Masters Degrees (Acoustics)

Overview

Fascinated by the science of sound? Southampton Solent University’s applied acoustics masters programme can provide you with the skills and knowledge required to work in a range of acoustics fields. Suitable graduate destinations include consultancy, engineering, environmental health, built environment work or further study at PhD level.

Taught by experts with experience in both research and industry, you can get hands-on experience and learn to use the latest measurement, simulation and modelling technology. You will also study important acoustics principles including how humans respond to sound, acoustic physics, and how sound interacts with our environment.

- Students learn from industry experts with strong backgrounds in industry, research and consultancy roles.
- Southampton Solent’s on-campus acoustics consultancy provides students with the opportunity to work with real clients.
- The curriculum is informed by industry partners and Solent’s strong track record of acoustics research.
- Solent has a 10-year history of successful graduate employment in the acoustic industries.
- Students are given the opportunity to tailor the programme to their own career ambitions by picking from a range of optional units.
- Students have free access to the latest industry-standard technology including a state-of-the-art 3D digital Cinema with Dolby Atmos; a Hemi-anechoic chamber; CadnaA, EASE and CATT software; and a wide variety of lab and field test equipment.

The industry -

Acoustics offers an intellectual and practical challenge across a wide range of sectors - from manufacturing or construction to architecture, telecommunications and engineering.

Acousticians could be involved in designing and planning exciting new infrastructure projects such as airports, motorways and sports arenas; could be responsible for making aeroplanes and cars quieter; or could work on improving the sound quality of consumer electronics. Acousticians are also involved in the design of new buildings – from flats and houses through to skyscrapers and concert halls.

The programme -

Taught by experts with strong research and industry backgrounds, MSc Applied Acoustics offers students the chance to gain hands-on experience with the latest measurement, simulation and modelling technology. Students also study relevant scientific principles such as how humans respond to sound, acoustic physics, and how sound interacts with our environment.

We have excellent links with the Institute of Acoustics (IoA) and the Association of Noise Consultants, as well as a number of commercial companies across the sector. These include KP Acoustics, with whom we have a formal partnership for work placement and mentoring. The course has also been designed to meet the requirements for professional IoA registration.

To aid study and help perfect techniques, students have full access to the University’s laboratory and studio facilities. Students will be able to undertake acoustic measurement and laboratory projects using a wide range of test equipment such as sound level meters, a 16-channel data acquisition system, head and torso simulators, a laser vibrometer and ambisonic microphones. Students will also have access to cutting-edge simulation and modelling software, including MATLAB, NI Labview, CadnaA, CATT Acoustic, and EASE.

The University also offers access to specialist facilities for the testing and demonstration of acoustic and electro-acoustic principles, including a hemi-anechoic chamber, audio isolation booths for sound recording and audiometric testing, and the University’s own digital 3D cinema.

Thanks to the course team’s strong industry connections, students have access to guest speakers from a range of relevant organisations. Previous speakers have included Mark Murphy and Jim Griffiths (Vanguardia Consulting), Nicholas Jones (Hilson Moran) and Phil McIlwain (Westminster City Council).

Course Content

Programme specification document - http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6152

Teaching, learning and assessment -
The course is taught through classroom seminars/lectures, laboratory sessions and independent learning, as well as your supervised research project. While some laboratory sessions entail working in a group, all assessment is individual.

Partial credit can be awarded to holders of the Institute of Acoustics diploma in acoustics and noise control against equivalent taught modules of the MSc. Please contact the course team for further information.

Work experience -

There are a number of opportunities for work experience with professional partners and contacts, as well as through the University’s own Solent Acoustics consultancy.

Past students have worked on a range of projects, including for Truck Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Westminster City Council and KP Acoustics.

Additionally, the Professional Skills and Practice unit involves organising your own work placement with an external company, supported by staff and making use of the course team’s industry contacts.

Assessment -

The course is assessed through a mixture of coursework, projects, presentations and practical and written examinations.

Our facilities -

On the master’s course you will have access to a wide range of specialist equipment and facilities, including:

- Hemi-anechoic chamber with 16-channel National Instruments data acquisition system.
- NTi Flexus electroacoustic analysis system with turntable.
- Wide range of Class 1 and 2 Sound level meters.
- Cirrus Research Dosebadge workplace noise assessment kits.
- Building acoustics systems including conical and dodecahedral loudspeakers and tapping machine.
- B&K Head and Torso Simulators (HATS).
- Environmental noise measurement kits.
- Polytec Laser Vibrometer.
- Larson Davis Hand Arm vibration measurement system.
- Siemens Unity and Amplivox audiometers and Larson Davis Audiometer calibration system.
- Computer suites with EASE, CATT and CadnaA acoustic modelling software.

Web-based learning -

Solent’s virtual learning environment provides quick online access to assignments, lecture notes, suggested reading, discussion forums and other course information.

