Healthcare Science (Audiology) BSc

Following a strategic review, we are no longer offering the Foundation Programme in Science: Health Science with progression to Healthcare Science (Audiology) from September 2023 entry and beyond.

Studying Audiology at Aston University will provide you with the skills, knowledge and hands on experience to start an exciting and rewarding career as an audiologist.

Once qualified, you’ll have the opportunity to work to positively impact people’s lives, from education to the workplace, helping them make the most of their family and social lives.

Healthcare scientists in audiology work in hospitals and health clinics, assessing people’s hearing and balance, and managing conditions such as hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders. They deal with people from all walks of life and all ages, from new-born babies to elderly people and work in multidisciplinary teams liaising with medical, education, and research professionals to provide the best care for patients. Enjoying interaction with people and having excellent communication skills are essential.
 

Integrated Clinical Learning in Practice (CLIP)

You’ll complete integrated clinical learning in practice in each academic year, helping you to deepen your knowledge while giving you the opportunity to put your communication and practical skills to use. A large proportion of your final year involves completing CLIP at external clinics, helping to prepare you for your first graduate role.

Clinical Learning in Practice can take place in locations across the UK, and you will be fully supported by the Aston audiology team throughout.
 

What accreditations does the Audiology course at Aston have?

The course 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 from the course are eligible to apply to register with the Academy of Healthcare Science, Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists and the Health and Care Professions Council.

Degree apprenticeship

You can also study this subject through a degree apprenticeship, meaning you’ll get to study for your degree whilst working. Your employer pays you a wage, and your fees are paid by your employer and the government, so you have no student debt when you graduate. The application process is different to a standard degree, and you’ll need to apply directly to an employer for your apprenticeship. Find about the Healthcare Science Practitioner: Audiology Degree Apprenticeship.

Course outline

By studying Audiology at Aston, you will get access to leading expertise, facilities, and technology.

On this course you will study healthcare science, audiology, clinical skills and research methods. In addition, you’ll get to put your knowledge and skills into practice by completing clinical learning in practice.
 

During your time on the course you will get the opportunity to:

• Find out how we can help people to hear with cochlear implants.
• Learn how to test patients hearing by looking at their brain waves.
• Discover more about advancements in the field, such as the latest hearing aid technology.
• Hear from a range of specialist guest speakers.
• Have access to the most up to date technology in our clinical skills labs including equipment that is not available in any other UK university such as our ear scanner.

 
We place a strong focus on preparing you for your future career, which is why we provide you with lots of opportunities such as:

• Our annual inspirational careers event where you will get to mix with audiology students from all over the UK and network with professionals from a wide variety of audiology backgrounds.
• Being a part of our ever-growing Audiology Public Involvement Community, where you can enhance your communications skills by talking to patients inside and outside of a clinical setting.

Modules

Year 1

You’ll be introduced to a range of basic sciences related to healthcare, clinical procedures such as hearing tests, the skills needed to work with and manage patients and complete your first clinical placements.

Core modules:

• Healthcare Study Skills
• Communication and Clinical Skills 1
• Introduction to Healthcare and Professional Practice
• Sensory Sciences
• Auditory Sciences
   

Year 2

Learn more about hearing science and clinical audiology including hearing assessment and management of hearing loss, be introduced to speech and development, and develop your clinical skills further with more time in clinical placements.

Core modules:

• Psychoacoustics and Speech
• Diagnostic Audiology
• Communication and Clinical Skills 2
• Research Methods
• Auditory Management and Devices
• Auditory Rehabilitation
   

Final Year 

Study specialist clinical areas of audiology like balance assessment, research a chosen area of audiology in your dissertation, and prepare for your future career by putting your theoretical learning and clinical skills into practice in your final year placement.

Core modules:

• Dissertation
• Paediatric Audiology Foundations
• Vestibular Foundations
• Advanced Audiology Investigation and Rehabilitation
• Communications and Clinical Skills 3
   

“I feel like my placement taught me a large part of the skill set necessary to be an Audiologist. Being able to learn in a professional setting gives you a better idea of what to expect in your professional role and enables you to engage with patients as well as develop your skills.”

Charlotte White

Graduate role: Audiologist, Wye Valley NHS Trust

Read more about Charlotte's story

Name and course:

Charlotte White,  BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)

Graduate job:

Audiologist, Wye Valley NHS Trust

Placement:

Student Audiologist, Wye Valley NHS Trust

Why did you choose to study at Aston? 

I feel like it was best suited to me as it was one of the few universities that offer the course and I liked the fact it was a small campus university with a community feel but still just a few minutes’ walk away from the city centre.

