What is your educational background?
I am currently in my second year studying BSc Audiology at the UCL Ear Institute. Although most of our modules are focused on adult assessment and rehabilitation, the theoretical and practical knowledge I have gained can be applied to different specialties in audiology that I’ve been exposed to during lectures and placement; which include but is not limited to paediatrics, severe to profound hearing loss (implants) and balance assessments.
Before university, I completed my A-levels in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology which gave me a solid foundation to support my undergraduate studies.
Why did you choose to apply to the BSc Audiology programme?
I’ve always aspired to have a career in healthcare. However, the initial options I explored didn’t fully align with my interests. During my gap year, I worked as a caterer on an orthopaedic and surgical ward in a hospital. There, I encountered many elderly patients who had hearing loss.
From my observations, these patients were often neglected due to communication barriers with staff. Many staff members had little or no knowledge about basic hearing aid troubleshooting or repair. As a result, patients were often left without their hearing aids. This usually had a negative emotional impact on the patients, which I believe is often underestimated.
During my time working, I was not aware of Audiology as a course. I discovered it through a UCL email, likely prompted by my UCAS search for healthcare courses. With further research, my curiosity grew alongside my experience which motivated my application. As cliché as it sounds, I would say Audiology chose me.
What is the best thing about your course?
I particularly enjoyed my placement in my second year. From my sessions in the Skills Lab, I feel that I was thoroughly prepared for my placement as I was able to confidently use my practical skills in the real world. The UCL Ear Institute prepares us with standard practices and expected scenarios, but I was pleased to see that these expectations were challenged when I was on placement. The team of audiologists I worked with were very supportive and they helped me navigate different approaches to ensure effective patient centred care as every patient is different.
What are your future career goals?
In the future I would like to be a specialist audiologist in hearing implants or an ENT doctor/ surgeon. Observing cochlear implant programming sessions was fascinating. The variability in each case suited my love for constant learning and adaptability. On the other hand, I was given the opportunity to shadow an ENT specialist and have decided that I might take the leap to further my studies in medicine as this has deepened my curiosity and highlighted the potential to expand both my clinical responsibilities and my impact on patient decisions.
What would be your top tip for incoming students?
Don’t allow lack of confidence to be the cause of you missing out on valuable opportunities. Even if you are not 100% sure what you’re doing, always say yes (but beware not to take on too much at once). You’ll figure it out later and there are a lot of people at UCL and the Ear institute to support you if you are ever unsure about anything.
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