You will also receive a subscription to the online video tutorial resource Lynda.com, to help learn extra professional skills.

The Professional Skills and Practice optional module is a distance/online module, supported through the virtual learning environment.

Why Solent?

What do we offer?

From a vibrant city centre campus to our first class facilities, this is where you can find out why you should choose Solent.

Facilities - http://www.solent.ac.uk/about/facilities/facilities.aspx

City living - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/southampton/living-in-southampton.aspx

Accommodation - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/accommodation/accommodation.aspx

Career Potential

Acoustics offers an intellectual and practical challenge across a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing or construction to architecture, telecommunications or various engineering industries.

Acousticians could be involved in designing and planning exciting new infrastructure projects such as airports, motorways and sports arenas, or could be responsible for making airplanes and cars quieter, or improving the sound quality of a television or computer.

Acousticians are also involved in the design of new buildings – from flats and houses through to skyscrapers and concert halls.

Career destinations -

Examples of career destinations include:

- acoustic engineer
- audio system designer
- recording studio and concert hall designer
- environmental health officer
- environmental consultant
- audio engineer
- health and safety officer
- building control officer.

Links with industry -

We have excellent links with the Institute of Acoustics and the Association of Noise Consultants, as well as a number of companies across the sector, including KP Acoustics (with whom we have a formal partnership for work placement and mentoring).

Guest speakers from a range of different organisations regularly present seminars and workshops, which have recently included Mark Murphy and Jim Griffiths (Vangardia Consulting), Nicholas Jones (Hilson Moran) and Phil McIlwain (Westminster City Council).

The University also hosts regular industry events and conferences to which students are invited.

Transferable skills -

The MSc in Applied Acoustics offers students a wide variety of transferable skills, such as using software to analyse and present complex data, use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and architectural CAD modelling, problem solving, mathematics, project management and research skills.

Further study -

If you are particularly interested in research, the course offers opportunities to continue on to PhD study.

You will also have the chance to gain additional qualifications while you study, such as the Institute of Acoustics (IoA)’s certificates of competence in building acoustics measurement or environmental noise measurement, at significantly reduced cost.

There is also the opportunity to register to take the assessment for the IoA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control while taking the MSc (registration fee applies).

Examples of employment obtained by recent graduates -

Solent graduates have gone on to work in acoustics roles for Apple (acoustic engineer), Accon UK, Samsung (audio engineer), Cole Jarman Associates, Hilson Moran, Mott Macdonald, KP Acoustics, Hann Tucker Associates, Hoare Lea, Vangardia Consulting and Clarke Saunders Associates, among others.

Next steps

Looking to hone your knowledge of acoustics while boosting your employability? With top-of-the-line facilities, an experienced teaching team and a history of delivering world-class acoustics tuition, Southampton Solent University’s MSc Applied Acoustics will help equip you with the skills you need to thrive in a range of exciting careers.

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The MSc Acoustics course offers two pathways specialising in either Audio Acoustics or Environmental Acoustics, both of which offer opportunities to develop specialist knowledge of NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness).

Key benefits:

• An in-depth analytical treatment of acoustic engineering as used in industry and research
• You are taught by World-class audio and acoustic engineering researchers - part of an RAE submission rated highest for research power
• Strong and long-standing connections with audio and acoustics industry across the World which inform course content.

Visit the website: http://www.salford.ac.uk/pgt-courses/audio-acoustics

Suitable for

This course is designed for technically skilled graduates whose first degree was not necessarily in reproduced sound or acoustics but another engineering or science discipline. This course is also designed for those currently working in the audio and acoustic industry who wish to expand their expertise, and those wishing to train to begin an acoustic and audio engineering career.

Programme details

The MSc Acoustics has two pathways: Audio Applications and Environmental Applications.

- Audio pathway -

The generation, manipulation and reproduction of high quality audio signals are core elements of the rapidly expanding communication, entertainment and sound engineering industry. The audio pathway aims to train graduates in the acoustic aspects of audio such as digital signal processing, microphone and loudspeaker design, architectural acoustics and sound reproduction.

- Environmental pathway -

The environmental pathway is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work in environmental acoustics, including environmental noise consultancy, noise control in industry and acoustic engineering research.
The course is accredited by the Institute of Acoustics which provides external validation of the course quality.

Format

The majority of teaching and learning takes place through tutorial and seminar groups. Assessment is generally in the form of assignments, which improve problem solving and other skills as well as providing a strong background in the subject area.The Acoustics MSc course offers a variety of flexible formats, including full- and part-time attending modes, and by distance learning over two years. Those considering part-time study should bear in mind that the courses are intensive, and that generally, we advise that part-time means half time, i.e. you would need to allocate half the week to the MSc, 19 working hours.

