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.

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