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There is a large and growing industrial need for engineers to control and mitigate noise and its effects, providing a healthy job market for appropriately trained graduates. This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work in environmental acoustics, whether in consultancy, local / central government or in research.
This MSc is aimed at graduates of numerate science and technology disciplines, either fresh from undergraduate study or as Continual Professional Development for persons already in service.The University of Salford has a long history of research and teaching in environmental acoustics - by taking this course you will be joining a community of alumni who can be found at the heart of many leading organisations both in the UK and internationally.
You will study core topics including architectural acoustics, psychoacoustics, dynamics and vibration, computer modelling and measurement. Beyond this, the course provides specialist modules in environmental noise monitoring and noise control. Further specialisation is then developed in the Project module.
You will be based in the university’s internationally-renowned Acoustics Research Group. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework panel praised our outputs, saying that the Salford submission showed “particular strengths in acoustics”, and our industrial links led our REF impact case study to be singled out by the EPSRC and Royal Academy of Engineering for highlight the economic benefits of engineering and training.
This course is accredited by the Institute of Acoustics for the purposes of meeting the educational requirements for Corporate Membership of the Institute. Graduates may attain Engineering Council registration via the Institute of Acoustics.
This course offers a variety of flexible study formats, including full and part-time modes, either on campus or via distance learning. Those considering part-time study should bear in mind that the programme is intensive, and that generally, we advise that part-time means half time, i.e. you would need to allocate half the week to you studies ≈ 19 working hours.
This course comprises eight 15 credit taught modules, followed by a 60 credit project module leading to the dissertation. For full-time students, the taught modules all take place in trimesters one and two, followed by the project module in trimester three. For part-time students, the taught modules are spread over trimesters one and two of two years, followed by the project module in year three.
The majority of teaching and learning takes place through tutorial and seminar groups. There is a strong focus on guided self-learning. 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 ‘Measurement, Analysis and Assessment’ and ‘Environmental Noise Measurement’ modules also include practical group work.
All 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 cohorts. Distance learning students are able to stream classes via our Virtual Learning Environment, either to participate live or watch back later.
Our MSc Environmental Acoustics 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 increasing demand from companies wanting to employ graduates understanding acoustics. 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. Many other businesses employ specialists in acoustics from Salford: Apple, Bentley and JLR to name a few. Our reputation in acoustics means that our graduates have an excellent chance of quickly finding a job, and many employers come directly to Salford to recruit graduates from our courses.
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. Students also go on to study for a higher degree by research, here at Salford or elsewhere.
Acousticians with engineering, science and mathematical skills are currently in short supply, and Salford MSc Acoustics graduates are in a very strong position in the jobs market. Salford University has over 25 years’ experience of placing graduates in key audio and acoustic industries carrying out consultancy, research, development and design. These include well-known companies such as Apple, Dolby and the BBC, and with almost every major acoustic consultancy in the world.
Typically our graduates go into:
Staff have strong links with industry either through collaborative R&D projects with industry through the Acoustics Research Centre and our commercial test laboratories. These all help to keep the MSc Acoustics up to date with the current needs of industry, including the latest research findings. This course is an exemplar of the University’s Industry Collaboration Zones (ICZs) strategy- our single strategic priority.
The generation, manipulation and reproduction of high quality audio are core elements of the rapidly expanding communication, entertainment, music and sound engineering industries. This course is aimed at graduates of numerate science disciplines, who wish to make the transfer into this exciting and growing sector. Building on the engineering fundamentals you already know, it will provide you with the specialist expert knowledge required to become a future leader in audio technology. The University of Salford has a long history of research and teaching in audio and acoustics - by taking this course you will be joining a community of alumni who can be found at the heart of many leading organisations both in the UK and abroad.
You will study core topics including architectural acoustics, psychoacoustics, dynamics and vibration, computer modelling and measurement. Beyond this, the course provides specialist modules in digital signal processing and advanced loudspeaker and microphone design. Further specialisation is then developed in the Project module.