Distance learning and attending students benefit from the supply of a range of high-quality teaching materials, text books and software. Interaction with students is face-to-face wherever practical, but we also use web-based learning support packages (databases of materials, discussion boards etc.) to support the whole cohort.

Semester 1

Common to both pathways:

• Mathematics and acoustics
• Loudspeakers and perception

Semester 2

• Room Acoustics and modelling

Audio Acoustics Pathway:

• Digital signal processing and electroacoustics

Environmental Acoustics Pathway:

• Environmental Noise

Semester 3

• Project

Assessment

• Taught modules are assessed through assignments
• The project is assessed through a dissertation

Career potential

The Audio Pathway on this course is designed to train graduates to meet a growing demand for audio skills in industry, and also to enable employees to reach their full potential. This postgraduate course has been used as in-service training by a number of UK and global companies (e.g. mobile telecoms). While one naturally thinks of mobile phone design as belonging to 'telecommunications', there are considerable audio engineering challenges in designing good quality sound from the small transducers used in confined spaces, often in the presence of considerable background noise. Also, increasing markets exist for sophisticated audio systems in the home (surround sound cinema), at work (Internet conferencing facilities, virtual environments) and in transport (car audio). This masters course has been devised to meet this growing demand.

The audio acoustics industry is diverse. It includes major firms with 'core' audio-related market share such as Philips, Sony, Dolby, B&O and KEF. Many other businesses employ specialists in acoustics: Nokia, Bentley (and Ford, Nissan etc) to name a few. Building design and architectural acoustics needs specialist engineering consultants looking at room configurations and surface treatments, noise ingress and egress, sound reinforcement system design and so on, and a very wide variety of companies (Arup Acoustics are one large example in this area) employ graduates from our courses. Students also go on to study for a higher degree by research, here at Salford or elsewhere.

The Environmental Pathway meets the needs of people wanting a career dealing with building design, noise and its control. With noise being a significant problem worldwide, there is significant demand from companies wanting to employ graduates understanding acoustics. Many employers such as noise and acoustic consultancies, and product manufacturers, come directly to Salford to recruit graduates from our courses. Our reputation in acoustics means that our graduates have an excellent chance of quickly finding a job. Acoustic consultancy offers the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of projects and clients, and consultancy practices who recruit our graduates are spread widely throughout the UK, the EU, Canada, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

How to apply: http://www.salford.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying

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Why choose this course:

• The IOA Diploma is a sought after accredited qualification which enables you to become an Associate Member of the Institute of Acoustics.
• The programme is regarded as the leading specialist qualification for the professional practitioner in acoustics.
• We're the leading centre in the Midlands for this one year part time course.

About the course:

This course is perfect for you if you're looking for a specialist qualification as a professional practitioner in acoustics. You'll become a member of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) which will help to set you apart from other professionals in this field.

It also means that if you went on to further study, for example the MSc Applied Acoustics course, you could miss out the Postgraduate Certificate level and go straight onto the Postgraduate Diploma.

The course only takes one year to complete and you'll study on a Tuesday afternoon and evening starting in September. The examinations are held in June and you'll need to complete a project which usually takes place over the summer months.

Because the course is part time it means you can fit it around your work and life commitments, but if you are in employment you'll need to ensure that you can come in to Derby on a Tuesday afternoon to study.

You'll be taught by a dedicated and friendly team who are experienced acousticians with most having full membership of the IOA. And you'll study at the leading centre in the Midlands for this course.

Everyone must take the following modules:

• General Principles of Acoustics
• Laboratory Module
• Project.

You will then take a further two specialist modules from:

• Regulation and Assessment of Noise
• Noise and Vibration Control Engineering
• Acoustics in Buildings
• Environmental Noise: Measurement, Prediction and Control.

You'll be assessed by both coursework and examination. Coursework will include laboratory reports and a small number of assignments set by the IOA.
The General Principles of Acoustics module provides a foundation for further study and deals with the nature and behaviour of sound and vibration, its measurement, response of humans to sound and vibration, and basic noise control engineering. The project is an opportunity for you to carry out an individual study in the area of acoustics.

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This MSc Environmental and Architectural Acoustics 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.

LSBU has been offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, and houses the only centre for study with this level of facilities in the South-East of England,including full-size reverberant and anechoic chambers and an exceptionally well equipped and staffed laboratory, with access to the very latest instrumentation and technology.
This is a professionally focused applied degree and practical work is an essential part of the course, giving you direct experience of modern measurement equipment and techniques. The modules are directly relevant to the practice of acoustics, and also consider the broader aspects of investigation and control of the built environment. Half of teaching time is spent in the laboratory, and this focus is reflected in the balance between coursework and exams.

Individual modules can be taken separately as part of continuing professional development. For the final project module you'll devise and complete a piece of investigative work in an area of interest in considerable depth; the topic and scope of the project are selected with the guidance of an academic supervisor. 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.

