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Acoustical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year

  • MEng (Hon)
  • 5 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site - Highfield Campus
More about University of Southampton

Course options

2026-2027
Apply

Course summary

Acoustical engineering is the application of acoustics – the science of sound and vibration – in technology, with broad applications from the design of cars, 3D-audio systems and concert halls, to reducing aircraft noise and using ultrasound to fight antimicrobial resistance.

As an acoustical engineering student, you will develop specialist knowledge of sound, vibration and their human effects, in addition to a solid foundation in a wide range of engineering fundamentals. You will learn by studying the theoretical principles of acoustical engineering alongside practical design modules and projects.

During the first two years of this integrated master's, you will study specialist modules in acoustics and audio signal processing, alongside the core principles of mechanical engineering, including mechatronics and electronics. In your third year, advanced modules and an individual project will deepen your understanding of acoustics and human responses to sound and vibration. In your final year, you will study advanced acoustical engineering modules and participate in a group design project, applying your engineering knowledge to a design problem.

You'll have access to our extensive facilities, including dedicated student design studios and workshops, anechoic and reverberation chambers, a listening room, aeroacoustic wind tunnel, loudspeaker audio lab and a virtual acoustics laboratory.

Your Industrial Placement Year will enhance your employability, with an additional year-long paid placement in an engineering organisation. You will be able to apply the knowledge and skills that you developed during the early years of your degree, developing vital professional knowledge and skills to prepare you to become a professional engineer after graduation.

Our acoustical engineering courses are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and offer a route to chartered status. They also meet the educational requirements for the Institute of Acoustics.

Modules

This integrated master's course includes advanced Acoustical Engineering modules.

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

Year two: Acoustics; Audio and Signal Processing; Electronics 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.

Year four: Group Design Project; Professional Aspects of Engineering; plus additional module options to deepen your knowledge.

Assessment method

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.

The Industrial Placement Year is assessed via an individual reflective report.

Professional bodies

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

  • Acoustics, Institute of
  • Mechanical Engineers, Institution of

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site - Highfield Campus

Study options

  • MEng (Hon) • Full-time • 5 Years

Start dates

  • 14/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
FF38
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Southampton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
FF38
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - AAA

Typical Offer: AAA including mathematics and another accepted science subject The following are considered to be an acceptable science subject: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAB including mathematics (minimum grade A) and another accepted science subject (minimum grade B), plus grade A in the EPQ We are committed to ensuring that all students with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a student’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme as follows: ABB including mathematics (minimum grade A) and another accepted science subject (minimum grade B)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4" We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two A-levels including mathematics and another accepted science subject. The following are considered to be an acceptable science subject: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) - D

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA from two A-levels including mathematics and another accepted science subject. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Scottish Advanced Higher

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. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 36 points

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 another accepted science subject. The following are considered to be an acceptable science subject: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology, Environmental Systems and Societies, and Geography. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) offer Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - A

AAA including mathematics and another accepted science subject or AA from two A levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) and another accepted science subject (minimum grade A) plus grade A in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. The following are considered to be an acceptable science subject: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Extended Project - A

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAB including mathematics (minimum grade A) and another accepted science subject (minimum grade B), plus grade A in the EPQ Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H1, H2, H2, H2, H2

H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and an accepted science subject. The following are considered to be an acceptable science subject: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D3, D3, D3

D3, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics and an accepted science subject. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D2 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A* or grade D3 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

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

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who previously enrolled on this course joined us with grades lower than our published entry criteria. After receiving their grades, we carefully considered each students’ individual circumstances before confirming their place on their chosen course.

We encourage everyone with the potential to succeed to apply, regardless of their background. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 10 other physics courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

For University of Southampton, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data. Learn more here .
AAB Most common
  1. A*A*A*
  2. Highest grades
  3. BBB
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

97% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

This course has a required grade that may not be listed in the data. Check the entry requirements for the full qualification requirements.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

58 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

86 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
EU£31000Year 1
International£31000Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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