MSc Advanced Audiology Studies (Paediatric Pathway) / Course details

Our MSc Advanced Audiology Studies (Paediatrics) course is aimed at practising audiologists who want to prepare for advanced roles in clinical management, clinical practice, teaching and research relevant to children and young people.

The course consists of a mixture of audiology-specific units and those shared with health professionals from a range of other disciplines, enabling you to tailor the course to your own interests.

You will learn from internationally recognised experts at the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD).

You may choose to complete 120 credits (60 credits each year) for a PGDip. If your application to the course is successful, it is important you contact the programme team as soon as possible to discuss the units you wish to study, so an individualised timetable can be arranged.

The course requires you to complete a minimum of 75 credits through units listed in the Paediatric portfolio. The remaining credits can be selected from any modules within Advanced Audiology.  The Research Methods unit is compulsory for any students undertaking the MSc.

On successful completion of 120 credits, progression to the full MSc qualification allows you to explore, in depth, a specific aspect of audiology practice, policy, research or education in a 60-credit, 12,000 to 15,000-word dissertation.

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.

Our course aims to:

• provide opportunities for you to specialise specifically in paediatric audiology, taking a holistic view of the needs of deaf children and young people;
• enable you to critically evaluate and apply aspects of contemporary audiology and healthcare practice, policy, research and education;
• foster positive values and attitudes that recognise and respect individual and cultural diversities and challenge discriminatory practice;
• equip you with in-depth knowledge, understanding and skills to critically evaluate research and the evidence base for audiology practice that promotes optimal health and involves children, young people and families in the delivery of care;
• develop your abilities and skills in critical reflective practice, problem solving and creative ethical decision-making;
• contribute to innovation, change and quality improvement in paediatric audiology and healthcare practice at both individual and organisational levels by equipping you with a systematic and critical understanding of relevant knowledge, theoretical frameworks and advanced skills;
• enhance your career development and lifelong learning to support safe practice and the maintenance and enhancement of appropriate standards of audiology practice.

Additional aims for the MSc are to enable you, through the systematic, in-depth, exploration of a specific area of audiology practice, policy, research or education to extend your knowledge, understanding and ability to contribute to the advancement of paediatric audiology knowledge and practice at an individual and/or organisational level.

Inter-professional learning

The course offers inter-professional learning alongside Teachers of the Deaf, paediatricians and speech and language therapists. 

Wide range of units

To qualify under the Advanced Audiology (Paediatrics) route, a minimum of 75 credits must be made up of paediatric units. You can choose from a variety of units to customise the course to suit your own interests. For students who choose to undertake the MSc dissertation, the 15-credit Research Methods unit is compulsory.

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. ManCAD is the only centre in the UK which fosters multidisciplinary work between the audiology and deaf education professions. Students on the Advanced Audiology (Paediatrics) course will have opportunity to benefit from this collaboration.

Tailor your learning to your needs

Take individual units from this MSc as standalone courses for continuing professional development, as well as units providing specialist clinical training.

Many of the staff involved with the course are actively involved in either scientific or pedagogical research.

Where possible, members of staff teach course units related to their research interests and are in a position to keep their teaching informed and up-to-date.

A large number of the teaching staff are also clinically trained audiologists, Teachers of the Deaf, 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.

You will also be required to undertake independent study to further develop and consolidate your learning.

Where appropriate, and with individual arrangements, some audiology units may include participation in practical skills laboratories.

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

You will be assessed using a variety of methods within individual units and across the course as a whole.

All assessments require you to integrate knowledge and understanding, and apply this to your own practice relevant to the outcomes of each unit.

Assessment methods include:

• exams
• essays
• case studies
• assessed seminar presentations
• literature reviews

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 (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.

Read Ben's blog to find out about his experiences on this course and how it is supporting his career progression.

You will use high quality laboratory equipment and facilities for learning practical skills. You will have access to these facilities outside of timetabled sessions to facilitate individual practice.

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