Modules

Acoustics laboratory
Architectural acoustics
Measurement and control of sound
Subjective and environmental acoustics
Environmental management
Research methods
Energy engineering project

Teaching and learning

Members of the teaching team are all highly-experienced and award-winning, and you'll enjoy guest lectures from world experts. In addition,all are actively involved in research and consultancy, which enables staff todraw 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.

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

Professional links

The department has extensive links with industry. This means students have the opportunity to go on site visits, receive guest lectures, take part in research initiatives, go to networking events and collaborate on projects with professionals working in the field. Teaching makes extensive use of industry case studies to demonstrate theory and research techniques. Some of our links include:

• Sharpsredmore Partnership
• Brookfield Europe
• Anne Kyyro Quinn Design
• Peter Mapp Associates
• Vanguardia Consultants
• RBA Acoustics
• Capita Symonds
• London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Royal Academy of Music
• Sound Research Labs
• Telent Technical Services

Employability

Over the past decade a very high proportion our students have found employment in an acoustics related industry, and 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 o fAcoustics or the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

Acousticians work in a great variety of industries and environments and this profession is in high demand, especially in London, thanks to the wide range and speed of new infrastructure development.

Architectural acoustics:

Many types of new buildings need careful acoustic design to make them sound good, to protect them from nearby noise sources, to make them productive and pleasant places to live or work in and to make them commercially successful. This is especially true for places like concert halls, but equally applicable to universities, residential buildings, leisure centres and many others. Day-to-day tasks could include: design meetings with architects and other engineers, noise surveys of existing and new sites, design using computer and physical models, communication of the design to the client and design team, project management, site supervision and commissioning of the finished projects. This offers a balance between creative, scientific and practical skills and is a career that will always present new experiences and challenges. (http://www.ioa.org.uk)

Environmental noise:

Noise is a major issue for society: 80 million EU citizens live in unacceptably noisy areas. Environmental health officers consider noise in planning new developments, such as housing affected by noise, or new noisy activities, and enforcement of existing noise concerns including the sources of complaints from the public. Consultants in environmental noise work in small specialists firms or large multinational consultancies, including engineering firms. Junior staff measure noise and use computer models to predict noise levels from new developments such as roads, railways and industrial plants. Consultancy can be a demanding job, but one which offers great variety and career progression. (http://www.ioa.org.uk)

Other areas you could work in include audio engineering, noise control and product sound, musical acoustics, speech and hearing, ultrasound, underwater acoustics.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

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The MSc in Acoustics is a 4 semester program (two years) from Semester 7 (S7) to Semester 10 (S10) according to the European semestrial organisation. The first year of the Master (M1) is covered by S7 and S8, whereas the second year of the program (M2) by S9 and S10.

The first semester (S7) provides the scientific background required for this Master, including some fundamentals of Mechanics, Continuum Physics and data processing as well as an introductory course to Acoustics. The second semester (S8) is devoted to acoustics and its context with practical application in an Acoustic Laboratory. During the third semester (S9), more advanced and specialised courses in acoustics are offered in parallel to application oriented lectures. Students can chose to specialised in their field of interest. The last semester (S10) is devoted to the MSc project, which can be carried out in a research laboratory as well as in the industry.

In parallel to the scientific program, English courses and/or a French courses are also offered: the objective is to provide the language basics that are required to attend the scientific courses, read and write scientific articles or reports and work in an international research team.

Objectives
The objective of the MSc program is to provide the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills that are required to take up a variety of challenges in acoustics. In particular, a project (case study) and two internships are planned; thus the program offers room for applying theoretical concepts to practical situations.
There are 27 Credits (ECTS) for optional courses in which students may deepen their knowledge in aeroacoustics, building acoustics, vehicle acoustics, sound perception, ultrasounds, vibro-acoustics or fluid-structure interactions.

General skills developed during the MSc program are:
- scientific communication in French and/or in English, which is trained during devoted language courses, scientific courses in English and oral defences of the project and internships.
- corporate life awareness via courses and seminars about project management, research policies, intellectual property etc. as well as during the internships.

Time effort
The overall number of hours per student is 500h during the first (M1) and 240h during the second year (M2), that is, 740 hours spread over the 3 first semesters.
Additionally, 4 to 12 weeks during S8 (M1) and 20-25 weeks during S10 (M2), that is, a minimum of 24 weeks of internship.

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The Certificate of Competence in Environmental Noise Measurement (CCENM) is designed for professionals working in acoustics, including environmental health officers, sound engineers and event managers who are looking to further their specialist knowledge and skills.

This five-day course seeks to provide delegates with a basic knowledge of the methodology of environmental noise measurement, including the use and accuracy requirements of sound level meters and analysers and to enable them be aware of the significance of measurement data against the framework of standards and legislation for environmental noise.

