Hearing Sciences (top-up) BSc (Hons)

Undergraduate degree • BSHAA-approved programme

Top-up your existing qualifications to a full bachelor’s degree. Boost your career potential with our innovative work-based course.

Apply now

Key facts about your online degree

How you'll study

Online with campus residentials

Application deadline

Our next deadline is 27th May 2026

Professional recognition

BSHAA-approved programme

Course length

Study over 1 year

Fees: £7,775

Payment plans available

Start dates

Start in September

Course overview

Building on the success of our popular Hearing Aid Audiology programme, this BSHAA-approved top-up course enables you to progress from a relevant Foundation Degree (or equivalent) to a full BSc degree in Hearing Science. Designed for practising or aspiring Audiologists, it combines flexible audiology online learning with campus residentials, so you can study around your other commitments while benefiting from collaborative, practical teaching. Our Hearing Sciences (Top-up) BSc (Hons) broadens your knowledge of rehabilitative and diagnostic hearing science and includes a research project in a topic of your choice.

During residential days you’ll use the latest hardware from Siemens, GN Resound and Interacoustics, supported by interactive resources and a small, friendly academic team, external expert speakers, and Gold-standard teaching, learning and student support (TEF2023) at the University of the Year (THE). Please note this course does not currently provide a direct route to the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP), although alternative pathways to registration are available after qualification.

Why choose this course?

Complete this Hearing Sciences top-up degree in a single academic year
Study through a flexible blend of online learning and practical campus residentials
Learn in a collaborative environment with opportunities to share your learning journey with tutors and peers
Access extensive practical sessions using the latest hardware from Siemens, GN Resound and Interacoustics
Benefit from Gold-standard teaching, learning and student support (TEF2023)
Join the University of the Year (THE), with a small, friendly and highly motivated academic team supported by external expert speakers

What you’ll gain

The opportunity to top-up a relevant Foundation Degree qualification (or equivalent) to a full BSc degree in Hearing Science
Broader knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of hearing science, including rehabilitative and diagnostic approaches
Enhanced skills and career options as a practising or aspiring Audiologist
Experience of online study combined with hands-on practical learning during campus residentials
The chance to carry out a research project on a relevant topic of your choosing

If you’re a practicing Hearing Aid Audiologist with relevant professional body registration (e.g. Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser with Health and Care Professions Council) then you might also be interested in our BSc Hons Audiology (Top-up) course that does offer a direct route to the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP).

Next application deadline: 27th May 2026

Apply now

Course modules and assessments

Due to the structure of this course, there will be instances where you will study two modules simultaneously during a trimester. You will be supported by your tutors to help manage your workload and assessment deadlines. Please contact one of our advisers to discuss the pacing of this course and the options available to match your circumstances.

Modules

Tinnitus Assessment and Management

Managing People with Specialist Needs

You’ll develop your understanding of assessment and management of adults with complex and specialist needs, that can arise due to the complex nature of hearing disorder and/or comorbid conditions that are common in the elderly. These skills are particularly important to independent practitioners in audiology to be able to support the needs of the clinical audiology pathway in the current and future service commissioning.

Implantable Hearing Devices

Amplification devices continue to benefit people with hearing loss, although they have some limitations. In the recent years implantable devices have become the management option of choice for many people with hearing disorders. These include: cochlear implants; auditory brainstem implants; bone anchored hearing aids; and implantable middle ear devices. You'll gain an overview of these devices, in terms of its technology, candidacy, day-to-day maintenance, advantages and limitations

Hearing in Children

Advances in Adult Audiology

Undergraduate Major Project

You'll create in a substantial piece of individual research and/or product development work, focused on a topic of your choice. You could choose your topic from a variety of sources including research groups, previous/current work experience, your current employer, a suggestion from your tutor or a topic you're specifically interested in. You'll identify problems and issues, conduct literature reviews, evaluate information, investigate and adopt suitable development methodologies, determine solutions, develop hardware, software and/or media artefacts as appropriate, process data, critically appraise and present your finding using a variety of media. Regular meetings with your project supervisor will ensure your project is closely monitored and steered in the right direction.

How you’ll be assessed

Your progress will be monitored through regular online interaction, including discussion boards, blogs and assignments. You'll complete and submit assignments and your Undergraduate Major Project. There is also a practical exam.

How you'll study

Online and residentials

Dedicated support

Study online with campus residentials. Gaduate on campus

Our Hearing Sciences (top-up) BSc (Hons) course is delivered in a blend of online learning and block residentials to provide a flexible, practical and career-enhancing learning experience.

