Acoustical Engineering (MEng)

Program Overview

Acoustical Engineering (MEng)

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Master of Engineering

Typical Offer

AAA

Duration

4 years

Course Type

Full-time

Campus

Highfield and Boldrewood

UCAS Course code

H722

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About this course

Gain a Masters-level knowledge of acoustics, sound and vibration and use it to make the world sound better. This acoustical engineering master's will provide fundamental engineering knowledge and a specialist understanding of acoustics. You'll study at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, a leading centre for Acoustical Engineering.

MEng Acoustical Engineering looks at how acoustics - the science of sound and vibration - is applied in technology. It has many applications, including:

• design of cars
• 3D-audio systems
• designing concert halls
• reducing aircraft noise
• using ultrasound to fight antimicrobial resistance

This 4-year integrated master's course includes advanced Acoustical Engineering modules. You'll also take a masters-level group design project and apply your engineering knowledge to a design problem.

This course includes practical and lab work throughout. Our projects will allow you to design, build and test components and systems with enhanced acoustic properties. You'll gain the confidence to creatively solve engineering problems.

In your fourth year, you'll take part in a group design project, many of which are industry-led.

You'll have access to our world-class acoustic and engineering facilities, which include:

• anechoic and reverberation chambers
• an aeroacoustic wind tunnel
• listening room
• virtual acoustics laboratory
• a professional manufacturing centre

Year in industry

Enhance your employability by taking this course with a paid industrial placement year.

Apply using:

• Course name: Acoustical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year
• UCAS code: FF38

You'll spend this extra year at an engineering firm, applying the skills and knowledge you've learned so far.

The fee is 20% of the standard annual tuition fee.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Accreditations

This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the academic requirement, in full, for Chartered Engineer registration. This course is also accredited by the Institute of Acoustics.

This course is accredited by:

• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• Engineering Council
• European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes (EAEP)
• Institute of Acoustics

Entry requirements

A-levels

AAA including mathematics and either chemistry, electronics, further mathematics or physics

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 36 points overall with 18 points at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation), and 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry or Physics

BTEC

• RQF BTEC: D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics and either chemistry, electronics, further mathematics or physics
• QCF BTEC: D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics and either chemistry, electronics, further mathematics or physics

Access to HE Diploma

Not accepted for this course. Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

Irish Leaving Certificate

H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and either chemistry, physics or physics-chemistry

Scottish Qualification

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.

Cambridge Pre-U

D3, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics and either chemistry, further mathematics or physics

Welsh Baccalaureate

AAA from 3 A levels including mathematics and either chemistry, electronics, further mathematics or physics or AA from two A levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) and either chemistry, electronics, further mathematics or physics (minimum grade A) and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate

T-Level

T level in Science at Distinction overall with A in Core and Distinction in the Occupational Specialism, and grade A in A-level Mathematics

Other requirements

• UK students
• International students
• Other ways to qualify

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.

If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.

You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:

• our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
• skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)

Find out more about our Admissions Policy.

Course structure

Year 1

• An Introduction to Acoustical Engineering
• An Introduction to Engineering Design
• Electrical and Electronics Systems
• Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment
• Mechanics, Structures and Materials
• ThermoFluids

Year 2

• Acoustics II
• Audio and Signal Processing
• Electronics and Control
• Engineering Management and Law
• Fluid Mechanics
• Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment Part II
• Mechanics, Machines and Vibration
• Systems Design and Computing

Year 3

• Acoustical Engineering Design
• Human Responses to Sound and Vibration
• Individual Project
• Noise Control Engineering
• Optional modules:
  • Active Control of Sound and Vibration
  • Aeroacoustics
  • Architectural and Building Acoustics
  • Automotive Chassis and Powertrain
  • Biomedical Application of Signal and Image Processing
  • Control and Instrumentation
  • Electroacoustics
  • Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics
  • Human Factors in Engineering
  • Introduction to Machine Learning
  • Ocean Acoustics & Biomedical Ultrasound
  • Signal Processing
  • Theoretical and Computational Acoustics
  • Vibration Engineering Practice

Year 4

• Group Design Project
• Professional Aspects of Engineering
• Optional modules:
  • Active Control of Sound and Vibration
  • Aeroacoustics
  • Architectural and Building Acoustics
  • Automotive Chassis and Powertrain
  • Biomedical Application of Signal and Image Processing
  • Control and Instrumentation
  • Electroacoustics
  • Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics
  • Human Factors in Engineering
  • Introduction to Machine Learning
  • Ocean Acoustics & Biomedical Ultrasound
  • Signal Processing
  • Theoretical and Computational Acoustics
  • Vibration Engineering Practice

Learning and assessment

Course time

• Year 1: 38% scheduled learning & teaching, 62% independent learning
• Year 2: 28% scheduled learning & teaching, 72% independent learning
• Year 3: 19% scheduled learning & teaching, 81% independent learning
• Year 4: 19% scheduled learning & teaching, 80% independent learning, 1% placement

Assessment breakdown

• Year 1: 51% written exam, 29% coursework, 20% practical exam
• Year 2: 53% written exam, 34% coursework, 13% practical exam
• Year 3: 10% written exam, 79% coursework, 11% practical exam
• Year 4: 34% written exam, 21% coursework, 45% practical exam

Careers and employability

Employability skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Commercial awareness
• Self-management
• Confidence
• Leadership
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Creativity
• EDI leadership
• Problem solving
• Resilience

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• Information and Communication
• Education
• Finance and Insurance
• Public Administration and Defence
• Scientific and Technical
• Arts and Entertainment
• Manufacturing
• Transport

Careers directly related to this course:

• Acoustic consultant
• Sound engineer
• Broadcast engineer
• Acoustic scientist
• Noise and vibration consultant
• Acoustician
• Acoustic engineer
• Environmental consultant
• Speech technologist
• Audio technologist

Wider career opportunities:

• Data analyst
• University lecturer
• Software engineer
• Financial analyst
• Management consultant
• Secondary school teacher

Work experience opportunities

Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV and interview skills and workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

• UK students: £9,535
• EU and international students: £28,800

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees
• calculate your student finances

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges, and expenses regulations

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

Program Outline

Careers:

Acoustical engineers are in great demand in almost every field of engineering. You could work on:better-sounding concert hallssuperior sound reproduction systemsclearer ultrasound scansquieter aeroplanesAs an acoustical engineering graduate, you can expect to secure roles such as:acoustic engineeraudio engineer (R&D)acoustic scientistnoise engineerbioengineersound engineeracousticianThe transferable skills you gain will be welcome in a range of other sectors. Taking an industrial placement year will also give you valuable work experience.Find out more about careers in acoustic engineering.

Tuition fees Fees for a year's study: UK students pay £9,250. EU and international students pay £27,400. Your fees will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.