The aims of the course are to:

• Provide candidates with a basic knowledge of the methodology of environmental noise measurement, including, in particular, the use and of sound level meters and analysers.
• Provide candidates with an appreciation of the role of measurement data within the framework of standards and legislation for environmental noise.

After successfully completing the course, candidates should be able to:

• Make reliable measurements of background noise and noise from a variety of sources, according to the requirements of the relevant British Standard or guidance document.
• Present and interpret measurement data in a form suitable for inclusion in a report.
• Identify in outline the principle methods of noise control to mitigate the impact of noise on the community.
• Explain measurement methodology and the data acquired, appreciate the measurement content of reports and environmental appraisals and comment on proposals for noise impact mitigation.

This course is accredited by the Institute of Acoustics. Find out more:

http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/courses/course-finder/acoustics-certificate#course_tab_overview

LSBU has been offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, and houses the only centre for study with this level of facilities in the South-East of England, including full-size reverberant and anechoic chambers and an exceptionally well equipped and staffed laboratory, with access to the very latest instrumentation and technology.

The teaching team is mostly comprised by senior lecturers of the IOA courses and university postgraduate degrees in Acoustics, and you'll have access to our extensive on-site and electronic library and Learning Resource Centre to support your learning.

Modules

The course will cover:

Basic concepts and noise units
Instrumentation for environmental noise measurement
Noise indices and measurement methodology for environmental noise measurement
Environmental noise measurement in practice
Basic aspects of noise propagation
Exam assessment

Professional links

The certificate satisfies the educational requirements for Technician membership of the Institute of Acoustics (TechIOA).

Membership of this professional body can provide you with contacts and networking opportunities, and it's a good platform on which to build your career.

Employability

Students on this course will normally be in employment, but the course offers an opportunity to gain specialist knowledge that could help you stand out from your peers and provide you with skills that you can start using straight away in your day-to-day work.

Measurement of environmental noise is an increasingly important job for planning and regulating noise in a variety of areas, particularly in London, thanks to the wide range and speed of new infrastructure development.

LSBU offers both the IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control and MSc Environmental and Architectural Acoustics for those students wishing to pursue further study.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

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The IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control is widely recognised as the educational qualification of choice for professional practitioners in acoustics, noise and vibration. It can help you securing a career in related disciplines including environmental health, mechanical engineering, building services engineering, architecture, urban planning, health and safety and the music industry.

The Diploma provides sufficient specialist academic training to satisfy the educational requirements for membership of the Institute of Acoustics, the most highly regarded professional membership in the acoustics, noise and vibration industry. The Diploma has been taught since 1975 and is well-known for providing a high level training in acoustics and noise control.

This is a professionally focused qualification and practical work is an essential part of the course, giving you direct experience of modern practices and measurement equipment.

The course runs part-time (one day a week) over one year, so you can manage your studies around existing work commitments. You'll have access to our extensive on-site and electronic library and Learning Resource Centre to support your learning.

LSBU has been offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, and houses 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, with access to the very latest instrumentation and technology.

Members of the teaching team are all highly-experienced and award-winning. 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.

Successful completion of IOA Diploma exempts you from five out of eight modules of the LSBU MSc Environmental and Architectural Acoustics, if you decide to continue studying onto Masters-level.

Modules

General Principles of Acoustics (GPA)
Laboratory
Building Acoustics
Noise and Vibration control
Project

The GPA Module involves around 120 study hours including coursework and tutorials and each Specialist Module about half of this study time.

Teaching and learning

Students learn through a combination of tutorials, lectures, and off-site visits. The Laboratory module consists entirely of hands-on experiments, and the Project module is practical investigative work, conducted under the supervision of a tutor where necessary.

Members of the teaching team are all highly-experienced and award-winning lecturers. Senior IOA Diploma teacher Bob Peters is a member of the IOA education committee and author of book Acoustics and Noise Control (3rd edition), widely used by students studying the Diploma.

Professional links

This course meets the educational requirements for membership of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA). Membership of this professional body can provide you with contacts and networking opportunities, and it's a good platform on which to build your career.

The department has extensive links with industry. This means students have the opportunity to go on site visits, receive guest lectures, take part in research initiatives, go to networking events and collaborate on projects with professionals working in the field.

Teaching makes extensive use of industry case studies, consultancy and research to demonstrate theory and best practice. Some of our industrial links include:

• Sharpsredmore Partnership
• Brookfield Europe
• Anne Kyyro Quinn Design
• Peter Mapp Associates
• Vanguardia Consultants
• RBA Acoustics
• Capita Symonds
• London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Royal Academy of Music
• Sound Research Labs
• Telent Technical Services

Employability

This course provides the specialist academic training needed to satisfy the educational requirements for corporate membership of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) and it is recognised as a valid qualification towards achievement a Chartered Engineer status (CEng).

The Diploma is well regarded in other countries including the USA, Canada and Australia.

