University College London (UCL)

Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through blended learning with a combination of in person lectures and tutorials, recorded lectures, case presentations, online preparation, practical demonstrations and workshops, online tutorials, assignments, clinical placement observations. Practicals will consist of observations followed by supervised testing for rehabilitation and diagnostics in the Ear Institute’s specialist Skills Laboratory.

In the final year, students will undertake in-service clinical placements over 11-month period within accredited audiology departments in the NHS or private sector.

We use our virtual learning environment to provide a range of learning resources, such as video lectures, structured learning activities (e.g. quizzes, online discussion boards, webinars) and directed reading. This is supported with online and live lectures, seminars, group work and practical sessions.

Each module will be assessed using a range of different assessment methods which will typically include written coursework assignments (e.g., essays, presentations, case studies, lab reports, statistical assignments), clinical practical examinations, unseen written tests and examinations, dissertation and poster presentation.

Details of the assessments required for each module, including the weighting of each assessment components and information on which assessment components must be passed in order to pass the module, can be found in the individual module sections.

The deadlines for coursework submission and dates for examinations other assessments take place throughout the calendar year. Full details of the dates for all assessments can be found in each module summary and also on the Moodle page for each module.

Students will also need to complete an individual record of placement learning (clinical placement logbook).

The programme is full-time over 23 months. Term dates vary and the programme does not follow the typical UCL term patterns.

Each 15 credit module will involve 150 learning hours and will typically involve two to four hours of contact each week, with 5- 10 hours of self-directed study or group work per week, although this varies between modules. For MSc students, the dissertation is worth 60 credits and represents approximately 600 learning hours, including supervision, collecting data and independent study.

Modules

Full-time

Students undertake modules to the value of 300 credits over two years.

In year one, you will undertake eight taught modules and a research project. (180 credits)

All taught modules are compulsory modules, and are taught during the academic terms (September to December and January to March) and include lectures, tutorials and private study.

Dissertation / Research Project - you will work on the Research Project throughout the year, including supervision, data collection and independent study. Students not completing the research project will transfer to the PgDip in Audiological Science with clinical practice. Students completing this programme will still be eligible to apply for registration with AHCS and / or HCPC.

In year two, you will undertake two taught modules (term one and two) and two clinical modules over the full academic year (120 credits)

Part-time

Part-time students will take at least four taught modules in year one and begin their research project. In year two they will complete the remaining taught modules of stage one of the programme and the research project (180 credits).

Year three (clinical placement) must be taken on a full-time basis. In this year you will undertake two taught modules (term one and two) and two clinical modules over the full academic year (120 credits).

Note - some modules need to be taken in a specific order.

Flexible

The programme may be taken up to five years on a flexible basis. Some modules need to be taken in a specific order; requisites for each module are highlighted in the programme diet. (180 credits)

The final year (clinical placement) must be taken on a full-time basis. In this year you will undertake two taught modules (term one and two) and two clinical modules over the full academic year (120 credits). Note - some modules need to be taken in a specific order.

Compulsory modules

• Research Methods and Statistics
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Audio-Vestibular System
• Diagnostic Audiology
• Clinical and Professional Practice
• Diagnostic Audiology - Theory & Practice
• Management of Hearing Loss - Theory & Practice
• Balance
• Paediatric Audiology
• Clinical Adult Diagnostics and Auditory Rehabilitation
• Clinical Adult Audio-Vestibular Assessment and Paediatric Hearing Assessment and Rehabilitation
• Signals, Systems, Acoustics and the Ear
• Living with Hearing Loss
• Audiological Science: Research Project
• Integrative Audiology
• Audiology Specialties - Balance and Paediatric Audiology
• Fitness to Practise

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.

Students undertake modules to the value of 300 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Audiological Science with Clinical Practice. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Audiological Science with Clinical Practice.

Placement

Stage 1 (year 1 for full-time students). You will be on placement for several days in term 2 for clinical observation of NHS Audiology departments and private clinics within the Greater London area. The placements are arranged by the clinical placements coordinator and aim to give each student a breadth of experience across different settings in both the public and private sectors. private sector.

Stage 2 (year 2 for full-time students).

For the majority of this second year, students will be based in their allocated clinical placement centre(s)..

Students will be allocated a clinical placement at an Ear Institute-approved audiology department, which will typically be located within the London area or in the home counties surrounding Greater London, for 47-48 weeks, and will also be expected to attend formal teaching at the Ear Institute.

All placements are arranged by the Ear Institute.

Our clinical placement training sites meet specific educational requirements and also those of our approving bodies in terms of staff, resources, and experience to provide appropriate supervision. Although the students' personal preferences, current home postcode, travel requirements and any caring responsibilities are taken into account by the placement coordinator where possible when allocating places, their preferred location cannot be guaranteed.

Please note that clinical placement attendance is a mandatory part of the course. Due to the clinical demands of the course, you may be required to attend clinical placements, or on-campus clinical skills teaching and assessments, outside of normal term-time teaching periods. Also, please note that practical skills labs and clinical placements may be subject to change and are under continuous review.

What this course will give you

The UCL Ear Institute is one of the largest and most broad-based academic units for research into hearing and deafness in the Europe. Students benefit from the range of clinical and research expertise among its staff. Our teaching staff include some of the most influential clinicians and researchers in the field of ear disorders, and draw from their experience in hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders.

We strongly believe in person-centred care and involve patients and the general public in our teaching and learning.

We work closely with NHS departments, private hospitals, and commercial hearing aid dispensers to provide placement and observation opportunities. We are partnered with the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals, which houses the largest clinical audiology unit in the UK.

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.

We are the only university in London where you can study a Master’s degree in Audiology. Our central location gives access to one of the world’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan, and influential cities, ranked as the best city in the world for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2023).

The foundation of your career

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.

Our graduates acquire many transferable skills such as excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work under pressure, independently and in teams.

Employability
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.

Networking
Throughout their time at the Ear Institute, students will have opportunities to develop new connections with staff and peers to expand their academic and professional networks through our interactive and participative programme.

Students will learn from each other, from academic staff and practicing professionals, and will benefit from the Institute’s engagement with external groups including health trusts, charities, public and private sector institutions.

Students also take part in interprofessional sessions with trainees on other clinical programmes at UCL. Clinical placements provide a great opportunity to network with practising audiologists and other healthcare professionals.

Accreditation
This programme has accreditation & approval from the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Graduates from this programme will meet the relevant Standards of Education and Training and Standards of Proficiency of each of these bodies and be recommended for AHCS registration as a Healthcare scientist (Audiology) and for HCPC registration as a Hearing Aid Dispenser.