Two students have gone to the High Court to fight the closure of their college course at the Athlone Institute of Technology.
19-year-old Megan Munnelly from Mayo and 22-year-old Diarmuid O'Connor from east Cork say they were only informed two weeks ago that their four year undergraduate course in audiology would not be continuing.
The students started the course last year and were due to begin their second year this autumn. It is understood the decision to wind-up what is the only undergraduate course of its kind in Ireland relates to the non-availability of accreditation.
Audiologists are health professionals who diagnose, treat and manage individuals with hearing loss or balance problems.
21 students are affected by the course being cancelled.
O'Connor & Munnely say if the course stops, it is a waste of a year
The students are bringing an action against Athlone Institute of Technology, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in a bid to keep the course going.
Megan Munnely says otherwise it has been a total waste of a year.
"Obviously it's not the be all and end all but it was what we applied for when we were doing our CAO. This time last year we were waiting for our offers and it’s just awful to be back in the same place" she said.
Diarmuid O'Connor says he has made friends and bonded with people on the course; "to have that taken away from us is appalling" he added.
The case will be heard next Tuesday.