Graduates are particularly sought after in the acoustics, noise and vibration control related industries. Other industry sectors such as Architectural, Building Services Engineering, Sound Engineering, Health and Safety, Environmental Health and Civil Engineering seek this qualification for some of their employees and projects.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

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Awarded by the Institute of Acoustics, our course aims to equip you with a thorough understanding of the nature of noise and the ways in which it can be controlled in the environment, the workplace and in buildings. Extending over 12 months, our course is taught through lectures, laboratory classes and via our web-based Virtual Learning Environment. There is an emphasis on relating the theory of acoustics to the solution of practical noise problems.

- Research Excellence Framework 2014: 20% of our research in the Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care unit is world leading or internationally excellent.

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/acousticsandnoisecontrol_dip

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

Our diploma is highly regarded in the environmental protection field and is a required qualification for many senior posts in local authorities and private sector organisations. After graduating, you will be able to apply for professional membership of the Institute of Acoustics. Our University has excellent links with local employers, and many of our students have secured jobs in the consultancy and manufacturing sectors during or immediately after completing our course.

- Environmental Health Practitioner
- Acoustics Consultant
- Research Engineer

Careers advice:
Our dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course benefits

You will have access to our fully equipped state-of-the-art laboratory, with its anechoic and reverberation chambers and modern noise analysis equipment. Our course is taught by experience acoustic consultants, and we have very close links with local authority employers due to our established courses in environmental health, allowing you to develop your professional network.

Tim South

Course Leader

"Solving real-life noise problems is what we are most interested in. Our modern acoustics laboratory is at the heart of the course, and we bring years of practical experience right into the lecture room. Students tell us that's exactly what they need."

Course leader Tim South is a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics. When he is not teaching on this and other courses, he advises local public and private sector organisations on noise issues.

Facilities

- Acoustics Laboratory
Our fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory has anechoic and reverberation chambers as well as modern noise analysis equipment.

- Clinical Skills Suite
The £1 million suite has been designed to meet the learning needs of a range of health professionals, with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.

- Library
Our Library is one of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, our Library has you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

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If you have successfully completed the Institute of Acoustics (IoA) Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control, our course offers you the opportunity to extend your studies and convert your qualification into a masters award by studying two research modules. Not only will this allow you to enhance your professional study and meet your personal interests, but it could also increase your chances of obtaining work abroad, where an MSc is highly regarded.

The acoustics profession places great emphasis on the need for research-informed practice, and our course will provide you with an opportunity to develop the skills required to undertake research. Delivered over 12 months, you'll only need to attend University once a week in the first semester, meaning our course can fit around your work.

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/acoustics_msc

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

Our MSc is highly regarded in the environmental protection field and is a required qualification for many senior posts in local authorities and private sector organisations. We have excellent links with local employers, and many of our students have secured jobs in the consultancy and manufacturing sectors during or immediately after completing our course.

- Environmental Protection Officer
- Acoustic Consultant
- Acoustic Design Engineer

Careers advice:
Our dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course benefits

You will have access to our fully equipped state-of-the-art laboratory, with its anechoic and reverberation chambers and modern noise analysis equipment. Our course is taught by experience acoustic consultants, and we have very close links with local authority employers due to our established courses in environmental health, allowing you to develop your professional network.

Tim South
Course Leader

"Solving real-life noise problems is what we are most interested in. Our modern acoustics laboratory is at the heart of the course, and we bring years of practical experience right into the lecture room. Students tell us that's exactly what they need."

Course leader Tim South is a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics. When he is not teaching on this and other courses, he advises local public and private sector organisations on noise issues.

Facilities

- Acoustics Laboratory
Our fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory has anechoic and reverberation chambers as well as modern noise analysis equipment.

- Library
Our Library is one of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, our Library has you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

- Clinical Skills Suite
The £1 million suite has been designed to meet the learning needs of a range of health professionals, with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

Read less

With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces.

Architectural Science courses can be taken as single or double streams. In the double stream program, the core units from the secondary degree are taken as the electives in the primary degree. The double stream program is completed as 96 credit points over two years, allowing you to draw expertise from an aligned Architectural Science stream and prepare to pursue or develop your career within a wide range of areas in the built environment.


PRIMARY STREAM

The Audio and Acoustics program is unique in Australia and one of only a few comparable programs in the world. The program offers a balance of studio-based production subjects and theoretical and investigative subjects in acoustics and technical audio. It will suit candidates with an academic and/or professional track record in audio and related areas who wish to extend the breadth and depth of their expertise. This includes audio engineers, architects, interior designers, sustainable designers and musicians.

The program is supported by two audio studios and one of Australia's best acoustics facilities. The Acoustics Research Laboratory houses an anechoic room and reverberant room, and contains extensive state-of-the-art equipment for measurement and analysis including the only indoor environmental quality laboratory in the southern hemisphere. The audio studios consist of a recording studio and a 5.1 channel production studio. You will also be exposed to world-class research activity and have the opportunity to do research projects on your own.