How did the quality of teaching and student support enhance your time at Aston? 

Overall I thought the teaching was great at Aston, I especially loved the more practical side of our learning. You could tell you were being taught by well-established professionals who were passionate about their profession.

What was the highlight of your time at Aston? 

I enjoyed all my time at Aston, different parts for different reasons. I really enjoyed second year as you were more settled and I was living with people I was familiar with. Although you also can't beat the excitement of first year!

How do you feel your placement prepared you for your future career? 

I feel like my placement taught me a large part of the skill set necessary to be an Audiologist. Being able to learn in a professional setting gives you a better idea of what to expect in your professional role and enables you to engage with patients as well as develop your skills.

What was the highlight of your placement experience? 

I really enjoyed being part of the department, seeing how audiologists work and learning about the practical side of the job role.

Were you involved in any student societies or extra-curricular activities? 

I was briefly part of the Aston Go society joining in on several social gatherings which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also loved doing the Zumba classes on offer at the on-campus sports centre. A great way to stay active and meet new people.

How did you find the Aston campus experience? 

I like the fact it was a small campus university as everything was so close by making things so much more convenient and it gave it that community feel.

What was the best thing about being a student in Birmingham? 

Birmingham really is a student hub and has so much to offer as a city. From the Bullring to Star City or the Birmingham Hippodrome to the clubs on Broad Street. I really loved being in such a busy vibrant place. It's also so central and has great travel links with Grand Central (New Street) and the coach station.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of studying at Aston? 

Just enjoy it! You only get to live it once so make the most of it.

What would be your top recommendation to new students on what to do or see in Birmingham? 

Birmingham is great for shops as you have places like the Bullring of course. There's also lots to do at places like Star City which has bowling, cinema, laser tag and rock climbing! There's also a great theatre scene with the Hippodrome and the New Alexandra theatre plus a whole variety of different restaurants.

If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice as a first year student, what would it be? 

Take every opportunity you can and cherish every memory.

GCSEs

Five GCSEs in total which must include grade B/5 Mathematics, C/4 English Language or English Literature and the rest at grade C/4. Please note we do not accept Key skills or Functional skills in place of these.

A Levels

• ABB in three A Level subjects which must include one science subject from Biology or Physics.

The following subjects will not be considered as one of the core three A Levels - General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies.

We welcome applications from students who have tried to improve their examination grades by taking resits and only your latest grades will be accepted. We treat these applications in exactly the same way as other applications.

BTEC

 

BTEC qualification name*	BTEC grades required	A Level requirements
Extended Diploma	Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* OR Distinction, Distinction, Distinction plus A Levels	This BTEC must be RQF – National in Applied Science D*D*D* (you do not require an additional A Level) OR This BTEC must be QCF in Applied Science DDD and you must also achieve grade B in either Biology or Physics.   OR If you are studying a non-science subject in this BTEC which is QCF or RQF – National then you must achieve DDD and grade B in either Biology or Physics.
Diploma (QCF) National Diploma	Distinction, Distinction (DD)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grade B in one A Level science subject from: Biology or Physics.
Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) National Extended Certificate	Distinction (D)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A Levels of which one must include a science subject from: Biology or Physics.
90 Credit Diploma (QCF)	Distinction, Distinction (DD)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A Levels of which one must include a science subject from: Biology or Physics.
National Foundation Diploma	Distinction (D)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A Levels of which one must include a science subject from: Biology or Physics.

*Please note that on the UCAS application form QCF BTEC Extended Diploma appears under the name BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) and the RQF BTEC Extended Diploma appears under the name Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (1080) (2016 to Present). If you unsure of which qualification you are taking, please contact your school or college provider to confirm.

T Level

We do no accept T Level qualifications for this course.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

32 points overall and must include grades 6, 5, 5 in Higher Level subjects which must include one science subject from Biology or Physics. You must also have Standard Level grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language.

Access to Higher Education

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification, and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement. Subjects Accepted: Applied Science, Biology combined with Chemistry, Biomedical Science, Biosciences, Combined Sciences, Health Sciences, Health Sciences Professions, Life Sciences and Sciences.

Please note we do not accept Health and Social Care as it does not contain the amount of core science material required for subsequent undergraduate studies on this degree.

Foundation programmes

External Foundation Programmes from another University

We consider external foundation programmes for entry into our year 1 programmes on a case-by-case basis. We require applicants to have met the following criteria prior to application:

Five GCSEs in total which must include grade B/5 Mathematics, C/4 English Language and the rest at grade C/4.

ABB in any subjects or BBB where one subject must be from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications. Typical offer is 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails at another recognised university, however, this may be higher. 

