Welcome to Audiology at Southampton
Passionate about audiology
Welcome, and thank you for visiting our website. We hope you find all the information you need here. If not, please do not hesitate to contact us, for example to request a brochure outlining our programmes.
At Southampton, we are passionate about the application of science and technology to enhance quality of life. We are also passionate about inspiring and empowering you to fulfil your potential.
Who are we?
The programmes and courses in audiology are hosted by the Institute of Sound & Vibration Research (ISVR). ISVR is an academic school within the Faculty of Engineering, Science & Mathematics in the University of Southampton. Almost all of the teaching staff work within the Hearing & Balance Centre, which is a division of the ISVR.
We are a mixed bunch from a variety of backgrounds. Our audiology teaching team alone includes clinical audiologists, clinical scientists, research scientists, teachers of the deaf, speech and language therapists, cochlear implant audiologists and a surgeon. Many of the teaching staff are national or international experts in their fields.
The 'big chief' is Professor Mark Lutman, who was the president of the British Academy of Audiology from 2007-2008.
Institute of Sound & Vibration Research
As an audiology student at the University of Southampton, you will be part of the ISVR. The Institute was founded in 1963 and is world renowned for its contributions to acoustics, audiology and biomedical engineering, among other areas.
Our research was given a 5* (i.e. the highest rating) rating (Research Assessment Exercise, RAE, 2001). The manner in which the results are presented for the RAE 2008 are more complex, although we appear to be considered to be at a similar or stronger position.
Our interests are diverse and extensive, and include:
- Understanding hearing and balance systems
- Improving the benefits from hearing technology, especially cochlear implants
- "Virtual" acoustics, such as fancy HIFI systems
- Reducing noise pollution, such as from planes and trains
- Stimulating nerves electrically in people with spinal cord injuries
- Understanding biological sonar systems (e.g. bats and dolphins) and bio-inspired applications
- Ultrasonics and underwater acoustics
- Reducing travel sickness
In 2005, we were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize (2005) for:
"contributing fundamentally to our understanding of sound and the resulting engineering innovations have had a profound impact on our quality of life"
"improving the quality of life for the profoundly deaf"
Staff of ISVR also provide advice to UK and EU government and regulatory bodies, and helped to develop the national benchmarks for training in audiology.
We have approximately 150 undergraduate students (audiology and acoustics), 60 Master's students and 80 PhD students, who help to make ISVR a dynamic and stimulating place to study.
What is our ethos?
Our aspirations for our students are high. Ultimately, we aim to inspire our students to become the next generation of leading, innovative and ground-breaking audiologists. To this end, we have the following key features we offer you as a learner:
- Our courses are distinctive in being genuinely research led
- Our activities are inspired by in-house audiology and cochlear implant centres, as well as close links to other health-care providers
- Our learning community is friendly, supportive and enthusiastic
Accreditation
Our taught audiology programmes (BSc, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc) are fully accredited by the British Academy of Audiology (2005). (See the list of accredited providers, from the website of Registration Council of Clinical Physiologists.)
These audiology programmes also received the highest rating from the Quality Assurance Agency (2005), who consider the support we provide to students and clinical training centres during the clinical placement year (BSc and Postgraduate Diploma) a particular strength.
The BSc Audiology team also won the Vice Chancellor’s teaching award (2005), reflecting our commitment to provide diverse learning opportunities carefully integrated with clinical experience. Dr Stefan Bleeck, one of our Senior Lecturers, won the Vice Chancellor's teaching award (2009), recognising his substanital contribution to the development of novel teaching methods.
ISVR have an international reputation for research training. For example, we currently have approx. 100 PhD students, with approx. 25 in audiology and related areas. Projects are funded by a range of UK and EU research councils, governments throughout the world and the UK National Health Service, to name but a few. Research projects are often cross-disciplinary and multi-centre.
Outstanding facilities
ISVR is unique in being the only UK university with in-house audiology and cochlear implant centres. As a student at ISVR, you do not have to go far to see real patients!
Our purpose-built audiology skills laboratory contains the full range of standard clinical equipment, as well as advanced balance- and brain-function testing equipment, and is open to all audiology students throughout the week.
ISVR has also several laboratories for audiology and acoustics research, including an anechoic chamber which is among the largest in the UK.
Supportive community
Most of the teaching on all programmes takes place within one building, which also houses staff offices and the audiology centre. Students on different courses mix academically and socially, and with students on other programmes at the ISVR. This provides a real sense of community, which we are extremely proud of.
You will be well looked after as a student at ISVR. Our experience tells us, and our students tell us, that we are unique in being genuinely student-centred both in our teaching and also in the support we offer. For example, every student is allocated a personal tutor (or mentor, for students on research programmes). Because of the large teaching team (in excess of 25 staff), each member of staff only has up to 6 tutees (usually less). And because we we are mostly within one building, it is easy to find someone if you need a chat.
Finally, we are fun bunch of people who enjoy a good laugh and love putting smiles on our students' faces:
"Studying audiology at Southampton is like being adopted into a new family community. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and the positivity of the department has given the best start to a future in audiology and in life."
Ros Connor, Audiology Student
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