Audiology (MSc)

Program Overview

---

Audiology (MSc)

About this course

Develop the specialist knowledge to boost your career with our 1 year MSc Audiology degree. Audiology taster clinics help you learn about patient care and our in-house auditory implant service offers a chance to explore cochlear implantation. Your learning is informed by our Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR). The ISVR developed childhood hearing screening adopted by the NHS and recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Gain scientific training in audiology whether you're new to the field, or are a qualified health professional interested in taking your career further.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Course lead

Dr Victoria Watson is a Principal Teaching Fellow in Audiology. She is Employability lead for the Audiology programmes and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist. Visit Dr Watson's profile page to learn more.

Related pathways

If you have no, or very limited, prior clinical experience in Audiology and you wish to work in the UK as an Audiologist, you can apply for our 2 or 3 year clinical placement degrees:

• MSc Audiology with Clinical Placement (2 years)
• MSc Audiology with part-time Clinical Placement (3 years)
• PG Dip Audiology with Clinical Placement (2 years) - identical to the 2 year master's but you don't need to carry out the year 1 research project.

Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.

Successful completion of the placement allows you to register with the relevant UK professional body and to work clinically. For 2023 entry we are planning to expand our capacity to take students who wish to do the clinical placement.

Entry requirements

A UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours (2:1) in a related discipline such as a physical, biological, life or behavioural science, or an engineering subject.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

In your personal statement, you must show that you have:

• excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• an interest in healthcare, science and learning
• motivation and initiative
• an understanding of the audiology profession
• visited, or intend to visit, an audiology or related department

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet the academic requirements, you can complete a pre-master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus. Learn more about the programmes available.

Recognition of professional experience

If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your:

• relevant professional experience
• subject knowledge
• aptitude for learning
• evidence of your scientific aptitude

Your application will be considered on individual merit and you may be asked to attend an interview.

Course structure

The first year of the MSc Audiology, and the MSc Audiology with Clinical Placement degrees are identical. Your audiology training is divided into 2 semesters, with the last 4 months dedicated to your research project, at the end of which you will submit a thesis.

For your research project you’ll bring together all the skills you’ve learnt on the course, and show in-depth knowledge of one or more of the subject areas studied. You should also exceed the existing standard of technical design and address a novel problem that requires the application of new research.

Learning and assessment

You will participate in:

• taster clinics
• research skill development
• investigation of healthcare innovations in the field

You’ll learn about key aspects of the discipline in lectures and tutorials. Including the structure and function of the human auditory system and the methods used for qualitative and quantitative research in health and social care.

A module of weekly Academic Support runs across both Semester 1 and 2 and is available to all international MSc and study abroad students. This module aims to help the transition to living and studying in the UK. In friendly and interactive sessions we explore cultural and language differences and challenges.

Find out more information by visiting English language support services web page.

Assessment

We’ll assess you through a combination of:

• unseen written examinations
• assignments
• presentations
• essays
• practical exams
• individual and group projects

Dissertation

You’ll need to write a dissertation on your chosen topic.

Academic Support

We'll assign you a personal academic tutor, and you'll have access to a senior tutor.

Careers and employability

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Commercial awareness
• Self-management
• Confidence
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Networking
• Problem solving

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Download skills overview

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• Scientific and Technical,
• Education,
• Human Health and Social Work.

Careers directly related to this course:

• Clinical audiologist
• Newborn hearing screener
• Hearing aid dispenser
• Healthcare science practitioner
• Clinical scientist
• Scientific researcher
• Scientific adviser
• Equipment developer
• Educational audiologist

Wider career opportunities:

• Charity worker
• Teacher
• Therapist
• Healthcare science practitioner
• Equipment developer
• Clinical scientist

Funding

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £31,500.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

Deposit

If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.

Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.

Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. Find out if you're eligible.

Funding your postgraduate studies

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

You can apply directly through our online form by using the apply button on this page.

Applications from Canada:
It’s difficult to achieve licensing as an audiologist in Canada with either our MSc Audiology or our MSc Audiology with Clinical Placement. Please check with the relevant registration body before making an application to us.

Applications from the USA:
In the USA, each state has its own doctoral (AuD) training programme that graduates must complete to become licensed audiologists. Our MSc Audiology and our MSc Audiology with Clinical Placement may be acceptable as an entry qualification. We recommend checking with the licensing body or provider of the doctoral course within your chosen state before making an application to us.

Application deadlines

There are different application deadlines for this course. Applications are expected to close:

• International students: Tuesday 29 July 2025, midday UK time
• UK students: Tuesday 9 September 2025, midday UK time

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

Application assessment fee

We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for a postgraduate taught course.

This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees and is payable per application. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.

If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, or if you’re applying for certain scholarships, you will not need to pay the fee. PGCE applications through GOV.UK and Master of Research (MRes) degree applications are also exempt. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

You'll also need to submit two academic references.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We will aim to send you a decision 6 weeks after you have submitted your application.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Related courses

Audiology (MSc) is a course in the Nursing, midwifery and healthcare and Audiology subject areas. Here are some other courses within these subject areas:

• MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Allied Health Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Critical Care Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)
• PGCert Advanced Health Assessment and Prescribing
• MSc Amputation and Prosthetic Rehabilitation
• MSc Audiology with Clinical Placement
• MRes Clinical and Health Research
• MSc Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care
• MSc Neonatology
• MSc Nursing Studies
• MSc Nursing: Adult
• MSc Nursing: Child
• MSc Nursing: Mental Health
• MSc Professional Practice in Health Sciences
• PGCert Public Health
• PGDip Public Health