Jane Bevan MSc Audiology , 2002

Manager of Education, Training and Rehabilitation for Advanced Bionics

Hi, I'm Jane Bevan and I studied MSc Audiology within Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton.

I am currently working in Zürich, Switzerland as the Manager of Education, Training and Rehabilitation for Advanced Bionics (a manufacturer of cochlear implants).

I chose the MSc Audiology because I had taken a BSc in Acoustics and Music, also at the University of Southampton, and the modules on sound perception and hearing had really interested me.  I realised that audiology was a great way to study more about these topics and put the information learned to practical use.

I had had such a good experience with my first degree at Southampton, that I was really keen to stay on. 

I liked that the course mixed theoretical, academic subjects with practical, clinical application.  It made everything we learned more meaningful rather than abstract. 

I completed a research project on "threshold fine structure and pitch discrimination".  My brief was to investigate whether human perception of pitch changes when you measure using very quiet sounds close to the threshold of hearing.  My results suggested that there is a relationship, but I would have needed more subjects to reach significance.  It was quite an academic project, which I enjoyed, especially because I had really great support from my supervisor. 

The course gave me a great overview of what audiology is and how human hearing works.  It introduced me to the various different diagnostic tests and rehabilitative procedures that are used and we had the chance to test them out on each other as well as in clinic with real patients. 

My job is definitely related to the course.  I am currently working in Zürich, Switzerland as the Manager of Education, Training and Rehabilitation for Advanced Bionics (a manufacturer of cochlear implants).  I manage a team of six people to provide training and support internationally to audiologists, surgeons, rehabilitation professionals as well as to our internal staff.  

I am currently enjoying learning more about management, improving my German and building-up our team.  I am very happy working in this challenging position and would like to develop within this role for a while.  

My advice to anyone considering the course: if this subject also interests you, you should go for it. Remember to enjoy it because being a student is great fun! 

Southampton has great clubs and societies.  A large part of what I enjoyed most about my time there was playing in the University Symphony Orchestra and the friends I made through that are still with me today.  Get involved in whatever interests you have because you rarely have a chance to meet so many new like-minded people.