but includes modules that are of interest to a range of professionals. The PgCert in Hearing and Communication has been developed to allow students from a variety of non-audiology backgrounds the opportunity for further study in relation to hearing impairment and auditory/ vestibular rehabilitation.
Students may take up to four years to complete the 60 credits required to be awarded a PgCert. Applicants might include: speech and language therapists; teachers of the deaf; linguists; any health professional interested (Post-Registration) in developing their knowledge and skills in relations to hearing and balance management. It is acknowledged that each of these groups has unique needs and concerns which will be taken into consideration during the admissions process and throughout the programme.
The minimum entry requirement for the Pg Cert in Hearing and Communication will normally be a first or second class BSc (Hons) degree in a related discipline (eg education, psychology, linguistics, speech and language therapy or another health science).
This is a distance learning course and students engage with staff members and each other through regular contact within the online teaching and learning environment. An extensive range of learning technologies – including The Hub, eportfolio and multimedia resources – will be available to support directed, independent learning. Learning materials may include narrated PowerPoint lectures, video or audio clips, reading materials, case-based data, guided learning activities, discussion boards and self-assessment quizzes. Online seminars and discussion groups will be scheduled to allow maximum participation. Discussions and seminars will also be archived to allow students to review the content after the event. Assessment is carried out through case-based assignments, reflective journals, research reports, electronic portfolio, online discussions as well as a final dissertation.
We suggest that a student should spend an average of 18 hours on independent learning/ course work each week per module. This could include online discussions.
Advanced counselling: Theory and Practice (15 credits)/ Research Methods (30 credits)/ Adult Aural Rehabilitation: Advanced Practice (30 credits) OR Paediatric Aural Habilitation (30 credits)
A further 45 credits from: Hearing Technology: Advanced Theory and Practice (15 credits)/ Advanced Vestibular Rehabilitation (15 credits)/ Tinnitus and Hyperacusis (15 credits) / Language and Culture of Deaf People (15 credits) / Adult Aural Rehabilitation: Advanced Practice (30 credits)/ Paediatric Aural Habilitation (30 credits)
If studying for the MSc, you will also complete a dissertation (60 credits).
Graduates may work within the National Health Service and private sector. There are also career opportunities for research in universities and research institutes.
The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the specialism of paediatric audiology. This module includes problem-based learning, and will also provide you with learning opportunities in a range of generic skills relevant to clinical scientists.
To facilitate the development your knowledge of paediatric audiology, your skills in critically appraising scientific arguments and evidence, and your skills at collaborative working as is required for effective practice in paediatric audiology.
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
• The principles and practice of newborn hearing screening programmes.
• Non-audiological assessment methods relevant to paediatric audiology.
• Behavioural assessment methods for children and stages of assessment.
• The importance of timely hearing assessment and its link to speech and language development.
• Factors that contribute to the successful hearing assessment of a child, e.g. accuracy, sensitivity, reliability and the scientific evidence underlying paediatric assessment methods.
• Planning and implementation of audiological assessment strategies taking into account the needs of the individual patient.
• Principles of selection, prescription, verification, evaluation and monitoring of amplification for children including the role of carers and other professional in the process.
• Planning and implementation of a rehabilitation strategy taking into account the needs of the individual.