You’ll study through Canvas, our world-class online Learning Management System (LMS), which can be accessed from your phone, PC or tablet at home or on the move. Canvas provides instant access to study materials, forums, and support from tutors and classmates, as well as enabling easy submission of your assignments.

The residentials are spread monthly during each semester, beginning with a 4 day, in person, induction residential in September. Further compulsory residentials take place in October (2 days online), November (2 days in person), January/February (4 days in person) and February/March (4 days online). Residential dates are provided at the earliest possible opportunity, to enable you to manage your absence with your employer.

On successful completion of your studies, you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony on campus. If attending the ceremony in person is not possible then we’ll arrange to have your certificate sent to you.

Entry requirements

What you’ll need to start this course

This Level 6 top-up course in BSc (Hons) Hearing Science is suitable for practising Hearing Aid Audiologists with relevant professional body registration (e.g. Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser with Health and Care Professions Council). However, if you don’t have professional body registration you can still be admitted to the course with a view to developing advanced knowledge in this specialist area, although this qualification will not provide eligibility for you to register with any regulatory bodies.

The minimum requirements for admission to this top-up award are one of the following:

Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology (or equivalent)

Dip HE in Audiology and/or Hearing Aid Audiology

240 University credits (at level 4 and 5) with core audiology subjects achieved via any other means

You will need to provide evidence that a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance has been undertaken.

If you have lived outside of the UK for 6 months or more within the last 5 years then you will need to provide a police check from the country/countries previously resided in

If you are completing placements overseas then you will be required to obtain a police check/certificate of good conduct from the relevant country

As a distance learner, you'll also need a suitable computer with internet connection, together with sufficient IT competence to make effective use our online learning management system (LMS) with high-speed internet and email.

If you hold the relevant professional body registration you might be interested in our BSc (Hons) Audiology (Top-up) degree.

Please note: that we are currently unable to offer this course to international students. This course is taught via a mix of distance learning and face-to-face residentials, which means it does not meet the requirements of either the Student Visa Route or Short Term Study Visa routes under current UK Visa and Immigration regulations.

Fees and Funding

Fees

This top-up degree costs £7,75 in total.

Accredited Prior Learning may reduce the tuition fees. This will be confirmed once your application has been submitted.

Please note that accommodation and personal travel to and from the residentials is not included in the tuition fees.

Funding

Government-backed part time student loans are available to cover the cost of studying this course. These are subject to eligibility and terms and conditions.

We offer payment by instalments, so you can spread the cost of studying with us.

For military students: You can use your ELCs towards this course. ARU is a recognised ELCAS provider (number 1007). Please contact your Learning Centre for details of ELC, eligibility and how to apply.

For more information on how you fund your studies please see our funding page.

What our students say

of our Alumni would recommend studying with ARU Distance Learning

found studying via distance learning either ‘very accessible’ or ‘quite accessible’

felt ‘much more confident’ or 'more confident’ at work

2026 Alumni survey with 268 respondents

I found ARU a welcoming and diverse community. Module tutors were always approachable and the assistance I was given during my studies was fabulous. I'm very career oriented, and was given the opportunity to get involved in research right from day one.

I found the staff immensely helpful and supportive. Each module provided an opportunity to learn something new, put it into practice, reflect on it and see the positive results.

Rachael Mutopo, Mental Health MSc

Read Rachael's Story

Read all stories

I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is working with hearing aids or even has an interest in hearing. You can achieve a highly sought after qualification and expand your own knowledge on the subject.

James

The online information, facilities and resources are modern, easy to navigate and are continually up-to-date. They positively reflect the University’s commitment to students who learn off campus.

Maggie

Read all student stories

Awards and recognition

Be part of the University of the Year

We're proud to be the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year 2023. The prestigious THE awards honour ’exceptional performance during the 2021-22 academic year, and reflect ARU’s success in delivering high-impact projects during this period, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The award recognises the difference we make in the region and our communities – while also acknowledging the broader impact of our world-leading research, and the contributions our students and graduates make to society.

Gold-standard education

We're proud to have received a Gold award for the quality of our education in a UK-wide review of university teaching standards.

Why we're rated Gold

Our course content and delivery is rated as outstanding with the review citing ‘innovative and highly effective course design and content that inspires students to actively engage and commit to their learning’.

We’re also rated outstanding in the areas of:

student engagement in learning
learning environment and academic support
learning resources
student engagement in improvement
approaches to supporting student success
intended educational gains
approaches to supporting educational gains.

What is the Teaching Excellence Framework?

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a national scheme run by the Office for Students that focuses on the areas students care most about: teaching, learning, and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.

It has three outcomes: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

This rating was awarded in September 2023, and lasts for four years.

