MSc Applied Acoustics

Start date: September and January.

Course length: full time: over one year, part time: over two years

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

This course is for professional acousticians who want to build on their basic acoustics knowledge. It's often regarded as a top up qualification if you already have the IOA Diploma in Acoustics which means you can enter this course directly into stage two.

You can study this course full time or part time, which normally takes at least 12 months. The course is split into three stages and you gain a qualification after successfully completing each stage, ending with the full masters award once you've completed all three stages. 

All of your teaching materials will be available online, and you can take as many modules as you like at any one time, making this course very flexible to fit in with your work commitments. Some modules are delivered through online learning and some are delivered on campus. You'll be assessed through your coursework, which will include practical reports, case study scenarios, essays, and problem solving assignments.

Our academic staff are friendly, supportive and approachable, and they're all experienced acousticians with most having full membership of the IOA.

This course is made up of three stages – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

Postgraduate Certificate

This stage comprises the Institute of Acoustics Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control, details of the content are on page 22.

Postgraduate Diploma

At this stage you’ll take this module:

• Critical Issues in the Environment

You’ll also choose one of these modules:

• Environmental Noise Assessment
• Regulation of Noise and Vibration
• Occupational Noise and Vibration Assessment

Or you can take any other module from the Postgraduate Certificate stage.

MSc

You’ll take this module:

• Independent Scholarly Activity

Using your initiative, creative thinking and organisational skills, you will produce an independent piece of work of your choice during this triple module.

You'll normally need an honours degree or postgraduate qualification in a science or relevant discipline. It doesn't need to be in the acoustics area.

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• £755 per module (you usually take 9 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £10,760 (in total)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• £755 per module (you usually take 5 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £10,500 (in total)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

You'll study all of the modules by distance learning. You'll also be supported by online tutorials and presentations.

Most students studying this MSc programme are already in work, as it will enhance your career prospects and bring you up to date with the latest issues facing today's acousticians.
 
There's currently a shortage of noise consultants in the UK. As this course provides you with an opportunity to both enhance your skills as an acoustician and gain an MSc, you'll be in an excellent position to move ahead in your career.

"I'm extremely pleased to receive confirmation of my award for work on the MSc Applied Acoustics... I found it challenging, but thoroughly enjoyed it and have already applied some of the new skills in my day to day job."
John Penny, Environmental Protection Officer

"As a practicing acoustic consultant, I've found the MSc course to be extremely helpful. The applied nature and the stimulating coursework combine to ensure that students develop their expertise. Overall the course has allowed me to develop a more rounded, critical and analytical approach to acoustics and the issues and problems that we encounter in the field"
Dermot Moloney, Consultant, Moloney & Associates, Ireland

"I've found the course to be superb, relevant and up to date, and in line with emerging trends in the area of acoustics. It has been invaluable to me and my company in furthering knowledge on applied acoustics, occupational noise and vibration, noise mapping, environmental noise monitoring and various other applied applications... While the Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control makes one aware of the use of standards such as BS4142, BS8233 and so on, the MSc in Applied Acoustics provides an in depth knowledge of the limitations of the standards, which is very relevant when representing clients in court - it's a perfect follow on course to the Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control."
Diarmuid Keaney BEng, Consultant, ICAN Acoustics, Ireland