You will be based in the university’s internationally-renowned Acoustics Research Group. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework panel praised our outputs, saying that the Salford submission showed “particular strengths in acoustics”, and our industrial links led our REF impact case study to be singled out by the EPSRC and Royal Academy of Engineering for highlight the economic benefits of engineering and training.
This course is accredited by the Institute of Acoustics for the purposes of meeting the educational requirements for Corporate Membership of the Institute. Graduates may attain Engineering Council registration via the Institute of Acoustics.
This course offers a variety of flexible study formats, including full and part-time modes, either on campus or via distance learning. Those considering part-time study should bear in mind that the programme is intensive, and that generally, we advise that part-time means half time, i.e. you would need to allocate half the week to you studies ≈ 19 working hours.
This course comprises eight 15 credit taught modules, followed by a 60 credit project module leading to the dissertation. For full-time students, the taught modules all take place in trimesters one and two, followed by the project module in trimester three. For part-time students, the taught modules are spread over trimesters one and two of two years, followed by the project module in year three.
The majority of teaching and learning takes place through tutorial and seminar groups. There is a strong focus on guided self-learning. 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 ‘Measurement, Analysis and Assessment’ module also includes practical group work.
All 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 cohorts. Distance learning students are able to stream classes via our Virtual Learning Environment, either to participate live or watch back later.
Our MSc Audio Acoustics 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 (smart speakers), at work (virtual and augmented environments) and in transport (car audio or ‘infotainment’).
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 from Salford: Apple, Bentley, JLR 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 our area) employ graduates from our courses. Students also go on to study for a higher degree by research, here at Salford or elsewhere.
Acousticians with engineering, science and mathematical skills are currently in short supply, and Salford MSc Audio Acoustics graduates are in a very strong position in the jobs market. The University of Salford has over 25 years’ experience of placing graduates in key audio and acoustic industries carrying out consultancy, research, development and design. These include well-known companies such as Apple, Dolby and the BBC, and with almost every major acoustic consultancy in the world.
Typically our graduates go into:
In 2013, A survey of 500 of our acoustic and audio alumni found 1 in 5 of our graduates live outside the UK and 45% are in Senior jobs or are Directors. The 6 most popular industries were: research (15%), environmental (11%), university (10%), construction (9%), architecture (9%) and consumer electronics (6%).
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.
Enhance your understanding of acoustics and the way noise can be controlled in the workplace, in buildings and in the wider environment.
We offer the highly-regarded Institute of Acoustics (IoA) Diploma and the opportunity on successful completion to progress to a masters award by studying two research modules. Taught through lectures, laboratory classes and via our Virtual Learning Environment, emphasis will be given to studying the theory of acoustics and how this knowledge can be applied to develop practical solutions to noise problems.
Both courses are part-time with attendance on campus limited to half a day per week. The IoA Diploma will enable you to work as an acoustics specialist and it can enhance existing careers in construction, architecture or music technology. Undertaking the MSc will ensure your professional practice is informed by the very latest research, and your qualification will be well regarded both here and abroad.
This qualifications is well respected in the environmental protection field. The IoA Diploma is a required qualification for many senior posts in local authorities and private sector organisations, and you will be able to apply for professional membership of the IoA after graduating from this course. We have excellent links with employers, and many of our students have secured jobs in the consultancy and manufacturing sectors during or immediately after completing their course.
This leading-edge programme, established before many in the built environment field were aware of greenhouse gases, has produced a stream of high-achieving graduates sought after by the biggest names in building design and the construction industry. We attract students from across the globe eager to find positions worldwide or to take relevant, cutting-edge thinking about sustainable building design back to their own part of the world.
The programme aims to develop students' knowledge and expertise in problem solving in the area of the built environment, and provide a framework for developing innovative thinking in the design and operation of buildings, placing associated environmental issues in a global, national and personal context.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and a built environment dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months) is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
The availability of all optional modules is subject to demand.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students submit a 10,000-word report on a topic related to the main themes of the programme. The topic can be chosen to enhance career development or for its inherent interest.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of interactive seminars, individual and group tutorials, site visits and a residential field trip. Assessment is through unseen examination, coursework, and the built environment report. Joint coursework, including two major low-energy architectural design projects, is carried out by students in multidisciplinary teams.