Supported distance learning

We understand that distance learning is different to traditional campus study and if you’re new to online study you may have concerns or apprehensions about studying part of your Hearing Sciences top-up degree online, and that’s natural.

To help put your mind at ease we have a dedicated Distance Learning Support Team to help and support you throughout your time at ARU, starting with your first online induction and staying with you right through to graduation. In addition, you’ll also be supported by specialist hearing science tutors, well experienced in supporting distance learning students.

Once you start your Hearing Sciences degree, we encourage the creation of online communities and many of our learners find these connections with others invaluable, helping them to stay motivated, share concerns or make new friendships. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet your peers in person during the block residentials and further strengthen your relationships.

Visit our support page to learn more about our support services.

Visit support

Careers

Careers Advice Service

Once you become an ARU student you will be able to access our Employability service to help you whatever stage of your career, whether that’s landing your dream job or the next progression step.

We offer:

careers advice, including one-to-one online and telephone appointments with our experienced advisers
help with your CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
an online portal packed with useful careers resources
our Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates.

FAQs

A selection of popular questions

Why study a Hearing Sciences (top-up) BSc (Hons)?

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People estimates that one in five UK adults experience hearing loss of over 25 dBHL.

With a hearing sciences degree, you’ll develop the skills to provide diagnostic and rehabilitative treatment to patients and embark on or progress in a career that makes a difference and provides valuable support to those experiencing hearing loss.

Our top-up BSc is a great way to build upon your learning within the field of audiology – as a student on this course, you will have an existing understanding of hearing sciences through working experience and/or foundational qualifications within the field which will give you a strong grounding on which to develop.

And this distance learning top-up degree will transform that learning into a full BSc qualification. Taking less than a year to complete, our course is a fast-track to an undergraduate degree, and a quick and effective way to capitalise on your existing experience whilst taking the next steps in your career progression – since your existing knowledge will count towards your qualification, you won’t have to start from scratch.

Is this Hearing Sciences top-up BSc course right for me?

At ARU, it’s important to us that whichever online degree you choose, your course should be the perfect fit for you.

And amongst our diverse catalogue, we offer multiple online degrees in the fields of hearing sciences and audiology.

Although some of our courses may share certain similarities, they have all been designed with one key aim – to help you specialise in the right area of expertise, and give you the skills to achieve your goals.

The skills you’ll learn on this course will prepare you for advancement in your audiology career, and in the future after you graduate, you may choose to pursue registration with a professional body. However, if you already have the relevant professional registration, you may be interested in our BSc (Hons) Audiology (Top-up) course.

Whatever your ambitions in audiology and hearing sciences, our courses can help you get there.

What will I learn on this course?

This course will explore a range of topics in the field of hearing sciences and audiology to improve your skills as a practitioner.

Through the modules of this course, you’ll come to learn diagnostic processes as well as treatments, to assist patients experiencing hearing loss. This course is designed to deliver a contemporary experience of growth in the field of hearing care, and will give you the chance to learn about cutting-edge technologies and the wide range of devices used to support hearing loss.

You’ll also develop your expertise in dealing with conditions such as tinnitus, as well as learning to provide support to a range of patients, including the elderly, young people and other vulnerable groups to enable you to provide the best possible care as a practitioner of audiology.

As part of your major project, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore a specialist topic or area of interest – this may be one in which you have existing experience, or an aspect of your course that you would like to study in greater depth.

As part of this course you’ll also have the chance to enjoy hands-on experience thanks to our residentials, which take place throughout the semester each month for the duration of your course. You’ll be assessed through a combination of online engagement and practical examination to give you the chance to practice your skills as a student as well as mastering theory.

Why study Hearing Sciences as a distance learning degree?

If you’re looking to develop your skills as an audiology and hearing sciences practitioner, this course is a fantastic next step to advance your career.

And by studying your BSc top-up as a distance learning degree, you’ll enjoy a number of unique benefits.

With any degree in the field of health and social care, courses which offer practical experience will help you to gain confidence in your abilities and advance your learning, which is why it comprises such a significant part of our Hearing Sciences (top-up) BSc with monthly residentials.

However, if you’re studying alongside your career and/or other commitments, it can be difficult to balance your timetable. But by studying primarily through distance learning, you’ll have the flexibility to juggle your professional development in both workplace and academic settings.

And when you study with ARU, you’ll learn with the help of expert tutors, enjoying a work-based course that gives you hands-on experience as well as the freedom of distance learning. Our course is also BSHAA approved.

Want to transform your existing skills into a full BSc in hearing science? This course can be the key to the next step in your audiology career.

Take the next step, apply today

Next application deadline: 27th May 2026

Your future, on your terms. Apply now before the application deadline.

Apply now