Acoustical Engineering

Summary

Sound shapes how we experience the world. From the cars we drive to the music we hear and the spaces we move through, acoustical engineering sits at the intersection of science, technology and human perception.

On this course, you will explore how sound and vibration work, and how they affect people. You will build a strong foundation in engineering while developing specialist knowledge in acoustics, learning how theory and real-world design come together.

In your first two years, you will study acoustics alongside core engineering topics such as mechanics and electronics. As you progress, you will deepen your understanding through specialist optional modules, before applying everything you have learned in a final-year individual project.

This is a course where curiosity meets application. You will test ideas, solve problems and design for real-world impact, preparing you for a career in industries that rely on sound, vibration and advanced engineering.

Key features of the course

Develop specialist expertise while building a broad engineering foundation. You will study acoustics alongside mechanical engineering, giving you the flexibility to move across industries.

Learn by doing. Alongside theoretical study, you will take part in practical design modules and projects that challenge you to apply your knowledge to real engineering problems.

Access facilities that bring your learning to life. These include anechoic and reverberation chambers, a listening room, an aeroacoustic wind tunnel, loudspeaker audio lab and a virtual acoustics laboratory.

Follow a path towards professional recognition. The course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and meets the educational requirements of the Institute of Acoustics, supporting your route to chartered status.

Student support

Your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) will support you throughout your time at Southampton, offering academic guidance, career advice and signposting to wellbeing and pastoral services when needed.

You will also be part of a collaborative learning environment, working alongside students and staff who share your interest in sound, design and engineering innovation.

Further information

You will be based in an environment designed for hands-on learning, with access to dedicated student design studios, workshops and specialist acoustics facilities. These spaces support both individual study and collaborative project work.

Through your studies, you will gain the knowledge and practical experience needed to move into sectors such as audio technology, automotive design, aerospace, architecture and healthcare technologies.

Course Modules

Typical modules include:

Year one: Acoustics; Engineering Design; Electrical and Electronic Systems; Mathematics; Mechanics, Structures and Materials; Thermofluids

Year two: Acoustics; Audio and Signal Processing; Electronics, Drives and Control; Engineering Management and Law; Fluid Mechanics; Mathematics; Mechanics, Machines and Vibration; Systems Design and Computing

Year three: Individual Project; Acoustical Engineering Design; Human Response to Sound and Vibration; Noise Control Engineering; plus additional module options.

Testing is conducted through a combination of unseen written examinations and assessed coursework in the form of problem-solving exercises, laboratory reports, design exercises, essays, and individual and group projects. Experimental, research and design skills are assessed through laboratory reports, coursework exercises and oral presentations.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Acoustics, Institute of
• Mechanical Engineers, Institution of