MSc Audiology

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
MSc
Duration
12 months FT
Entry requirements

We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or the overseas equivalent in a suitable science subject. We may consider suitable experience combined with alternative qualifications. You should also demonstrate a keen interest in audiology.

Full entry requirements

Number of places/applicants

Approximately 25 places

How to apply

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y N N N

Course overview

  • Develop your knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathology and assessment of hearing and balance mechanisms.
  • Gain an insight into the clinical environment through a one-week placement in an NHS audiology department or the independent sector.
  • Learn from internationally recognised experts at the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD).

Open days

 Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £13,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £32,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry).

For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international/EU applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Additional expenses

An optional component of this course is a one-week clinical placement in the north-west region. This will incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for which there is no funding.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Telephone
+44 (0)161 529 4563
Email
Website
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/speech-hearing/
School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or the overseas equivalent in a suitable science subject. We may consider suitable experience combined with alternative qualifications. You should also demonstrate a keen interest in audiology.

English language

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.

We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found on the GOV.UK website ).

Specifically, we require a minimum of:

  • IELTS: 6.5, including 6.0 in the written section
  • TOEFL: 90, including 22 in the written section

See further information about requirements for your country .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Application and selection

How to apply

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

Advice to applicants

We welcome you to provide a personal statement and CV.

We accept applications from non-graduate audiologists already in the NHS. Applications are considered on an individual basis. Please contact us for more information.

This is a very challenging, full-time programme of study. You should be aware that a high level of commitment and dedication is required for successful completion.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

The MSc Audiology course is open to international students.

International students who wish to apply for the MSc Audiology course only are advised to do the following on application.

  • Send copies of the required qualifications to the University as soon as possible.
  • Send proof of funding for the course to which they are applying. The University does not fund individual students. Candidates should seek finance from their own government, an international awarding body or be self-funding.
  • Check the English language requirements for the course.

All international students must also upload a scanned copy of their passport as part of the application process.

Fitness to practise / health requirements

Health Screening

The University of Manchester is mindful of the health of both its students and of the public, with whom healthcare students come into contact on placement. Consequently, if your application is successful, we will require you to comply with a confidential health screening as advised by the Department of Health.

Health screening will be undertaken by the Student Occupational Health Service who will advise on any follow-up vaccination or other intervention that may be indicated.

Health questionnaire and screening

Please note that audiology clinical work and study requires all applicants to complete a pre-acceptance health questionnaire which is returned to the University's Occupational Health Service having been checked and countersigned by your GP. All such forms are screened to decide whether, on the basis of the information provided, the student would be able to fulfil the core competencies of their chosen programme of study, as defined by the British Academy of Audiology.

To ensure safe audiology practice the following will need to be considered:

  • Mobility
  • Upper limb function
  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Speech
  • Literacy and numeracy
  • Skin function
  • Interruption of consciousness
  • Concentration, awareness, memory and ability to learn and understand

Disclosure and Barring Service check

The University of Manchester is mindful of the wellbeing of both its students and of the public, with whom healthcare students come into contact on placement. Consequently, if your application is successful, we will require you to comply with a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as advised by the Department of Health.

International applicants - if you are successful in receiving a place on this course, as part of your conditional offer you must supply a police check from your home country which must be considered satisfactory by the University.

Please see the Gov.uk website for further information on the certificate required from your country.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

Our MSc Audiology course is aimed at science graduates who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of audiology.

The course focuses on the theoretical, practical and clinical basis of the science of audiology, including the identification, assessment, rehabilitation and management of adults and children with audiological and vestibular dysfunction.

Our course includes an optional short clinical placement in the north-west, in an NHS audiology department or in the independent sector, to help you gain valuable practical experience while you learn. Please note, during the coronavirus pandemic, the process of clinical placement arrangements may have to be altered to align with the advice of our professional bodies.

You will learn from internationally recognised experts at the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD) while studying on this course.

Clinical training

This is not a clinical training course and does not lead to eligibility for registration as a qualified audiologist or hearing aid dispenser practising in the UK. The MSc Audiology is an academic qualification only.

If you are not a qualified audiologist and want an academic and clinical qualification to enable you to apply for registration as a qualified audiologist or hearing aid dispenser practising in the UK, please consider the BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)

Alternatively, please consider the STP programme.

For qualified clinicians, we also offer the  MSc Advanced Audiology Studies , MSc Advanced Audiology Studies (Paediatric) and a variety of CPD units .

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Information for international applicants

We strongly advise international applicants to check if clinical training programmes are available to them in their home country before considering undertaking the MSc Audiology course at Manchester.

Aims

This course aims to:

  • offer you a broad and thorough education in the identification, assessment, rehabilitation and management of adults and children with audiological and vestibular dysfunction, with a critical and evaluative understanding of the underlying scientific, medical, public health and disability knowledge base;
  • develop your practical knowledge and skills related to core clinical procedures;
  • further develop your research and critical skills by undertaking a piece of original research and presenting your findings via a research dissertation.

