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Studies & Degrees in Otolaryngology (ENT)

Otolaryngology is the medical and surgical specialty of the ear, nose and throat, usually shortened to ENT. NHS Health Careers describes ENT surgeons as doctors who diagnose, evaluate and manage diseases of the head and neck; their formal title is otorhinolaryngologist or otolaryngologist. In the United States the specialty is called otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. The Spanish official programme defines Otorrinolaringología as the medical-surgical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of diseases of the ear and the upper airway and digestive tract: mouth, nose, pharynx and larynx.

It is not a first degree. An ENT specialist first qualifies as a doctor and then completes several years of hospital training in the specialty.

What trainees learn

The range of conditions is wide, and NHS Health Careers notes that ENT surgeons see more children than most other surgeons. Training covers three main areas:

  • the ear: hearing loss, glue ear in children, dizziness, infections and perforated ear drums
  • the nose: sinus infections, smell disorders, nasal polyps, nasal obstruction and nosebleeds
  • the throat: from tonsillitis and breathing problems to cancers of the mouth or throat

Later, specialists can concentrate on areas such as paediatric ENT, skull base surgery or facial plastic surgery. The American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery certifies subspecialties that require additional fellowship training, among them neurotology, sleep medicine and complex paediatric otolaryngology.

Qualifications and levels

  • United States. Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor's degree and a medical degree, which takes an additional 4 years. The American College of Surgeons describes the residency as one year of general surgery training plus three years of otolaryngology, followed by one year of elective training. At New York University the residency is a five-year programme that accepts four residents each year. Stanford University also offers a 7-year research track that combines the 5-year clinical training with 2 years of research.
  • United Kingdom. A medical degree normally lasts five years and is followed by a two-year foundation programme. According to NHS Health Careers, specialty training to become an ENT surgeon then takes a minimum of seven years.
  • Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits. Otorrinolaringología is one of the health specialties trained through the residency system; the official programme lasts four years and requires a degree in Medicine.
  • Audiology. Hearing and balance can also be studied outside medicine. In the United States, audiologists typically need a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.). The Department of Otolaryngology at Saint Louis University, for example, offers a year-long audiology externship alongside its residency.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 11 schools for otolaryngology. Seven are in the United States; Spain, India, Ukraine and Russia have one each. They are universities with a medical school and teaching hospitals, where ENT is taught within the medical degree and offered as postgraduate specialty training.

Specialty training is paid clinical work and is regulated nationally. Applicants with a foreign medical degree should ask the school and the country's medical regulator which exams, licence and language level are required before applying.

Careers

ENT specialists work in hospitals and clinics, and can also teach medical students or do research at universities. Training places are limited: NHS Health Careers reports 131 applications for 23 specialty training places in 2020.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate projection for otolaryngologists. For physicians and surgeons as a whole it counted 862,800 jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 4 percent from 2025 to 2035; all states require them to be licensed. For audiologists it counted 14,200 jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 11 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

What does an otolaryngologist do?

An otolaryngologist, or ENT surgeon, diagnoses and treats diseases of the ear, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck, with both medical and surgical treatment.

Can I study otolaryngology without studying medicine?

No. Otolaryngology is a specialty for qualified doctors. Students who are interested in hearing and balance but do not want to study medicine can look at audiology, which in the United States typically requires a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.).

How long does ENT training take?

In the United States the residency lasts five years after medical school. In Spain the specialty programme lasts four years after a degree in Medicine of 360 ECTS credits. In the United Kingdom, NHS Health Careers gives a minimum of seven years of specialty training after the two-year foundation programme.

Is it hard to get a training place in ENT?

Places are few. In 2020 there were 131 applications for 23 specialty training places, a competition ratio of 5.70, according to NHS Health Careers. At New York University the residency accepts four residents each year.