Fieldwork
Students will have the opportunity to participate in field trips and site visits including a residential trip to the Centre for Alternative Technology in North Wales.
Travel, accommodation and activities for the residential field visit is free. Travel costs for site visits or fieldwork within the London area (zones 1-6) accessible by public transport is covered by students. Otherwise, travel is covered by the programme.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering MSc
Most students who complete the programme move into, or continue in, a building-related profession, such as architecture, low-energy design consultancy, or building services engineering. As the awareness of global environmental issues increases, the demand for people with expertise in the health and energy performance of buildings is expanding rapidly. A number of students have used the MSc as a foundation for MPhil/PhD research.
First destinations of recent graduates include: Neapoli, XC02, Max Fordham, Arup, WSP, Atkns, Buro Happold, PassivSystems, EnergyExcel, local authorities, Foster and Partners, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
This programme is very "close to market" with many students finding jobs even before their studies have finished: the skills students gain are those that employers need. For example, we teach several tools used by commercial companies including the thermal analysis software IESVE. Students can walk straight into jobs where these are used and be useful immediately. Students sometimes take placement positions while working on their dissertations; in recent years this has included overseas options, for example, with Neapoli in Malaysia. Graduates often contact us through our strong alumni network to recruit for new positions, listening to their feedback ensures we keep the programme relevant to industry needs.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The UCL Bartlett is the UK's largest multidisciplinary Faculty of the Built Environment, bringing together scientific and professional specialisms required to research, understand, design, construct and operate the buildings and urban environments of the future.
Located in London, the UCL Bartlett is at the heart of a large cluster of creative architects and engineering firms, next to the UK's seat of government and finance and has all the resources of a world city to hand. It offers unrivalled networking opportunities, with alumni in the majority of the major firms in London, who often give lectures to students and appear at networking events.
The multidisciplinary faculty contains the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, which has been ranked first for Architecture in the UK for many years, and is characterised by a high level of invention and creativity. The school is internationally known as a centre for innovative design.
Accreditation
This course has been accredited as suitable further learning to meet the academic requirement for Chartered Engineers (CEng) by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Energy Institute.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources
81% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This programme builds upon the ever-increasing professional and research interest in the sector. It equips professionals with the skills, knowledge and networks needed to drive sustainable innovation for health and wellbeing in the design, retrofit and operation of buildings. Based at The Bartlett, the UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering is a world-leading research centre.
During the course students will:
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and a dissertation report (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits - full-time 9 months or modular/flexible 2-5 years) is offered. The programme consists of eight modules (15 credits each).
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits - full-time 4-7 months or modular/flexible 2-5 years) is offered. The programme consists of four modules (15 credits each).
Core modules
In addition to core modules, student learning is supported via supplementary activities including: dedicated tutorials for specialised software, case study visits, a residential field visit, an introduction to building physics, and opportunities to attend selected events with international experts.
Optional modules
Students choose two of the following:
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project culminating in a 10,000-word report.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, interactive workshops, tutorials and lab demos. Assessment is through coursework, design reports, written examinations and a dissertation.
Fieldwork
The programme includes case study visits and a residential field visit. Fieldwork activity may be required for selected coursework – if so this is likely to take place within the London area.
Travel, accommodation and activities for the residential field visit is free. Travel costs for site visits or fieldwork within the London area (zones 1-6) accessible by public transport is covered by students. Otherwise, travel is covered by the programme.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc
It is anticipated that students taking this programme will find employment in architectural or engineering companies, and specialist consultancies dedicated to the design and/or evaluation of sustainable buildings with a strong focus on health, wellbeing and human performance (e.g. productivity).
Additional career paths may be found within in-house building design and operational teams, and in public sector agencies or government departments concerned with built environment, public health and/or other health, wellbeing and sustainability issues.
