The Athlone Institute of Technology says its 'hands are tied' in relation to the cancellation of one of its courses.

Two audiology students have taken a legal challenge against the college after they were told it would not be continuing next month.

Over half of those studying the degree in audiology at Athlone IT are in the High Court today.

Two of their classmates - Megan Munnelly and Diarmuid O'Connor - took this legal challenge after the course was scrapped just before they were due to begin their second year of studies.

The college says the course was born after consulting with audiologists on both sides of the border who felt AIT was a suitable location.

And just months before it was due to begin in September 2012 the Health Service Executive (HSE) met with the college to discuss the course.

The accepted students were promised work placements and the college was already in talks with a British body about accreditation as there is no such body here.

But lawyers for the college claim those talks were suspended after a change in policy at the HSE.

The court heard how this led to the government pulling funding and the course eventually being scrapped.

As a result AIT says it simply cannot continue the course this year. The case is due to take two days.

Pictured above: Megan Munnelly & Diarmuid O'Connor