DBS and Fitness To Practise

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Fitness to Practise (FTP)

These requirements are checked at the point of enrolment

Full details of our DBS and fitness to practice regulations can be found here.

Other

Degree

Year 1:

We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a degree in a related field elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A Level requirements (or equivalents as listed), with which a typical offer would be to achieve 60% overall with no fails in any units. It is also expected that you have not previously attempted the second year of a programme elsewhere. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications.

Year 2/3:

Please note we do not accept year 2/3 transfers in any circumstance. This is due to integrated placements aspect of the course which starts from year one and also the accreditation of the content is for the whole course. 

View our Transfers Policy

For further information regarding the transfers policy and Student Transfer Arrangements please see here.  

Direct final year entry - Foundation Degree Progression (FDHA Progression)

For those who have studied the Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology at Aston, or a similar foundation programme at a recognised UK institution, please visit our final year entry course page for full entry requirement details.

Age of qualifications

Applicants must normally have achieved their eligible academic qualifications for entry onto this course within the last two years. Applicants presenting qualifications older than two years will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic Admissions Lead.

View our Admissions Policy under the 'Respect' tab on our Principles and Policies page.

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above). We would also consider applicants with achieved grades of BCC and above which are below the listed requirements on a case by case scenario if the application is of a high standard, strong academic reference and any gaps in study are explained.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

More advice on applying to Aston can be found here.

As an audiology student at Aston 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.

You’ll encounter a wide range of teaching approaches, from lectures and seminars to group work and problem-based learning. As you’d expect from a hands-on course like ours, you’ll be spending time in our impressive facilities learning and developing your clinical skills, which you’ll then get the opportunity to put into practice when you are with patients in our supervised clinics. 

Each year of study is worth 120 credits, with each credit equivalent to 10 learning hours. The learning hours may include but are not limited to lectures, seminars, tutorials,  online activity, reading, other independent study, reflecting on assignment feedback and clinical learning in practice.

Assessments are varied and include exams, essay writing, practical work, report writing, seminars and presentations.
 

Key course staff

Admissions Tutor: Wahid Zaman

What transferable skills will I gain?

It is important that healthcare professionals have a wide range of interpersonal and self-management skills. During your time of the course, you’ll develop a wide variety of integral skills including verbal and written communication, presentation, team working and time management. You will also become familiar with IT and clinically relevant technology, as well as developing your problem solving, critical thinking and reflective skills.

What learning facilities can I expect?

You will benefit from specialist facilities all of which are on campus, including:

•  
• A clinical skills laboratory which is equipped with the latest audiology equipment.
• A computerised patient which helps you develop clinical skills along with simulations of clinical situations.
• Simulated patients, where you practise your clinical skills on real people and gain confidence before going out into clinics.
• Refurbished lecture theatres and seminar rooms.

“Audiology sees patients from new-born to end of life, we follow patients through their entire pathway, from referral, to diagnostics, to treatment and rehabilitation. We get to see how hearing and balance is linked to the brain (neurophysiology) and the eyes (optometry).” We strive to have a positive impact on all aspects of our patients lives. It is because of this that Aston University are Ambassadors for Patient Centred Care.”

Claire Wilkes, Programme Director and Teaching Fellow in Audiology

*The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as Home students.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Additional costs

Students will be required to purchase an Aston Audiology polo shirt, which will be required for skills lab sessions and on placement. Each shirt costs £9.99 (correct as of June 2020, subject to inflation) and you will require two.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships.

The ageing population means demand for hearing and balance assessment and treatment services is set to rise substantially over the coming years, so employment prospects are excellent.

As part of the NHS Practitioner Training Programme in Neurosensory Sciences, our audiology course will provide you with the skills and qualifications required to work in the NHS as a healthcare scientist or audiologist, or as a hearing aid dispenser in the commercial sector.
Our graduates enter a variety of careers in hospitals, community-based practice, audiological and neurosciences research, or other roles dedicated to improving hearing problems, and some undertake postgraduate courses.

Recent graduate roles:

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

 
Recent graduate destinations:

• 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, Royal Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust
• Specsavers
   

Why study Healthcare Science (Audiology) at Aston?

Aston provides an ideal blend of theoretical background, links with industry, research capacity, and world-class facilities.  By studying at Aston, you’ll have all the professional skills, accreditations and applicable theoretical framework to go straight into employment and enjoy a long and fulfilling career.

Where might I undertake my placement in the final year?

It is possible that you could undertake your placement anywhere in the UK.

What are the career prospects like for graduates?

There are great opportunities for graduates in audiology, across business, the NHS and manufacturing. It also provides great opportunities for graduates to undertake further research.