A class of audiology students, who were left in 'academic limbo' after their course was axed, will return to their studies next month. A settlement has been reached in the High Court between Athlone Institute of Technology, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the body responsible for funding.

There were scenes of jubilation in the courtroom as news of a settlement filtered through to concerned students who came to the High Court today.

Their degree course in Audiology had been scrapped after just one year because the HSE refused to provide placements without accreditation from the British Academy of Audiology.

The court heard how Athlone IT failed to secure the relevant accreditation because the BAA had decided to only accredit institutions within the UK.

No such accreditation body exists in Ireland and when the Higher Education Authority (HEA) pulled the plug on funding, the students were told the course would not be continuing next month.

The course was taken by Megan Munnelly and fellow student Diarmuid O'Connor.

And following lengthy discussions behind closed doors, the HSE and the HEA have agreed to facilitate this batch of students for the duration of their four-year course.

The HSE says it will make the placements available providing the course is approved by a Professor of Audiology six months beforehand and the HEA has agreed to provide funding.

Pictured above: Megan Munnelly & Diarmuid O'Connor