Acoustical and Audio Engineering

Acoustics explores the physics of sound and the psychology behind how people react to noise and vibration. Discover how you can create a better sounding world with our BEng Acoustical and Audio Engineering degree.

We come into contact with acoustics and audio every day. From headphone moments and live music to the vibrations and loud noises made by our transport systems, sound – good or bad – makes a difference to our wellbeing. By studying the fascinating field of acoustics, you can open up exciting career opportunities where you can create, shape and manage sound, noise and vibration.

Learn to create a better sounding world
Located in our Peel Park campus, minutes from buzzing central Manchester, our acoustical and audio engineering degree will guide you through this creative blend of science and engineering. We use small-group teaching to deliver carefully-designed modules that embed theoretical knowledge and creative application, and help you to build technical and transferable skills for your future career.

Initially, you will develop a strong knowledge foundation in topics such as analogue electronics, mathematics and computing. As you progress, you will explore digital signal processing and microphone and speaker design. You will also complete a group design project to find a creative solution to a real-world challenge.
In your final year, you can begin to shape your degree around your interests, selecting optional modules in areas such as psychoacoustics, room acoustics and noise control. You will also complete further experiments and project work, culminating in your individual project.

Build skills using world-class facilities
At the forefront of audio and acoustics teaching and research for over 60 years, we are home to some ground-breaking, world-class facilities. During your studies, you will develop your hands-on skills in laboratories and studios used for industry testing and research. This includes an anechoic chamber and two semi-anechoic chambers, a transmission suite, reverberation chambers, an ITU standard listening room, a 3D Ambisonic listening booth and audiometric test facilities.

Get closer to industry
With the legendary Manchester music scene on our doorstep, you will have plenty of opportunities to see acoustics and audio in action. Along with a network of major media companies surrounding our MediaCity campus, you will be in the right place to add some practical experience too. You also have the option to include an industry placement year between years two and three, and add 'with professional experience' to your final degree award.

Features
• Study a fascinating subject that blends physics, computing, engineering, psychology
• Complete experiments and projects in our world-class acoustics facilities and laboratories that include one of the few fully anechoic chambers in the UK
• Explore acoustic design principles behind smartphones, cars and loudspeakers, as well as recording studios, public spaces and live venues
• Discover how music, speech and other sounds are perceived, and how this influences the design of applications, products and buildings
• Gain professional-level knowledge and skills by including a placement year to apply your knowledge and develop additional transferable skills
• This course is recognised by the UK Institute of Acoustics as a route to future Chartered Engineer status

Year One:

• Introduction to Acoustics
• Analogue Electronics
• Mathematics (Acoustics)
• Acoustics Laboratory
• Signal Chain Theory
• Studio Production

Year Two:

• Digital Signal Processing
• Microphone and Loudspeaker Design
• Principles of Acoustics
• Industrial Studies and Career Management
• Group Design Project
• Electromagnetism

Year Three:

• Final Year Project

Choose two options from the following:

• Room Acoustics (BEng/MEng)
• Digital Signal Processing and Machine Learning
• Psychoacoustics and Musical Acoustics
• Noise and Vibration Control

Plus two further options from:

• Computer Simulation for Acoustics
• Environmental Noise Measurement and Modelling
• Measurement Analysis and Assessment
• Immersive Sound Reproduction

You will be assessed using a combination of formats. These include:

• Examinations which will assess your immediate response to a set of unseen problems
• Assignments which will assess your response to a larger problem
• Practical tests in acoustics laboratories which will assess your ability to apply appropriate skills to a problem
• Projects which will assess your ability to create a plan, identify possibilities, make decisions, deliver the plan, and reflect on outcomes