Program Overview

---

Introduction to the Healthcare Science Audiology Program

The Healthcare Science Audiology program at Aston University is designed for students who have previously completed the Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology or a similar course at a recognized UK institution. This direct entry to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology) program allows students to gain advanced knowledge and skills in audiology, preparing them for a career as a competent audiologist.

Program Overview

The program is a one-year, full-time course that provides students with the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field of Healthcare Science Audiology. Students will practice cutting-edge techniques and gain access to technology not available at any other university in the United Kingdom. The program is located at Aston University in Birmingham and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of audiology, including the diagnosis and management of hearing and balance disorders.

Course Objectives

The program aims to:

1. Provide students with the opportunities to realize their academic potential through a range of learning experiences.
2. Encourage students to develop a passion for audiology and an enthusiasm for learning.
3. Support students in developing communication and reflective practice skills to implement patient-centered care.
4. Develop the underpinning theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills to inform clinical experiences.
5. Promote a research culture amongst staff, students, and external stakeholders to inspire and inform student learning.
6. Provide collaborative opportunities for interprofessional learning within healthcare and patient and public involvement.
7. Create learning opportunities to promote personal and professional development.

Modules

The program consists of the following core modules:

• Dissertation (30 credits)
• Paediatric Audiology Foundations (15 credits)
• Vestibular Foundations (30 credits)
• Advanced Audiology Investigation and Rehabilitation (15 credits)
• Total: 90 credits

Additional modules for students who have applied to the Direct Access to Final Year Course Only:

• Advanced Clinical Skills (15 credits)
• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Total: 30 credits

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have completed the Aston University Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology or a similar foundation degree at a recognized UK institution. They must also meet the following academic requirements:

• Achieve Distinction in Foundation Degree Audiology
• Pass the workplace clinical audit
• Demonstrate competence in performing the Scope of Practice in the FD role (HCPC or RCCP registration)
• Gain access to specialist areas (paediatric and vestibular) through a formal arrangement between the employer and the specialist service

Course Fees

Students will not have to pay tuition fees as a degree apprentice, as the costs are met by the UK government and the employer. In addition to having their fees paid, students will also earn a salary while they study.

Assessment

The program uses a wide variety of assessment types, including essays, practical assessments, portfolios of written work, exams, and online tests. Clinical assessments are carried out in the audiology clinical skills laboratories at Aston or in the workplace.

Career Prospects

The program provides excellent employment prospects, with graduates going on to work in hospitals, community-based practice, audiological and neurosciences research, or other roles dedicated to improving hearing problems. Recent graduate roles include:

• Audiologist
• Clinical Audiologist
• Hearing Aid Audiologist
• NHS Scientist Training Programme Trainee

Recent graduate destinations include:

• Boots
• Hearwell Audiology Clinic
• Hidden Hearing
• NHS (including East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust, and Royal Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust)
• Specsavers

Facilities

Audiology students have access to a range of specialist facilities, including:

• On-campus Specsavers Clinic
• Clinical skills laboratory equipped with the latest audiology equipment
• Three soundproof booths and four rooms for accurate hearing tests
• Simulated patients for practicing clinical skills
• Refurbished lecture theatres and seminar rooms
• Cutting-edge audiology equipment, including:
  • Otoscan 3D ear scanner
  • Audiometers
  • Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) Systems
  • Video Otoscopy
  • Tympanometers
  • Audiology Rehabilitation Tools

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the National School of Healthcare Science and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists. It is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Graduates are eligible to apply to register with the Academy of Healthcare Science, Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists, and the Health and Care Professions Council.