The largest hearing and deafness research centre in Europe
At the Ear Institute, we offer a vibrant, multidisciplinary environment for teaching and research in hearing, balance, and ENT care. We bring together some of the most influential academics and clinicians, working in the field.
In partnership with the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospital, we form Europe’s largest single grouping of audio-vestibular researchers and clinical scientists, positioning us at the forefront of innovation and discovery in hearing health.
Study
Specialising in audiology and ENT, our courses are delivered by some of the most influential researchers and clinicians in the field of hearing and deafness.
Our research
We offer a genuinely collaborative research environment in fields as diverse as human genetics, biophysics, computational neuroscience, cell biology and human cognition.
About us
Our vision is to be the world’s leading centre for investigations into mechanisms of hearing and all forms of hearing loss and ENT-related disorders, their causes and their treatment.
Course spotlight
Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc
This accredited professional two-year course includes a clinical placement. It is designed to train students from other disciplines as audiologists.
CPD Courses
CPD courses
We specialise in providing training programmes for ENT medics, audiologists and associated health-care professionals. Our courses are ENT UK (RCP), BAA and/or BSHAA accredited.
Discover our featured research
Long Covid patients who lost sense of smell can be helped with surgery
A surgical operation normally carried out to correct a blocked nasal passage may help patients who lost their sense of smell after contracting a Covid-19 infection.
Unique project between the UCL Ear Institute and the Royal Opera House explores voice loss
A unique opera experience that explores voice loss and identity has been produced by scientists at the UCL Ear Institute in collaboration with the Royal Opera House.
Training the brain to live with tinnitus
Dr Lucy Handscomb (UCL Ear Institute) talks about how a new app, MindEar, may help people living with tinnitus to change their relationship with the condition and avoid negative thinking.
News
UCL200: Shaping minds and transforming lives in the Faculty of Brain Sciences
Professor Alan Thompson, Dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences, reflects on the Faculty's contribution to UCL's history of bold ideas and pioneering breakthroughs.
05 Feb 2026
Prof Jonathan Ashmore elected to the Council of the Royal Society from 1 December 2025
Professor Jonathan Ashmore will join the council of the Royal Society.
21 Nov 2025
16 UCL Brain Sciences academics recognised in 2025 annual global list of influential researchers
A total of 16 academics from the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences have been identified in Clarivate’s annual ‘Highly Cited Researchers List’ 2025.
20 Nov 2025
What's on
View all events11 Feb to 13 Feb
04 Mar to 06 Mar
in person
Revision course for the Intercollegiate FRCS Examination in Otolaryngology04 Mar 2026 - 06 Mar 2026
Research spotlight
Capturing the emotions inspired by music
The UCL Ear Institute has collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra to captures the emotions inspired by music.
Find out more