Overview
The only university for acoustics studies in the Southeast of the UK
Our professionally focused degree gives you direct experience of modern measurement equipment and techniques. We've been offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, and house the best facilities in the South-East of England, including a full-size reverberant and anechoic chambers, as well as an exceptionally well equipped laboratory, featuring the very latest instrumentation and technology.
Our anechoic chamber was featured by UNILAD:
Why Environmental and Architectural Acoustics at LSBU?
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- Offering courses in Acoustics for over 35 years, we house 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.
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- Our teaching team are award-winning. All are actively involved in research and consultancy, drawing on the latest industry developments in both lectures and practical work.
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- We showcase the high quality output of our acoustic group on the LSBU Acoustic blog.
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- 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.
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- Ranked 2nd amongst London competitors for Student satisfaction in Civil Engineering (Complete University Guide 2021).
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- Ranked 1st amongst London Modern competitors for Research Quality in Civil Engineering (Complete University Guide 2021).
We also run an IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control.
| ModeFull-time | Duration12 months | Start dateSeptember | Application code5226 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| ModePart-time | Duration24 months | Start dateSeptember | Application code5228 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| ModeFull-time | Duration16 months | Start dateJanuary | Application code5227 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| ModePart-time | Duration28 months | Start dateJanuary | Application code5229 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Course Accreditations
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CIBSE
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IOA
Location
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.
Entry Level Requirements
- A Bachelor degree equivalent to UK 2:2 in a relevant subject.
- Applications are also welcomed from those without the required qualifications that possess the life/work skills that would make them suitable to study at this level. Those applicants holding an Institute of Acoustics Diploma will be exempted from the appropriate taught units.
Choose your country
Select country here:
Missing English and Maths qualifications?
If you do not have the required English and Maths qualifications needed to satisfy the entry requirements for this programme, we have courses available at our partner College that you can take to upskill in these areas. Find out more at South Bank College.
United Kingdom
£11000
Tuition fees for home students
International
£15500
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees for Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses.
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Full-time
full-time
MSc Environmental And Architectural Acoustics (FT) (JAN) - Year 1
UK fee: £11000 International fee: £15500 AOS/LSBU code: 5227 Session code: 1FS00 MSc Environmental and Architectural Acoustics (FT) - Year 1
UK fee: £11000 International fee: £15500 AOS/LSBU code: 5226 Session code: 1FS00
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
Possible fee changes
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
Postgraduate loan (PGL) for Masters study
If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.
Scholarships
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
Fee status
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
International students
The course is not currently open to international students.
International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Home
| Mode Full-time | Duration 12 months | Start date September | Application code 5226 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| Mode Part-time | Duration 24 months | Start date September | Application code 5228 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| Mode Full-time | Duration 16 months | Start date January | Application code 5227 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| Mode Part-time | Duration 28 months | Start date January | Application code 5229 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Accommodation
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
Finance
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
Postgraduate Application Service
Book a session with one of our specialist Postgraduate Advisors. Over a one on one Advice Session they'll advise you on postgraduate degrees at LSBU that match your interests and experience.
Prepare to start
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Enrolment
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
As well as being directly relevant to the practice of acoustics, our modules consider the broader aspects of investigation and control of the built environment. Individual modules can be taken separately as part of continuing professional development.
