Acoustical Engineering with Foundation and Industrial Placement Year
Acoustical engineering is the specialism within engineering concerned with understanding and controlling sound and vibration and their effects on people, structures and the environment. It is a field with both a strong scientific foundation and an enormous range of practical applications, from the design of concert halls and noise barriers to the development of quieter vehicles, underwater sonar systems and hearing protection technology. The acoustical engineer must understand not only the physics of sound propagation and vibration but also the ways in which human beings perceive and are affected by sound, which makes the discipline genuinely interdisciplinary.
At the University of Southampton, this five-year programme is delivered at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, which is one of the leading centres for acoustical engineering in the world. The programme includes a foundation year for students who need to build their mathematical and scientific foundations before the main degree, as well as an industrial placement year that provides extended professional experience in an acoustical engineering or related environment. You will develop specialist knowledge of acoustics, vibration, signal processing, noise control and human response to sound, alongside a thorough grounding in engineering principles.
The combination of cutting-edge research infrastructure and placement-based industry experience means you will graduate with both technical depth and professional credibility.
Acoustical engineers work in industries including automotive and aerospace engineering, construction and architecture, broadcasting and audio technology, environmental consultancy and defence. The skills developed in sound measurement, modelling and control are also applicable in medical ultrasound, telecommunications and materials testing. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in acoustics, vibration engineering or related areas, while others move directly into professional roles in the sectors the Institute's research serves.
It is a niche and rewarding specialism with consistently strong employment prospects.