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Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc is designed to train students from other disciplines as audiologists. This two-year programme includes a clinical placement, which usually takes place over 11 months (900 hours minimum) and provides the core knowledge, skills and clinical competencies necessary for employment as an audiologist and/or hearing aid dispenser.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
Fees to be confirmed
Full-time students: 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £15,100 (UK) or £34,400 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of that (subject to UCL's annual fee increase).
Part-time students: the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
Fees to be confirmed
Full-time students: 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £15,100 (UK) or £34,400 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of that (subject to UCL's annual fee increase).
Part-time students: the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
2 calendar years
3 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 31 Jul 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates who do not meet this requirement but have a minimum of five years’ relevant clinical experience may also be considered.

Students will be expected to meet the requirements of the clinical placement’s human resource department (including satisfactory health clearance and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check).

Progression to the clinical placement (second) year will be based on satisfactory academic performance and there being no fitness to practise issues.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


The programme provides a detailed study of the hearing and balance mechanisms, their structure, function, pathology and assessment.

You 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.

This two-year programme includes a 11-month clinical placement and provides the core knowledge, skills and clinical competencies necessary for employment as an audiologist and/or hearing aid dispenser.

Who this course is for

This MSc is suitable for students with a first degree in a relevant subject (e.g. biomedical science, physics, engineering, speech and language therapy, psychology, allied healthcare professions). It is particularly suitable for those who are new to audiology.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

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 UK. Students benefit from the range of clinical and research expertise among its staff.

The Institute is associated with the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals, which houses the largest clinical audiology unit in the country, and works closely with NHS audiology departments and private sector audiology 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.

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.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

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.

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.

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.

Accreditation

This programme has accreditation/approval from the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Accreditation from these organisations will allow graduates from the programme to register to work as an audiologist (Healthcare Scientist) in the NHS or in the private sector as a Hearing Aid Dispenser.

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).

STAGE 1 (Year 1 for full-time students)

Each 15 credit module will involve 150 learning hours and will typically involve two hours of contact each week, with 7-10 hours of self-directed study, group work or laboratory work per week. This varies considerably between modules depending on learning content (e.g. contact time for some modules may vary from one hour and up to seven hours e.g., lectures, practicals and clinical observations may need to be attended over the full day).

Contact time may be live online lectures and tutorials or face-face session, workshops, practicals and clinical observations. Each timetabled session, lasting one to 3.5 hours, may be in the morning or afternoon.

Term one

  1. Lectures, tutorials, workshops and practicals - six sessions per week.
  2. Independent study, including project preparation - four sessions per week

Term two

  1. Lectures, tutorials, workshops and practicals - five sessions per week. Each session lasting 2 to 3.5 hours
  2. Clinical observation of NHS and Private clinics - Up to four sessions per week (two full days) depending on personal clinic observation timetable. Each student will attend clinics up to ten days over term 2 (minimum of six days).
  3. Independent study, including research project - Minimum of one session and maximum of five sessions per week.

Term three

  1. Final Written Examinations

Summer term

  1. Time working on independent project; primary contact with project supervisor (100% of each week)
  2. Late summer assessment period for resit examination (August/Sept)

STAGE 2 - Clinical Placement (Year 2 for full-time students)

Most of contact hours will be in the student's allocated clinical placement training centre (From October to following August / September). One session per week will usually be allocated for self-directed study.

In addition, students will need to spend time allocated to studying modules EARI00017 and EARI0018. These may involve live online lectures and tutorials or face-face session; and workshops. Each week in term one and term two will typically involve two hours of contact each week, with 7-10 hours of self-directed study and group work, although this may vary considerably week by week.

Term 1: EARI0017

Term 2: EARI0018

There will be 25 days of non-study leave and bank holidays, which must not be taken in term one and term two, and will need to be negotiated with your clinical placement centre.

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 two.

Modules

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

In year one, you will undertake eight compulsory taught modules and a research project.

All taught modules are compulsory modules, and are taught during the academic terms (October 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 (180 credits).

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

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).

Note - some modules need to be taken in a specific order; requisites for each module are highlighted in the programme diet.

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

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.

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

Compulsory modules














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. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

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

EARI00013 - Clinical and professional practice module (15 credits) includes up to ten days of observation in audiology departments within the Greater London area.

EARI0015 & EARI0016 - Clinical modules (90 credits). Clinical training within accredited audiology departments (NHS and /or private sector), mainly within London area but also in home counties surrounding Greater London area (from October for 11 months).

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100 Fees to be confirmed
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400 Fees to be confirmed

Full-time students: 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £15,100 (UK) or £34,400 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of that (subject to UCL's annual fee increase).
Part-time students: the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Occupational health screen cost is met by UCL but the cost of necessary vaccinations is met by students (TB immunity; hepatitis B; measles, mumps, rubella; chickenpox - cost is dependent on current levels of immunity - up to £700 for all vaccinations at time of writing).

​​​​​The cost of travel to clinical placements (or accommodation costs if daily travel is not possible) within the UK. Transport costs depend on home and placement locations. At time of writing expect to pay £5 (Zone 1) to £13.10 (Zone 1-5) each day for attending placements if you live in London transport area, for the up to 10 days required for EARI0013 in year one and 11-months in term two, if you do not already have monthly London Travel card that encompasses placement location.

For clinical placements during Year 2 of their programme, some students may be placed in locations outside London. If students live locally to their placement centre, they will need to cover additional transport costs of £20 - £50, at the time of writing, per day for attending sessions at the Ear Institute (up to a maximum of 22 days). 

Student discounts may reduce these transport costs. Check Transport for London website for up to date information.

This programme requires a completed DBS check for some compulsory modules. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the programme. The DBS application cost will be covered by UCL, but offer holders will also need to have their ID checked and verified at a Post Office, for which they will incur a charge of £15.00. The offer holder is also required to arrange and pay for any overseas police check that may be necessary; costs vary by country. For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL Graduate Admissions team.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

UCL Ear Institute MSc Excellence Scholarships

Deadline: 30 June 2024
Value: £4,000 (1yr)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Audiological Science with Clinical Practice at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Audiological Science with Clinical Practice at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • How your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Ear Institute
Ear Institute

ear.education@ucl.ac.uk

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