Acoustical and Audio Engineering

Acoustical and audio engineering is the discipline that applies physics and engineering to the behaviour of sound, whether the goal is to control noise in the built environment, design concert hall acoustics, develop hearing technology, build audio recording and reproduction systems, or create the sonic environments of film, broadcast, and games. Sound is a physical phenomenon governed by wave mechanics, and engineering it well requires both a rigorous understanding of its physical properties and the practical knowledge of the electronic and digital systems used to capture, process, transmit, and reproduce it. The field is technically demanding and creative, sitting at the boundary between science, engineering, and the arts.

At Salford, this three-year degree draws on the university's internationally recognised expertise in acoustics and audio research. You will study the physics and mathematics of sound, signal processing, electronics, audio engineering, architectural acoustics, and psychoacoustics, developing the scientific understanding and practical skills needed to work across the range of contexts in which acoustic and audio engineers operate. The degree includes a sandwich year in industry and work placement opportunities, giving you direct professional experience in studios, engineering consultancies, technology companies, or acoustic design firms before you complete your studies.

Salford's new acoustics institute represents a significant investment in the innovation and development capacity of the university, connecting academic research to applications ranging from AI-enabled hearing technology to environmental noise management.

Graduates of acoustical and audio engineering degrees move into careers in broadcast and recording studios, audio equipment design and manufacturing, architectural acoustic consultancy, environmental noise assessment, film and post-production sound, hearing technology development, and telecommunications. The combination of technical rigour and audio creativity makes graduates valuable across both engineering and creative industry contexts. Many pursue postgraduate study in acoustics, audio engineering, or signal processing, while others move into research and development roles in companies working at the frontier of hearing science and audio technology.