Healthcare Science

Audiology is the healthcare science concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, and management of hearing and balance disorders. Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the UK and globally, affecting people of all ages from newborns identified through screening programmes to older adults experiencing age-related decline. Audiologists are the healthcare professionals responsible for fitting and managing hearing aids, performing diagnostic assessments of hearing and vestibular function, supporting cochlear implant programmes, and providing rehabilitation to people whose hearing impairment affects their communication and quality of life.

The discipline draws on physics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and engineering, making it a genuinely science-intensive allied health profession.

At Aston University, this three-year full-time BSc in Healthcare Science (Audiology) integrates clinical learning throughout the programme rather than concentrating it at the end, giving you ongoing hands-on experience across your three years of study. You will develop clinical skills in diagnostic assessment, hearing aid fitting and verification, balance assessment, and patient communication and rehabilitation, supported by specialist facilities and an extensive network of clinical placement partners. The academic content covers the physics of sound, anatomy and physiology of the auditory and vestibular systems, audiological measurement techniques, and the psychological and social dimensions of hearing loss, building the scientific knowledge that underpins clinical practice.

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration and employment as audiologists within the NHS and independent sector. The healthcare science workforce in audiology is consistently in demand, reflecting both the prevalence of hearing loss and the demographic trends of an ageing population. Career progression within audiology can lead to senior clinical roles, management, research, education, and specialist positions in areas such as paediatric audiology, cochlear implantation, or vestibular rehabilitation.

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate qualifications to advance their clinical expertise or move into research and academic careers.