Special features

Inter-professional learning

You will have the opportunity to attend some professional practice lectures and workshops.

Practical experience

Gain valuable practical experience through an optional one-week clinical placement, either in an NHS audiology department in the north-west or the independent sector. Please note, during the coronavirus pandemic, the process of clinical placement arrangements may have to be altered to align with the advice of our professional bodies. These being the British Academy of Audiology (BAA), the Academy for Healthcare Science (ACHS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Research experience

You will be required to design and complete a research project as part of the course, helping develop your research skills and giving you the opportunity to focus on a specific area of interest within audiology.

Expert teaching

This course is led by members of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), an internationally recognised multi-million pound hearing research programme. Manchester's hearing health research is benefiting as part of a £59 million investment through the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, so MSc students will benefit greatly from studying in an intensive and high-quality research environment.

Additional course information

  • Reading list

The following books have been suggested by staff members for pre-course/core reading.

Introductory/background reading:

  • Welling, D and Ukstins, C (2013) Fundamentals of Audiology for the speech-language pathologist. Jones and Bartlett Learning.

This is a basic textbook that would be suitable for those with no prior knowledge of audiology or the auditory system. The following chapters are recommended:

  • Chapter 2: Sound and Hearing
  • Chapter 5: Pure Tone Audiometry and Masking
  • Chapter 9: Interpretation of Audiometric Results (please note audiogram symbols are from the USA; the UK uses slightly different symbols)

Other recommended introductory/background reading includes:

  • Tate-Maltby, M and Knight, P (2000), Audiology: An Introduction for Teachers and Other Professionals
  • Taylor, G and Bishop, J (1991), Being Deaf: The Experience of Deafness, Pinter Publishers, ISBN 0861871766

Some useful core textbooks:

  • Katz J (2009). Handbook of Clinical Audiology.( 7th Ed). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia
  • Galfand, S (2009) Essentials of Audiology (4th Ed). Thieme Medical Publishers, New York
  • Dillon, H (2012) Hearing Aids (2nd Edition). Boomerang Press: Sydney

Teaching and learning

Many of the staff involved with this course are actively involved in either scientific or pedagogical research. Where possible, members of staff teach course units related to their research interests, so they are able to keep their teaching informed and up to date.

A large number of the teaching staff are also clinically trained audiologists, hearing therapists or hearing scientists.

We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, small group work, student-led seminars, problem-based learning and online learning.

In addition, you will be required to undertake independent study to further develop and consolidate your learning.

To develop clinical skills, you will be required to undertake practical skills training as part of the course.

Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.

Coursework and assessment

We use a variety of assessments within individual course units and across the course as a whole. All assessments require students to integrate knowledge and understanding, and apply this to your own practice relevant to the outcomes of each unit.

Assessment methods include:

  • essays
  • examinations
  • case studies
  • assessed seminar presentations
  • literature reviews
  • reflective practice

A substantial and mandatory component of the MSc involves the design and completion of a high-quality research project. The research project component represents 33% of the MSc (ie 600 hours or four months' full-time study).

The project is completed under supervision in an area related to audiology. The research project is an opportunity for you to consolidate much of your previous learning and to pursue a specialist area of interest.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Vestibular Assessment and Management PCHN60022 15 Mandatory
Auditory Science PCHN60041 15 Mandatory
Paediatric Audiology PCHN60052 15 Mandatory
Professional Practice PCHN60060 15 Mandatory
Research Methods and Statistics PCHN60170 15 Mandatory
Dissertation PCHN61610 60 Mandatory
Adult Auditory Rehabilitation and Management PCHN64250 30 Mandatory
Adult Auditory Assessment PCHN69411 15 Mandatory

Scholarships and bursaries

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Facilities

You will use high-quality laboratory equipment and facilities for the teaching of practical skills. You will have access to these facilities outside of timetabled sessions to facilitate individual practice of procedures that carry minimal risk.

You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .

Careers

Career opportunities

Graduates of this course have progressed to a PhD, while others have entered a fast-track medicine programme, entered other health-related professions or gone into work with large hearing aid manufacturers and voluntary sectors.

Other students have successfully applied for the  Scientist Training Programme  (STP). This is the training route to become a Healthcare Scientist/Clinical Scientist. Read a  blog post  by one of our MSc graduates about his experience of both the master's course and STP programme.

The MSc Audiology course may also be beneficial to students from outside the UK who are able to access clinical training in their home country after successful completion of this course at Manchester.

Associated organisations

Optional audiology placement is undertaken either in the NHS or in the independent sector. Associated organisations include the NHS, Boots, Amplifon, independent companies.