Explore science and discover yourself at Southampton

Be inspired by genuinely research-led learning and teaching at Southampton

A rigorous scientific approach integrated carefully with clinical expertise is the essence of audiology, and is central to the learning opportunities we provide at Southampton.

Being a research institute, we have an ethos of curiosity, creativity and questioning. We are confident that you will find our enthusiasm for science and research contagious!

Activities throughout our programmes encourage exploration and discovery and take advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities. You will undertake several research projects, conduct case studies and participate in problem-based and inter-professional learning. These help you to develop a wide range of scientific thinking, communication and team-working skills.

A perfect example of how we help you to develop a wide range of scientific skills, that are equally applicable to research and clinical contexts, is our programme of research projects.

Why is research-led learning important?

Scientificially, audiology is a dynamic profession where clinical services are underpinned by research evidence. It is therefore important that your education in audiology reflects latest developments in research.

It is even more important to recognise, though, that much of what you learn during your training will need to be refined or superseded soon after graduating as new evidence and new perspectives on existing evidence emerges. However, all evidence is not created equally: some evidence is more useful to your clinical practice than other.

You therefore need to be equipped with the experience of the potential strengths and pitfalls of different types of evidence, the skills to find and critically appraise evidence, the skills to evaluate (weigh up) the evidence in terms of its potential impact on your clinical practice and the skills to apply evidence to your clinical practice. This is widely known as evidence-based practice.

But there is an even more pressing reason for developing these skills: with every patient you see, you will, for example:

  • Collect evidence (e.g. by asking patients question, conducting tests)
  • Critically appraise the evidence (e.g. could the test have gone wrong? What uncertainties are remaining?)
  • Integrate this information together (e.g. to try to determine the cause of the symptoms)
  • Identify and evaluate important unknowns (e.g. how is hearing aid performing when it is actually in the person's ear?)
  • Evaluate all available information in order to make decisions (e.g. to refer the patient to a different speciality)
  • Use research evidence, and other forms of evidence, to inform these steps.

This is known as clinical reasoning, in which evidence-based practice is a key element.

Furthemore, many audiologists are involved in research, and may of our graduates go on to careers in research, in order to provide the sort of evidence that clinicians need in order to make appropriate decisions.

Research projects

Research training at ISVR is dynamic and multidisciplinary, and we are proud of our reputation as the foremost centre for audiology research training in the UK.

Recent research projects have covered areas including human auditory brain processing, novel technology for cochlear implants, balance rehabilitation, otoacoustic emissions, and measuring depth of anaesthesia with auditory function tests.

BSc & MSc individual research projects

A crucial part of both BSc and MSc Audiology programmes is the individual research project, which leads to a dissertation. Research projects at ISVR are distinctive in their duration and their depth, with many projects generating publications in scientific journals.

The individual research project in the BSc occurs in the third year. The projects are seriously juicey and gives you a great opportunity to sink your teeth into a research area. You will either suggest your own projects or select a general topic from a suggested list, which you refine over the first couple of months. The projects are usually experimental, where data are collected from human subjects, and in all cases are intended to make a meaningful contribution to science.

Work on the individual research in the MSc starts at the beginning of semester 2. As with the BSc projects, you will suggest your own project or develop your ideas from a pool of proposed topics. Our MSc projects are unusual in that you will work on your project across the summer, submitting your dissertation at the end of September.

MSc projects differ from BSc projects in the scope, depth and complexity, both technical and intellectual. Nevertheless, the purpose of the projects is the same: to enable you to develop you research skills, including independent thought and independent working,  regardless of how much previous experience you have.

During the BSc and MSc project, you will be assigned a primary research supervisor, as well as a co-supervisor. Your supervisor will have expertise in the particular area and be able to provide individual support and guidance, as well as challenging you to develop your abilities (in a friendly way!). In many cases, researchers are experts in the area with international reputations.

Research degrees

The approach to research training for Master of Clinical Research, Doctorate in Clinical Practice and PhD programmes builds on our approach to the supervision of MSc projects, only with a greater scope, depth, complexity and impact. The ultimate goal of these programmes is for you to learn who to work as an independent researcher.

Student Research Conference

One of the highlights of the academic year is the Student Research Conference, at the beginning of July. This showcases the research projects of students on all programmes and in all years, and provides students from other years a source of inspiration for their own projects when the time comes.

The conference is a day-long event, comprising of poster sessions and oral presentations, just like any scienfitic conference. Oh and plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits. All teaching and research staff from the audiology programmes and the Institute of Sound & Vibration Research are invited, as are members of related academic schools and staff from our clinical placement centres.

Not only is it a fun event, students also report a warm glow of pride build within them. Priceless.