Employment opportunities may also be available in relevant product or service innovation companies. The MSc can provide a foundation for MPhil/PhD research.
Employability
Students gain hands-on experience of monitoring environmental conditions, gathering and evaluating human responses, applying industry standards, and simulation tools similar to those used by commercial companies for building performance evaluation.
Successful graduates will understand how to communicate to different stakeholders, and develop the business case for improved health, wellbeing and productivity in buildings. Our advisory group of industry experts has helped us shaping a curriculum with employability in mind.
As awareness increases of the impacts that the built environment can have on health, wellbeing and sustainability, so too does the demand for professionals with relevant expertise.
The UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (UCL IEDE) has proven research and teaching excellence in built environment, sustainability and health research.
The UCL Bartlett is the UK's largest multidisciplinary faculty of the built environment, bringing together scientific and professional specialisms. Our high-achieving graduates are sought after by the biggest names in the built environment industry.
The degree facilitates networking with industry leaders, including meeting members of the MSc Advisory Group and selected opportunities for industry-related dissertation projects
Located in London, we are at the heart of a large cluster of creative architects and engineering firms and next to the UK's seat of government and finance. We offer unrivalled networking opportunities, with alumni employed throughout the major firms in London who often give lectures and attend networking events.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources
81% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Current standards place considerable value on the sustainability, performance and comfort of new building developments. As resource costs continue to rise and client expectations on design, comfort and energy features change; the industry will look to graduates with specialist design skills and a strong working knowledge of building simulation, acoustic performance and energy assessment to help bring new projects to life.
To help you fill this industry need, our master’s course in advanced building simulation places a unique emphasis on the computer simulation of acoustic and thermal performance. You will leave the course with the practical skills required to design a high performance building and confidently consult on all aspects of its technical specifications.
Units cover a range of relevant subjects, with a choice of optional units enabling you to tailor the curriculum to your own unique aspirations and interests. Early units introduce the concept of sustainable building design and explore how the form, fabric, and equipment of a building affect its environmental impact. This learning will be reinforced as you take part in a live design project.
Units on the computer simulation of thermal and acoustic performance will see you working with industry-standard software packages and algorithms. This also links into the building assessment unit, where you will learn how globally recognised assessment methods like BREEAM and LEED help to inform the sustainable design process and benchmark success. Graduates will leave the course with BREEAM accreditation.
Although the BREEAM Accredited Graduate course is free to study, students are required to pay for the course certificate if they are successful in achieving the qualification. As of 2016, the cost of the certificate is £30.
You’ll also benefit from the teaching team’s extensive industry links. These links have been built over many years of delivering courses accredited by professional organisations (e.g. CIAT, CIOB, SBID and CABE). Practitioners from a cross-section of the built environment industry regularly contribute to the academic process by providing real-world projects, guest lectures, mentoring sessions and site visits.
Building standards are constantly under review and the industry is always striving to create buildings with higher efficiency specifications. Graduates of this course will be in an excellent position to help drive this progress.
Suitable roles for graduates include: sustainability consultant, thermal and sound specialist, BIM developer, energy consultant, acoustics consultant and architectural engineering.
Graduates will also be well placed to carry out academic research that contributes to a PhD.
This innovative course is designed to appeal to candidates from a wide range of built-environment related disciplines. The curriculum is designed to be creative and inclusive, and provides the opportunity to undertake either a dissertation of a technical nature or a design-based final major project.
Solent can offer building simulation students access to a range of professional resources and facilities. These include high-spec computers; industry standard modelling and simulation software; built-environment workshops and modern teaching spaces. Shared resources include the 24-hour library, bookable independent study space and numerous leisure facilities.
Students benefit from the teaching team’s extensive industry links, built over many years of delivering courses accredited by professional organisations (e.g. CIAT, CIOB, SBID and CABE). Practitioners from a cross-section of the built environment industry regularly contribute to the academic process by providing real-world projects, guest lectures and site visits; as well as working with students in small mentoring groups. Students will also benefit from our collaboration with BRE Academy and our delivery of the BREEAM Accredited Graduate Programme.
