Professional Doctorate - Doctor of Hearing Therapy

Course overview

Through critical and original reading of audiological practices, you will be equipped to enable problem-solving and application of audiology to marginalised and complex patient groups.

The Doctor of Hearing Therapy course can be broken into four stages. Students progress through:

1.   PG Certificate Hearing Therapy
2.   PG Diploma in Hearing Therapy
3.   M level project and development of additional studies
4.   Interview with Chair of Applied Health Research Group and allocation of supervisors moving to independent project work

Entry to the doctoral pathway is open only to students who maintain over 70% average across the first two years of study and who are successful at interviews. It is possible to exit the course at any of the stages, enabling you to be flexible with your level of commitment at the outset.

It is also possible to take any of the following modules independently as they are offered as part of the College of Health and Life Sciences Continuing Professional Development portfolio.

Why Hearing Therapy at Aston University?

Internationally recognised research

100% of our health and life sciences research environment has been ranked as being at least internationally excellent, with 50% being world-leading

Develop your skills

Learn rehabilitative practices and develop your communication and counselling skills

Unique opportunity

Aston developed the first and only Hearing Therapy Doctorate programme in the United Kingdom

Work and study

Ability to remain in practice and apply the knowledge you gain from your studies.

Enhance your practice

Enhance your clinical practice and research skills and develop specialisation to provide complex rehabilitation to adults with hearing needs.

Continuing professional development

Modules can be taken independently as continuing professional development

Why study a postgraduate degree at Aston University?

A postgraduate degree is a great way to improve your career prospects. As well as opening doors, it builds on your experience, develops your skills, and gives you a competitive edge in a crowded job market.

Course description

Doctor of Hearing Therapy

Studying the Doctor of Hearing Therapy here at Aston University will develop your existing knowledge and equip you with the ability to apply problem-solving and the application of audiology to marginalised and complex patient groups.

What we will provide
First-class teaching in the UK's second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you, fantastic facilities that will bring your course to life through hands-on, practical experience; years of close industry collaboration that is harnessed to provide you with learning based on real-world needs.

What you will provide
It is important you learn how to adapt a growth mindset to your studies - understanding that intelligence and success comes from applying yourself. You must be able to demonstrate critical thinking and have ambition and drive to excel.

What skills we teach
Students on the professional doctorate will work toward a research portfolio which will develop a range of key research skills in healthcare whilst offering you the opportunity to investigate topics relevant to your clinical practice. As an audiologist or healthcare scientist, studying this course will enhance your clinical practice and research skills in addition to developing your level of specialisation. This will enable you to better assimilate and process academic knowledge to provide complex rehabilitation to adults with hearing needs.

Career prospects
The Doctor of Hearing Therapy is a unique qualification providing you with opportunities to study rehabilitative practices and develop your communication and counselling skills. It enables a critical and original reading of audiological practices, enabling problem-solving and applying audiology to marginalised and complex patient groups.

Rehabilitation continues to be a core part of providing audiological care. Audiology patients are predominantly service users for life and their needs are only partly addressed by technological solutions. The importance of continuing to deliver rehabilitation opportunities beyond hearing aids and to support education and social care provision of services has been recognised in the Department of Health Action Plan.

How you will learn

The programme is based on blended-learning to enable it to be conducted while you remain in practice and applying the knowledge you gain from lectures to complete your assignments and case records based on theory and evidence-based practice.
The number of taught elements taken at any time is flexible:

MSc programme requires six taught modules (120 credits) to be undertaken along with a research methods tuition and a written research dissertation (60 credits total) (all within 5-6 years)
Doctor of Hearing Therapy programme requires six taught modules (120 credits) to be undertaken along with a research methods tuition and a written research dissertation (60 credits total) (all within 5-6 years) plus a full practice-based research project (all within 6-7 years)
Research Methods is a core module for MSc and doctorate students

This course is predominantly taught online and therefore you can study at a time that suits you. There are five days in which you are required to attend live teaching (on-campus), and dates for these are released in advance.

What you will learn

You will develop advanced clinical and professional expertise in Hearing Therapy and Audiology and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of professional governance and ethical considerations in your practice. You will learn to critically evaluate current research, propose hypotheses, and communicate results effectively.