SECONDARY STREAM

The High Performance Buildings program at the University of Sydney is unique in Australia. It offers the opportunity to pursue or develop an exciting career in the built environment field within a wide range of areas including building services, facilities management, architectural practice, business, sustainable design commercial development, property management and more. It is open to graduates from a range of disciplines including science, engineering, architecture, building and planning.

Created in close consultation with industry stakeholders, the program will train professionals who can collaborate with designers, construction teams and facilities managers to achieve sustainable outcomes that raise the bar for world's best practice. Studying with us, you will have access to world-class equipment and facilities, including the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) laboratory for research into the interaction of temperature, humidity, air movement and quality, ventilation, daylight, artificial lighting, sound and acoustics. You will be equipped with the professional skills to ensure maximum operational efficiencies, optimal comfort and ideal health outcomes for occupants of corporate and residential environments.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less

With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces.

Architectural Science courses can be taken as single or double streams. In the double stream program, the core units from the secondary degree are taken as the electives in the primary degree. The double stream program is completed as 96 credit points over two years, allowing you to draw expertise from an aligned Architectural Science stream and prepare to pursue or develop your career within a wide range of areas in the built environment.


PRIMARY STREAM

The High Performance Buildings program at the University of Sydney is unique in Australia. It offers the opportunity to pursue or develop an exciting career in the built environment field within a wide range of areas including building services, facilities management, architectural practice, business, sustainable design commercial development, property management and more. It is open to graduates from a range of disciplines including science, engineering, architecture, building and planning.

Created in close consultation with industry stakeholders, the program will train professionals who can collaborate with designers, construction teams and facilities managers to achieve sustainable outcomes that raise the bar for world’s best practice. Studying with us, you will have access to world-class equipment and facilities, including the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) laboratory for research into the interaction of temperature, humidity, air movement and quality, ventilation, daylight, artificial lighting, sound and acoustics. You will be equipped with the professional skills to ensure maximum operational efficiencies, optimal comfort and ideal health outcomes for occupants of corporate and residential environments.

SECONDARY STREAM

The Audio and Acoustics program is unique in Australia and one of only a few comparable programs in the world. The program offers a balance of studio-based production subjects and theoretical and investigative subjects in acoustics and technical audio. It will suit candidates with an academic and/or professional track record in audio and related areas who wish to extend the breadth and depth of their expertise—this includes audio engineers, architects, interior designers, sustainable designers and musicians.

The program is supported by two audio studios and one of Australia's best acoustics facilities. The Acoustics Research Laboratory houses an anechoic room and reverberant room, and contains extensive state-of-the-art equipment for measurement and analysis including the only indoor environmental quality laboratory in the southern hemisphere. The audio studios consist of a recording studio and a 5.1 channel production studio. You will also be exposed to world-class research activity and have the opportunity to do research projects on your own.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less

Why choose this course:

Our course aims to:
• build on professional acousticians’ basic acoustics knowledge and critically review and assess particular methods of assessment and control
• enable students who already have the IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control to top this up to a masters award
• provide students with the opportunity to tailor studies to meet the requirements of their work and research interests.

About the course:

If you’re a professional acoustician and would like to build on your existing knowledge, this course is for you.
Our academic staff are friendly, supportive, and approachable. They’re all experienced acousticians, and most are full and active members of the Institute of Acoustics.

Prior to this course, you will have completed the IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control. You will enter the MSc at the masters stage - your study will involve the completion of a research-based investigation, which can be practical or desktop-based, and will culminate in the submission of a thesis.

Your study can be work-based and therefore be of benefit to both you and your employer. For work-based investigations, we will liaise with you and your employer to ensure you achieve the academic goals required for an MSc award. The study will normally take one year to complete.

All of your learning will be available through distance learning (via online materials) and the course can fit in with your work and personal commitments. There are a number of online classrooms that you can participate in, as well as recorded presentations by academic staff.

Read less

With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces.

Architectural Science courses can be taken as single or double streams. In the double stream program, the core units from the secondary degree are taken as the electives in the primary degree. The double stream program is completed as 96 credit points over two years, allowing you to draw expertise from an aligned Architectural Science stream and prepare to pursue or develop your career within a wide range of areas in the built environment.


PRIMARY STREAM:

The Audio and Acoustics program is unique in Australia and one of only a few comparable programs in the world. The program offers a balance of studio-based production subjects and theoretical and investigative subjects in acoustics and technical audio. It will suit candidates with an academic and/or professional track record in audio and related areas who wish to extend the breadth and depth of their expertise—this includes audio engineers, architects, interior designers, sustainable designers and musicians.

