Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology

If you’re looking to improve your career prospects within the audiology field in the NHS or independent sector, our Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) accredited Hearing Aid Audiology Foundation Degree will provide you with the qualifications you need.

Studying this work-based qualification alongside your employment means you’ll be able to continue to earn while you learn.

At Aston, you’ll get access to expert teaching staff, cutting edge facilities, and technology not available at any other UK university. On this flexible course, you will learn about the science of hearing and audiology while getting to grips with the application of clinical, psychological and scientific concepts. There is a strong focus on clinical procedures and the skills needed to manage patients, which you will then get to put into practice in your workplace, allowing you to build your portfolio.

What accreditations does the Audiology course at Aston have?

This course is a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) approved programme for professional development. Upon successful graduation, you will be eligible to apply for HCPC registration.

Progression onto the BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology) course

This course is the ideal stepping stone for those who wish to progress onto degree study. Once completed, you will be able to apply for direct entry onto the final year of our BSc course, all while remaining employed in this exciting healthcare field. Full details, including entry requirements can be found on the course page.  

Course outline

Choosing to study the Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology at Aston University will give you the opportunity to explore new topics like counselling skills and work with patients and clients to select, fit and verify hearing aid systems.

You will learn how to evaluate and modify systems; check how well they are performing and see first-hand how your treatment improves people’s lives.

The skills you develop during the 21 days on-campus teaching and assessment, follow the British Society of Audiology (BSA) and the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) recommendations, ensuring your education meets strict industry standards.

Stages

Stage 1

Core modules:

• Science in Audiology
• Rehabilitation in Audiology
• Adult Auditory Assessment
• Skills Foundation I
• Practical Placement I

Year 2

Core modules:

• Auditory Sciences II
• Improving Healthcare
• Hearing Aid Audiology
• Skills Foundation II
• Practical Placement II

Typical entry requirements:

• You must be employed full-time in the field of clinical audiology and a letter of support from your employer must be included with the application.
• If you are not currently employed in this field, you may wish to contact one of our partners, Scrivens Hearing Care, who may be able to support you. Find out more about Scrivens Hearing Care.
• GCSE Maths and English Language or English Literature at grade C/4 (level 2 equivalents considered).
• Offer is subject to successfully passing an audit of your clinical work based environment.

Please note:

• The application deadline for this programme is 31 July, 2023.
• This course requires all applicants to uphold professional standards of behaviour.
• The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications.
• Find out more about our admissions policy under the 'Respect' tab on our Principles and Policies page.
• Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applications from Overseas and EU students for this course

DBS and fitness to practice 

Due to the nature of the course and your interaction with members of the public, we are required to ensure that students have completed the following checks:

Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Check

• You will be required to complete an online enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to the start of the academic term and this must be renewed as required throughout the duration of the course. An enhanced DBS check covers all previous convictions, including spent ones.
• The cost of the DBS check is £40, which you will pay via the University online payment system. Aston can check a pre-existing Enhanced DBS certificate for the Adult and Child Workforce if you have signed up to the DBS update service. We will require your permission in writing by email to access this information through the Update Service.
• You can find out further information about the DBS check including guidance on the application process here.

Occupational Health Check

• You will be required to undertake a confidential online Health Check prior to the start of the academic term and further occasional health assessments may also be required. Once completed, the Audiology Department receives a report detailing whether or not there are any health concerns that need to be addressed before starting your placements.
• The cost of the initial health check is covered by the University.

You’ll be studying under our experienced audiology teaching and support team, who come from a variety of NHS, independent sector, and research backgrounds.

Throughout the course, you will encounter a wide range of teaching approaches, from lectures and seminars to group work and problem based learning. Assessments are varied and include exams, essay writing, practical work, report writing, seminars and presentations.

As this is a work-based degree with 21 days of on-campus teaching and assessment across 15 months, learning materials will be available via Blackboard, our virtual learning environment. In addition, teaching staff and support teams, like Aston Library, can be contacted easily online throughout your studies to ensure you can always keep in touch.

Programme Director: Carolina Leal 

This course is not eligible for funding under the government led apprenticeship schemes, however, Aston University does offer the Healthcare Science Practitioner: Audiology Degree Apprenticeship.

After the course you’ll have a range of future options open to you. You’ll be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to provide hearing aid services to customers within the independent sector and be eligible to work as an Associate practitioner in the NHS.

It will also give you the option to progress into further study by providing you with the knowledge and foundation to go on to study BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology).

Why study for a Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology at Aston?

A combination of world-class facilities, hands-on training and teaching expertise give all students a great learning experience. Our links to industry and healthcare make studying at Aston the ideal place to continue your learning in audiology.

How will studying this course help my personal development?

If you work in any healthcare setting, good interpersonal skills are vital. With us, you’ll learn about these, alongside presentation skills, team working, report writing, negotiation and IT skills.

What facilities will I get to use?

You will benefit from excellent facilities that will aid your learning, such as:

• A clinical skills laboratory which is equipped with the latest audiology equipment
• Simulated patients, to help to develop your clinical skills
• Lecture theatres and seminar rooms with audio-visual equipment
• A virtual learning environment to support general study, revision and assessment. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, scientific journals, e-journals, databases and much more.