The course emphasises leadership skills, originality in applying knowledge, and a deep understanding of research techniques relevant to hearing therapy. You will also demonstrate self-direction, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity for ongoing professional development.

Our Community

As an Aston University student, you'll be joining a diverse, close community, with students from over 120 different countries choosing to study with us every year. We are also home to an expansive and highly regarded research community, with several audiology research groups including:

Course objectives

Allow audiology and healthcare science practitioners to enhance their understanding and practice of hearing rehabilitation and research.
Enhance the clinical practice and research skills of audiologists and healthcare scientists, and to enhance their level of specialisation. This will enable them to better assimilate and process academic knowledge to provide complex rehabilitation to adults with hearing needs.
Enable students to learn whilst remaining in practice, with students applying the knowledge they gain from lectures to complete their assignments and case records based on theory and evidence-based practice.

Modules

Taught stage modules

In the taught stage, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Hearing Therapy - This module provides the foundational skills in communication and use of counselling approaches in Hearing Therapy. The module also covers common practices within Hearing Therapy and scope of practice with a range of patient/client groups.	30
Tinnitus Management - This module introduces students to therapeutic practices in tinnitus management. Students critically engage with approaches and evidence on treatment approaches in tinnitus.	15
Adult Rehabilitation - This module examines therapeutic approaches to rehabilitation and the use of technology (including hearing aids).	30
Evidence-based practice - This module introduces students to the application of and use of evidence in clinical practice and the importance of well informed change strategies in practice.	15
Vestibular Rehabilitation - his module introduces approaches in vestibular rehabilitation and examines the needs of people with vestibular disorders.	15
Health behaviours and Behaviour Change Interventions - This module introduces students to the model of health behaviours and their role in explaining and predicting how individuals engage with healthcare. Students learn how to plan programmes of intervention and examine effectiveness.	30
Total	120

Dissertation stage modules

In the dissertation stage, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Dissertation I: Research Methods & Proposal - This module teaches students about the range of research methodologies used ion healthcare and supports the planning of individual project proposals and protocols.	30
Dissertation II: Research Project - The research review dissertation (MSc) or full project (DHearingTherapy) is the major component of the programme, supervised by members of the Aston Audiology department. You will develop your ideas and proposals guided by staff members with appropriate research interests. Because this is a distance-learning programme, research projects are not normally carried out on the University campus, and it is essential that the student has access to the facilities and resources needed to carry out the research, usually in the student's place of work.	30
Total	60

After completion of the dissertation and taught stages, students are invited to interview to evaluate progression and typically students progress to complete a further two independent research projects within three years.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Entry requirements

Undergraduate degree

Applicants possess a good honours degree (minimum upper 2nd class) from a recognised university. See further details below.

Professional experience

Relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis

We welcome applications from candidates interested in our course who have the skills and capability to excel. All candidates are considered on an individual basis based on their qualifications, experience, references and motivation.
The Doctor of Hearing Therapy programme is aimed at practising audiologists, who will complete case records were required for taught module coursework and will undertake a practice-based research project.
Applicants possess a good honours degree (minimum upper 2nd class) from a recognised university.
We will also consider applicants with relevant professional experience on a case-by-case basis.
International applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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.
Please note the application deadline for this course is Wednesday 23rd August 2024.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

For details of equivalent qualifications in your country, use our area pages below:

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

How to apply

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Post-study work visa

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Graduate Immigration Route

Pathway Programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

Speak to our Admissions Team

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: professionalcpd@aston.ac.uk

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 09.30am-4.30pm)

Read our guide to applying

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

Fees (2024/25): £9,550 research element plus modules: £650 per 10 credits.

More information on fees

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 UK students.

Tuition fees for students 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. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

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.

Explore scholarships for UK students

Explore scholarships for international students

Assessment

Modules consist of remote access lectures with electronic formative assessments and a module coursework assignment such as reflective case records, or an essay/literature review related to the module.

The research stage requires a significant long-term commitment, as it is equivalent to around 2 years of full-time work (i.e. 4 years part-time). Candidates ultimately submit a thesis which is examined in a viva voce examination.

Course Director: Dr Helen Pryce

Teaching staff: