Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Acoustics and Music Technology MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Acoustics and Music Technology

Taking the science of sound as your focus, you’ll work in a cross-disciplinary environment. You will use theoretical and experimental work to explore the musical, technical and multimedia applications of acoustics and audio technology.

The emphasis of this programme is on science and technology in the context of musical and multimedia applications.

The programme aims to:

  • provide a broadly based, scientifically-oriented foundation in the area of acoustics, audio, and music technology
  • develop your skills in research, computation, design and analytical problem-solving
  • give you a strong understanding of music/audio technology
  • create a multidisciplinary learning environment that will prepare you for a future career

You can find more information on the Acoustics and Audio Group website.

Teaching

The MSc is taught by a combination of:

  • Lectures

  • Seminars

  • Tutorials
  • practical work

Assessment and dissertation

Courses are assessed through a combination of report submissions and written examinations.

In the final three months of the programme, you will carry out an individual project. This is assessed by the submission of a dissertation.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScAcoustics and Music Technology1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
MScAcoustics and Music Technology2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

In successfully completing this cross-disciplinary programme, you will gain and develop skills in the areas of:

  • acoustics
  • audio technology

As a graduate, you will have a thorough understanding of the appropriate technologies and the science underlying these areas.

A knowledge of the science behind music and audio technology will prove a great asset for your career in acoustics or audio engineering.

The highly transferable skills you’ll gain in communication and project management will take you further along whichever career path you choose.

The programme will also provide you with the perfect foundation for further study if you’d prefer to continue on an academic path.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a numerate discipline such as Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or Engineering.

Applicants with a Music or Music Technology degree may be considered, provided there is a significant component of mathematics and/or physics.

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application if you have professional experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Additional costs

No additional costs.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScAcoustics and Music Technology1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScAcoustics and Music Technology2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Programme Director, Professor Stefan Bilbao
  • Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7043
  • Contact: s.bilbao@ed.ac.uk
  • Postgraduate Admissions Office
  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • 57 George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9JU

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Programme Director, Professor Stefan Bilbao
  • Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7043
  • Contact: s.bilbao@ed.ac.uk
  • Postgraduate Admissions Office
  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • 57 George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9JU