Program Overview

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MSc Environmental and Architectural Acoustics

Overview

This course is closed to new applicants for September 2025.

The only university for acoustics studies in the Southeast of the UK

Our professionally focused degree gives you direct experience of modern measurement equipment and techniques. We've been offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, and house the best facilities in the South-East of England, including a full-size reverberant and anechoic chambers, as well as an exceptionally well equipped laboratory, featuring the very latest instrumentation and technology.

Why Environmental and Architectural Acoustics at LSBU?

• Offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, we house the only centre for study in the South-East with full-size reverberant and anechoic chambers as well as an exceptionally well equipped and staffed laboratory.
• Our teaching team are award-winning. All are actively involved in research and consultancy, drawing on the latest industry developments in both lectures and practical work.
• We showcase the high quality output of our acoustic group on the LSBU Acoustic blog.
• For those applicants who already hold an Institute of Acoustics Diploma, there is an option of direct entry to the second year of the part-time Masters course.
• Ranked 2nd amongst London competitors for Student satisfaction in Civil Engineering (Complete University Guide 2021).
• Ranked 1st amongst London Modern competitors for Research Quality in Civil Engineering (Complete University Guide 2021).

We also run an IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control.

Mode and Duration

Mode	Duration	Start date	Application code	Application method
Full-time	12 months	September	5226	Direct to LSBU
Part-time	24 months	September	5228	Direct to LSBU
Full-time	16 months	January	5227	Direct to LSBU
Part-time	28 months	January	5229	Direct to LSBU

Course Accreditations

• CIBSE
• IOA

Location

• Southwark Campus

Entry Level Requirements

• A Bachelor degree equivalent to UK 2:2 in a relevant subject.
• Applications are also welcomed from those without the required qualifications that possess the life/work skills that would make them suitable to study at this level.
• Those applicants holding an Institute of Acoustics Diploma will be exempted from the appropriate taught units.

Fees

Full-time

Year	UK fee	International fee
1	£11,500	£16,000

Part-time

Year	UK fee	International fee
1	£5,111.11	£7,111.11
2	£6,388.89	£8,888.89

Course Content

• Acoustics Laboratory
  • The module is designed to teach, at an advanced level through experimental methods, the physical mechanisms by which noise may be created, as well as to provide the students with the analytical and practical skills that they require controlling noise and vibration from a variety of sources.
• Architectural Acoustics
  • The module provides specific acoustics knowledge as relevant to buildings and in particular rooms. The student should have an understanding of room acoustics, measurement of room acoustic parameters and the various means of modelling the sound field in rooms across the frequency range.
• Theoretical Acoustics
  • The module is designed to teach, at an advanced level, the physical mechanisms by which noise may be created, as well as to provide the students with the analytical and practical skills that they require controlling noise and vibration from a variety of sources.
• Energy Resource, Materials and Use Analysis
  • The unit examines sources and availability of traditional fuels and their environmental impacts, and the need use them efficiently and economically. It explores the thermodynamic and economic analysis of energy supply technologies including power cycles and combined heat and power plant. It will investigate sustainable building materials and life cycle assessment of building materials.
• Sound and Vibration Engineering
  • This module teaches, at an advanced level, the physical mechanisms by which sound and vibration may be created, as well as to provide the students with the analytical and practical skills that they require to control noise and vibration from a variety of sound sources.
• Thermal Environment Acoustics and Lighting
  • This module introduces the concepts of comfort within buildings, the processes and characteristics that determine the quality of the internal built thermal, acoustic & visual environment and how these are affected by the external environment with due consideration to energy efficiency, sustainability, and net zero.
• Energy Engineering Project
  • The module is a culmination of the course where the knowledge and skills gained are applied to a specific investigation, either design or research based. The student should be able to analyse the technical performance, environmental impact and economic feasibility of the project. The results should be in a form comparable to industrial standards, based on current guidelines or regulations.

Assessment

Module title	Assessment
Acoustics laboratory	100% Coursework
Architectural Acoustics	100% Coursework
Theoretical Acoustics	50% Examination, 50% Coursework
Energy Resource, Materials and Use Analysis	50% Examination, 50% Coursework
Sound and Vibration Engineering	100% Coursework
Thermal Environment Acoustics and Lighting	50% Coursework, 50% Examination
Energy Engineering Project	100% Coursework

Facilities

LSBU houses the only centre for study with this level of facilities in the South-East of England, including a full-size reverberation chamber, anechoic chambers, two audiometric booths and an exceptionally well-equipped and staffed laboratory, with access to the very latest instrumentation and technology.

Our specialised lab equipment includes:

• B&K Shaker
• B&K accelerometers
• B&K head and Torso Simulator
• B&K calibrated sound source
• BSWA two channel Standing Wave/sound transmission Tube
• Microflown Impedance Gun
• 2 KayPentax Vocal Load APM
• Svantek 6 Channel Vibration Meter
• JBL 6112 Subwoofer
• 2 Dodec Loudspeakers
• 3 Norsonic Nor 140 Class 1 SLM
• 2 CEL 593 Class 1 SLM
• Svantek 958 Noise/Vibration meter
• Norsonic Nor 132 Class 2 SLM
• 6 NTI XL2 Class 1 SLM
• 10 SoundBadge Dosimeters
• Rion Vibration Suite
• B&K Standing Wave Tube
• Norsonic Sound Insulation Kit

Careers

This course can be used as a conversion course for maths, physics, architecture, engineering or audio technology graduates. It's also suitable for professionals from fields such as music production and technology, engineering, environmental health, and many others.

Over the past decade a very high proportion of our students have found employment in acoustics and related industries. Typically one or two outstanding students per year go on to undertake research on our sponsored PhD programme.

Completion of the MSc satisfies the academic requirement for corporate membership of the Institute of Acoustics. The process of attaining Chartered Engineer status is offered through the Institute of Acoustics or the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

Accreditation

This course meets the educational requirements for membership of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA). Membership can provide you with contacts and networking opportunities, so it's a good platform on which to build your career. It is also accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Teaching and Assessment

Half of your teaching time will be spent in the laboratory, reflected in the balance between coursework and exams.

Our teaching team is award-winning, and you'll enjoy guest lectures from world experts. In addition, all are actively involved in research and consultancy, which enables staff to draw on the latest industry developments in both lectures and practical work.

Currently 50% of our full-time student cohort is from overseas. This allows our students to network across America, India, the Middle-East, Australia and Europe.