The program is supported by two audio studios and one of Australia's best acoustics facilities. The Acoustics Research Laboratory houses an anechoic room and reverberant room, and contains extensive state-of-the-art equipment for measurement and analysis including the only indoor environmental quality laboratory in the southern hemisphere. The audio studios consist of a recording studio and a 5.1 channel production studio. You will also be exposed to world-class research activity and have the opportunity to do research projects on your own.

SECONDARY STREAM:

The Illumination Design program offers strong technical education in human visual perception, methods for quantifying light, lighting techniques and issues of sustainability. The course is suited to program architects, interior designers, engineers, ergonomists and related professionals looking to expand and deepen their knowledge in this area.

This program is one of only a few in the world, with an emphasis on producing qualified lighting designers through focus on the multidisciplinary background of lighting knowledge. It will develop your understanding of the relationship between lighting and allied-build environment disciplines as well as the interaction of optics, psychology and physiology. You will be given the preparation you need to adapt to technological changes and lead future breakthroughs.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less

With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces.

Architectural Science courses can be taken as single or double streams. In the double stream program, the core units from the secondary degree are taken as the electives in the primary degree. The double stream program is completed as 96 credit points over two years, allowing you to draw expertise from an aligned Architectural Science stream and prepare to pursue or develop your career within a wide range of areas in the built environment.


PRIMARY STREAM

The Audio and Acoustics program is unique in Australia and one of only a few comparable programs in the world. The program offers a balance of studio-based production subjects and theoretical and investigative subjects in acoustics and technical audio. It will suit candidates with an academic and/or professional track record in audio and related areas who wish to extend the breadth and depth of their expertise - this includes audio engineers, architects, interior designers, sustainable designers and musicians.

The program is supported by two audio studios and one of Australia's best acoustics facilities. The Acoustics Research Laboratory houses an anechoic room and reverberant room, and contains extensive state-of-the-art equipment for measurement and analysis including the only indoor environmental quality laboratory in the southern hemisphere. The audio studios consist of a recording studio and a 5.1 channel production studio. You will also be exposed to world-class research activity and have the opportunity to do research projects on your own.


SECONDARY STREAM

Sustainable design involves an approach to creating buildings that meets the world's need to reduce our impact on ecological systems. The built environment professions - including architects, engineers, urban designers and planners - are increasingly held responsible for the performance of their designs and projects, including accordance with promised environmental principles. Sustainable design skills are highly demanded by the construction and design industries, environmental consultancies, government agencies and in the day-to-day operation and management of commercial buildings. This program is tailored for design and related built-environment professionals who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in sustainable design.

Our integrated approach to Sustainable Design provides you with the knowledge you need to address sustainability considerations without compromising building functionality or profitability. You will combine the aesthetic approaches to design with a thorough understanding of energy efficiency, analysis and performance metrics. You will be exposed to ratings systems, myriad testing methods and will come to understand energy and resource use from ecological, economic and governance perspectives, as well as the storage and release of energy and how to design for both performance and comfort.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less

With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces.

Architectural Science courses can be taken as single or double streams. In the double stream program, the core units from the secondary degree are taken as the electives in the primary degree. The double stream program is completed as 96 credit points over two years, allowing you to draw expertise from an aligned Architectural Science stream and prepare to pursue or develop your career within a wide range of areas in the built environment.

PRIMARY STREAM

Sustainable design involves an approach to creating buildings that meets the world’s need to reduce our impact on ecological systems. The built environment professions—including architects, engineers, urban designers and planners—are increasingly held responsible for the performance of their designs and projects, including accordance with promised environmental principles. Sustainable design skills are highly demanded by the construction and design industries, environmental consultancies, government agencies and in the day-to-day operation and management of commercial buildings. This program is tailored for design and related built-environment professionals who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in sustainable design.

Our integrated approach to Sustainable Design provides you with the knowledge you need to address sustainability considerations without compromising building functionality or profitability. You will combine the aesthetic approaches to design with a thorough understanding of energy efficiency, analysis and performance metrics. You will be exposed to ratings systems, myriad testing methods and will come to understand energy and resource use from ecological, economic and governance perspectives, as well as the storage and release of energy and how to design for both performance and comfort.

SECONDARY STREAM

The Audio and Acoustics program is unique in Australia and one of only a few comparable programs in the world. The program offers a balance of studio-based production subjects and theoretical and investigative subjects in acoustics and technical audio. It will suit candidates with an academic and/or professional track record in audio and related areas who wish to extend the breadth and depth of their expertise—this includes audio engineers, architects, interior designers, sustainable designers and musicians.

The program is supported by two audio studios and one of Australia's best acoustics facilities. The Acoustics Research Laboratory houses an anechoic room and reverberant room, and contains extensive state-of-the-art equipment for measurement and analysis including the only indoor environmental quality laboratory in the southern hemisphere. The audio studios consist of a recording studio and a 5.1 channel production studio. You will also be exposed to world-class research activity and have the opportunity to do research projects on your own.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less