- Acoustics Laboratory
The module is designed to teach, at an advanced level through experimental methods, the physical mechanisms by which noise may be created, as well as to provide the students with the analytical and practical skills that they require controlling noise and vibration from a variety of sources. - Architectural Acoustics
The module provides specific acoustics knowledge as relevant to buildings and in particular rooms. The student should have an understanding of room acoustics, measurement of room acoustic parameters and the various means of modelling the sound field in rooms across the frequency range. - Theoretical Acoustics
The module is designed to teach, at an advanced level, the physical mechanisms by which noise may be created, as well as to provide the students with the analytical and practical skills that they require controlling noise and vibration from a variety of sources. - Energy Resource, Materials and Use Analysis
The unit examines sources and availability of traditional fuels and their environmental impacts, and the need use them efficiently and economically. It explores the thermodynamic and economic analysis of energy supply technologies including power cycles and combined heat and power plant. It will investigate sustainable building materials and life cycle assessment of building materials. - Sound and Vibration Engineering
This module teaches, at an advanced level, the physical mechanisms by which sound and vibration may be created, as well as to provide the students with the analytical and practical skills that they require to control noise and vibration from a variety of sound sources. - Thermal Environment Acoustics and Lighting
This module introduces the concepts of comfort within buildings, the processes and characteristics that determine the quality of the internal built thermal, acoustic & visual environment and how these are affected by the external environment with due consideration to energy efficiency, sustainability, and net zero. - Energy Engineering Project
The module is a culmination of the course where the knowledge and skills gained are applied to a specific investigation, either design or research based. The student should be able to analyse the technical performance, environmental impact and economic feasibility of the project. The results should be in a form comparable to industrial standards, based on current guidelines or regulations.
Assessment
| Module title | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustics laboratory | 100% Coursework | |
| Architectural Acoustics | 100% Coursework | |
| Theoretical Acoustics | 50% Examination | 50% Coursework |
| Energy Resource, Materials and Use Analysis | 50% Examination | 50% Coursework |
| Sound and Vibration Engineering | 100% Coursework | |
| Thermal Environment Acoustics and Lighting | 50% Coursework | 50% Examination |
| Energy Engineering Project | 100% Coursework | |
Facilities
Take a tour of the acoustics labs below.
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
- 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
Facilities
Take a tour of the acoustics labs below.
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:
Careers
Employability Service
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
- An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
- Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
This course 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.
Over the past decade a very high proportion of our students have found employment in acoustics and related industries. Typically one or two outstanding students per year go on to undertake research on our sponsored PhD programme.
The supply of new acoustics graduates from UK universities has rarely met the number of job opportunities available in acoustics consultancy. This is particularly true at the moment, when the industry is struggling to recruit sufficient numbers of graduates within a growing sector.
Russell Richardson, Director, RBA Acoustics
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 of Acoustics or the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
Our past graduates include award winners and successful figures within the industry:
- John Hinton, past president, IOA
- Simon Kahn, Technical Director, Mott MacDonald
- Dani Fiumcelli, Acoustics Technical Director, Temple Group Ltd.
- Russell Richardson, Director, RBA Acoustics
- Peter Mapp, Principal, Peter Mapp Associates
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.
Acoustics is a very dynamic and diverse industry, with a lot of centre in the South-East with full-size reverberant and anechoic chambers as well as an exceptionally well equipped laboratory. Their teaching rwam are award-winning and actively involved in research and consultancy, drawing on the latest industry developments in both lectures and practical work.
- Jack Harvie-Clark, Managing Director of Apex Acoustics
Many new buildings need careful acoustic design to make them sound good, protect them from nearby noise sources, 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.
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. (www.ioa.org.uk)
Other areas you could work in include audio engineering, noise control and product sound, musical acoustics, speech and hearing, ultrasound, and underwater acoustics.
If there is a clear link between the number of job ads and growing economic prosperity, then it would appear that the acoustics sector is enjoying something of a boom.
Institute of Acoustics
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
- Anne Kyyro Quinn Design
- Peter Mapp Associates
- Vanguardia Consultants
- RBA Acoustics
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Royal Academy of Music
- Sound Research Labs
- Telent Technical Services
Recent guest lecturers include:
- Peter Mapp, Peter Mapp Associates (PA System Design)
- Bob Peters, AAD Consultants
- Professor Mike Barron, Partner, Fleming and Barron Acoustics Consultants
- Simon Kahn, Technical Director, Mott McDonald Acoustics
- Andrew Parkin, Acoustics Partner, Cundall Acoustics
Accreditation
This course meets the educational requirements for membership of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA). Membership can provide you with contacts and networking opportunities, so it's a good platform on which to build your career. It is also accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).
Teaching and Assessment
Half of your teaching time will be spent in the laboratory, reflected in the balance between coursework and exams.
Our teaching team is award-winning, and you'll enjoy guest lectures from world experts. 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.
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.
