BSc Acoustics with Music

This course is closed for entry in September 2023 and September 2024

Learn to hear music in a new way, and discover how sound and vibration can affect us and the world around. This Acoustics with Music degree combines musical composition and critical analysis with acoustical engineering. Whether you sing opera, play guitar solos or make electronic dance music, we'll help you develop.

This degree provides a broad-based education in sound, hearing and technology as well as musical engineering, theory and performance. The modular nature of the course means you'll choose how you balance Acoustical Engineering and Music modules.

You'll use our extensive Music facilities, including:

dedicated rehearsal rooms

ensemble practice spaces

electronic studios

networked multimedia workstations

You'll study Acoustics at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, a leading centre for Acoustical Engineering. You'll use our world-class acoustic and engineering facilities, which include:

anechoic and reverberation chambers

an aeroacoustic wind tunnel

a virtual acoustics laboratory

a professional manufacturing centre

You'll also study hearing. You'll develop your understanding of how hearing works, for example the anatomy and physiology of the ear.

You'll study how we perceive sound; how the brain interprets information from the ears, including how hearing impairment affects the perception of sound and music. We need to understand the acoustics of how sound is produced by instruments and how the hearing system picks up and interprets sound information, to fully understand music perception. This degree will develop your understanding of both aspects of music perception.

In your final year you can choose to study modules in either acoustics, music or hearing. This will help you to develop specialisms for your career or further study.

Each year you can take tuition to improve your performance as a soloist or accompanist, and enhance your public performing experience.

At our Turner Sims concert hall, you can watch professional musicians perform. We support the most extensive series of professional concerts and workshops of any UK university.

You can also take a Year in Employment to enhance your employability and give you vital experience.