This is a 3-year course consisting of 10 residential weekends, two residential 5-day Summer Schools and one residential evening for the synoptic exams. All teaching periods where possible are timetabled for half-term and Summer holidays. 

The residential weekends occur over the first two years, completing the taught component of the course by July of the second year. The final year consists of undertaking synoptic exams in September of the second year and completing the remaining assessments /modules by March of the third year.

There are 6 modules in total to complete for the post-graduate diploma, and 7 modules to complete for the Master’s degree (dissertation and research methods).

Masters or diploma students who have completed and passed all the modules and assignments will be able to graduate in the July of the 3^rd year of the course (diploma students do not have to do a dissertation).

Students are expected to self-direct their own reading and learning in addition to the taught lectures and monitor it through a personal development profile

 

For most modules there will be a written or lab-based assessment/report in the first and second year. Assignments and reports are typically 2000 words long. In total there will be 6 written assignments in the first year, and 4 in the second year, with a reflective portfolio of your clinic placement (ongoing throughout the 3 years) and dissertation to complete in the 3^rd year. Furthermore, there will be practical assessments in July of the 2^nd year and synoptic exams in September of the 3^rd year. Students undertake the following practical assessments in the 2^nd year: test box management, FM evaluation, hearing aid set up, pure tone audiometry with masking and otoscopy and impression-taking (over 5 years old).     Back to top

 

The role of an Educational Audiologist is very varied across the country, and will depend on local provision. Please visit the BAEA (British Association of Educational Audiologists) website where you can download the agreed job description for Educational Audiologists.

Educational Audiology is taught according to best practice and with the assumption that the Educational Audiologist has access to Audiological equipment, has a broad range of clinical skills / roles, and works in a multi-disciplinary setting. Thus, there may be some aspects of the course that do not apply specifically to your role at the present time, but may be require in the future if you leave your job, or if your service is developed to include your skill and experience set.

 

This course is aimed at teachers of the deaf already working in Education. Please be aware that most Education authorities employ Educational Audiologists, and therefore may not employ you without a teaching, or Teacher of the Deaf background. However, we have taught other professionals such as Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers in Educational Audiology, usually to fulfil a specific role in their career. Please contact the Course Leader if you are not sure if this course is right for you.    Back to top

 

Due to the unique part-time nature of this course, 100 % attendance is required. The course may only be missed under the circumstance where there are medical reasons.

Where parts of the course are missed you may be asked to return separately from your cohort to complete these missing hours. You may also be asked to complete your assignment for this module at a separate time also.

A clinical placement in a local hospital is mandatory. Students are expected to arrange clinic placement for at least one (morning or afternoon) session a fortnight (or equivalent) during term time over the duration of the course. A reflective portfolio and log of the clinic placement is assessed, and contributes to 30% of two modules.

You must have permission from your employer, and ability to attend a regular Audiology Clinic. The minimum requirements are 180 hours over the two years. This works out at approximately 1 session every fortnight in term time. Alternatively you can attend blocks of clinic sessions in your holidays although this arrangement may be less beneficial to your progress on the course.   Back to top

 

 

Those who have registered for the full MSc have five years from their start date to complete the taught 2 year component and their 3^rd year assignments and research dissertation. The dissertation can be case study based, scientific lab measurement, questionnaire based, or subject-based. You will be supported by the Academic Co-ordinator, and most people start their dissertation in the 3^rd year.

If you have enrolled as a postgraduate student you can opt to carry on to complete the dissertation in order to gain the final 60 M-level credits necessary to achieve MSc. This involves an additional fee. You will then have a further 5 years to complete your dissertation from your top up date.

Access to the Oxford Brookes University library, Oxford Brookes electronic library and online journals via Athens. Access to local University libraries through SCONUL and inter-library loan services.

Access to Mary Hare library at the weekends. Photcopying service available.

Access to a virtual learning platform (VLE) for Mary Hare that contains directed reading, relevant research articles and activities to assist each module.

Training is given for all aspects of online learning and library resource access. For more information on library services, please see the Oxford Brookes Handbook for this course and the Oxford Brookes website.

You can undertake individual modules. For one module this will take 4 weekends in 1 year to complete, plus a synoptic and practical exam (where necessary).

You have up to years to complete the course following registration with Oxford Brookes University

To a certain extent this is dependent on your clinical placement and local agreements on your role and responsibility. However, certain skills are mandatory to the course and are assessed, for example – pure tone audiometry, impression-taking, test box measurement, and FM balancing.     Back to top

 

Students will be trained and assessed in impression-taking as part of the course. If you wish to obtain a BSA certificate in otoscopy and impression-taking, you have the option to do this at a reduced price (there is an additional written assessment required for this, separate from the course)

What equipment will I need?

It is recommended that students purchase Otis; a virtual audiometry simulator. This is available from www.innoforce.com at a reduced price for our students where a temporary license is purchased (6 months) or for full-price for a life-time license. Otis is accessible on site, but students do like to practice audiometry in their own time, where real patients are not available. All other audiometric kit is supplied on site.

 

The accommodation is basic but comfortable, with your own room, a sink and shared shower facilities. Breakfast, lunch and a 3 course meal in the evenings with drinks included will be provided. Throughout the day during your breaks, tea, coffee, pastries and biscuits will also be available. In the evening a bar (at student prices) is usually available in the accommodation quarters.                                                              Back to top

The weekends are very intense. They start from 4.30 pm on the Friday and run until 8.45pm (with dinner in between). Saturday runs from 9am – 8.45 pm. Sundays run from 8.45am – 3.45pm. Sometimes you will be expected to attend several lectures in succession (each session is 50 minutes each). Where possible we do try and mix the sessions with practical and theory based subjects. There will be small breaks in between each lecture. Timetables of your sessions are given in advance of the academic weekends. Each weekend will cover part of the curriculum for two modules.

Students are encouraged to nominate a student representative to feedback to the course leader throughout the year, and to present written/personal feedback to the University Course Committee meetings that are attended twice a year.  Students will be supported with tutorials in academic writing, examination technique and specific assignment guidance. Each student has a personal tutor and 1:2:1 tutorials are available with Module Leaders.

For more information regarding pastoral care, see the Oxford Brookes University Handbook for this Course.

 

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