Course overview
- Description
The University of Western Australia is the only Australian university which offers a combined PhD and master's degree in audiology which can be completed over four years. Audiology is the clinical science involving the prevention, assessment and rehabilitation of hearing loss and associated communication disorders.
The Clinical Audiology course commences in January, with a new intake of students in even-numbered years only. It is an intensive full-time course with tuition divided between intensive modules and clinical placements. The intensive modules require full-time attendance, equivalent to 40 hours per week, over their whole duration which is usually seven weeks. Clinical placements are managed by the Clinical Coordinator.
- Course title
- Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Audiology
- Award abbreviation
- PhD, MClinAudiol
- Course code
- 00840
- Course type
- Combined postgraduate (coursework only and thesis only)
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Human Sciences; Graduate Research School
- CRICOS code
- 033773D
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year only
- Attendance type
- Full-time only
- Credit points required
- 60
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Professional accreditation
- Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Audiology is accredited by: Audiological Society of Australia.
- Standard course duration
- 4 years
- Time limit
- 8 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP (master's degree) and RTP (PhD)
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Helen Goulios and Dr Helmy Mulders
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Take unit(s) to the value of 60 points:
Note: Units to be chosen in consultation with the course coordinator.
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | PHYL5501 | Audiological Instrumentation |
| equivalent to a 1-hour lecture plus a 3-hour lab class per week, but delivered in an intensive 5-week courses, followed by two weeks of workshops prior to clinical placements in Feb-May |
| S1 | PHYL5502 | Basic Clinical Audiology Part 1 |
| equivalent to 4 hours per week as a mix of lectures/practical classes/tutorials plus 200 hours of supervised clinical placements at audiology clinics as arranged by the clinical coordinator; delivery of theoretical material occurs in two intensive 5-week courses in February–March and July–August, followed by two weeks in both semesters of hands-on work at UWA, before each round of supervised external clinical placements |
| S1 | PHYL5510 | Physiology of the Auditory System |
| equivalent to 2 hours of lectures per week, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course, followed by two weeks of workshops in February to May |
| S2 | PHYL5511 | Pathophysiology of the Auditory and Vestibular Systems |
| lectures: equivalent to 1 hour per week; case-based tutorials: equivalent to 1 x 3-hours per week. Both lectures and tutorials are delivered in an intensive 5-week period, followed by clinical placements July–November. |
| S2 | PHYL5512 | Basic Clinical Audiology Part 2 |
| equivalent to 4 hours per week as a mix of lectures/labs/tutorials plus 200 hours of supervised clinical placements at external audiology clinics as arranged by the clinical coordinator; delivery of theoretical material occurs in two intensive 5-week courses in February–March and July–August, followed by two weeks in both semesters of hands-on work at UWA, before the supervised clinical work off-campus throughout the year |
| S2 | PHYL5513 | Speech, Language and Communication | lectures/tutorials/labs: equivalent to 2 hours per week, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in June–August; plus a self-paced speech analysis assignment | |
| S1, S2 | PHYL5514 | Evoked Responses in Clinical Diagnosis | lectures/lab classes: equivalent to 4 hours a week, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in June–August; plus self-paced assignments and tutorials | |
| S1 | PHYL5515 | Hearing Devices and Adult Aural Rehabilitation |
| equivalent to 4 hours per week for a standard semester, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in February–March, followed by two weeks of workshops prior to clinical placements |
| S1 | PHYL5610 | Advanced Hearing Aids and Rehabilitation Part 1 |
| equivalent to 4 hours a week of lectures and practical work with hearing aids, similar technology and other rehabilitative procedures, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in January–March and June–August, each followed by two weeks of workshops, prior to attending external clinical placements |
| S2 | PHYL5611 | Advanced Clinical Audiology Part 2 |
| equivalent to 4 hours per week as a mix of lectures/labs/tutorials plus 100 hours of accredited at-elbow supervision at a recognised clinical site. Delivery of theoretical material occurs in two intensive five-week courses in January–March and June–August, followed by two weeks in both semesters of hands-on work at UWA, before the supervised clinical work off-campus throughout the year. |
| S2 | PHYL5612 | Community and Workplace Audiology | lectures/lab classes: equivalent to 4 hours a week, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in June–August; plus self-paced assignments and tutorials | |
| S1 | PHYL5613 | Audiology Practice Management |
| equivalent to 4 hours a week of lectures and practical work with hearing aids, similar technology and other rehabilitative procedures, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in January–March, each followed by two weeks of workshops, prior to attending external clinical placements |
| S1 | PHYL5615 | Advanced Clinical Audiology Part 1 |
| equivalent to 4 hours per week as a mix of lectures/labs/tutorials plus 100 hours of accredited at-elbow supervision at a recognised clinical site. Delivery of theoretical material occurs in two intensive five-week courses in January–March and June–August, followed by two weeks in both semesters of hands-on work at UWA, before the supervised clinical work off-campus throughout the year. |
| S2 | PHYL5617 | Advanced Hearing Aids and Rehabilitation Part 2 |
| equivalent to 4 hours a week of lectures and practical work with hearing aids, similar technology and other rehabilitative procedures, but delivered in an intensive 5-week course in January–March, and June–August, each followed by two weeks of workshops, prior to attending external clinical placements |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
(1) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0.
(2) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL iBT require an overall score of at least 94, a miminum score of 27 in the Writing section, a miminum score of 23 in the Speaking section, and no other sub-score less than 24.
(3) Applicants presenting with the Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) require an overall score of at least 65 and no sub-score less than 65.
(4) The UWA Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT) Bridging Course does not satisfy the english language competency requirements for admission to this course.
Admission requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) an honours degree of at least 2A level, or a qualification recognised as equivalent by the Board of the Graduate Research School (the Board) and the Faculty; and
(b) satisfied the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy Rule 2;
(2) A current National Police Certificate, National Criminal History Check or equivalent certification from country of residence, indicating no criminal conviction. The currency of a National Police Certificate or a National Criminal History Check is 12 months.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 60 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10. Unless the Faculty and the Board approve otherwise in recognition of exceptional circumstances, students who fail to make satisfactory progress in accordance with Rule 8 are assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent, which is calculated based on —
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Supplementary assessment
14. The Academic Council has granted permission for an opportunity for supplementary assessment to be granted to a student who—
(a) obtains a mark of 45 to 49 inclusive in any of the units: PHYL5501/PHYL5511 Audiological Instrumentation Part 1/Part 2; PHYL5502/PHYL5512 Basic Clinical Audiology Part 1/Part 2; PHYL5510 Physiology of the Auditory System; or PHYL5515 Hearing Devices and Adult Aural Rehabilitation;
or
(b) obtains a mark of 45 to 49 inclusive in a unit in which they are currently enrolled and which is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course.
Submission of research proposal
15.(1) A student must provide a research proposal through the Head of the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology and supervisor(s) within six months from the date of first enrolment for the degree.
(2) The research proposal provided by the student in accordance with (1) must be forwarded by the Head of the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology to the Board for its approval.
Credit
16. The Faculty, after seeking appropriate advice, may grant credit towards the degree of Master of Clinical Audiology up to a maximum of 48 points for work previously completed towards that degree at this University.
Time limit
17. Unless the Faculty on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology permits otherwise, students must complete the units required under Rule 7 within four calendar years from the date of first enrolment in the combined course.
Qualification for award
18. A student who completes the units required under Rule 7 and completes the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy will qualify for the degrees of Master of Clinical Audiology and Doctor of Philosophy.