Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Students who do not have the above qualifications may be eligible to apply for Acoustical Engineering with Foundation Year (H008) at the University of Southampton. For BTEC applicants, Entry through the Foundation Year will usually be required.

English Language requirements

Equivalent Qualifications

Applicants who appear suitable from their application form are invited to a visit day when they will have an informal discussion with a member of academic staff. A topic of discussion will be the applicant’s suitability in terms of academic aptitude and evidence of motivation to study and interest in the subject.

While the average level entry onto our degree programmes is among the highest in the UK, we always look carefully at each individual application. In addition to your examination grades, we also take into account your personal statement and references. These give us an indication of your personal attributes and your enthusiasm for your chosen area of study.

All individuals are selected and treated on their relative merits and abilities in line with the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy. In accordance with the University’s commitment to inclusivity, we welcome applications onto this programme of study from students with disabilities. Disabled applicants will be treated according to the same procedures as any other applicant with the added involvement of the Disability Office to assess their needs. The programme may require adaptation for students with disabilities (e.g. hearing impairment, visual impairment, mobility difficulties, dyslexia), particularly any practical laboratory sessions, and we will attempt to accommodate students wherever possible.

Educational aims of the programme

The Acoustical Engineering undergraduate programme is unique in the UK in its combined coverage of acoustics and vibration within the framework of an accredited mechanical engineering degree. The aims of the programme are:

• To provide you with a firm foundation in a wide range of engineering disciplines that underpin acoustics through a core of compulsory engineering modules in years 1 and 2.
• To broaden and deepen your understanding of acoustics, vibration and other engineering disciplines through a range of specialist modules in years 3 and 4 (MEng only).
• To develop in you the necessary technical skills to fulfil the role of a professional acoustics and vibration engineer in a design, consulting or research environment.
• To provide a learning environment in which you are able to develop generic skills that are vital to management and leadership roles in engineering industry but also transferable to other occupations and pursuits unrelated to employment.
• To offer you a range of projects and realistic tasks that stimulate individual innovation, necessitate problem formulation and solving, promote self-assessment, and enhance communication and teamwork skills.
• To expose you to an intellectually challenging and world leading research environment to stimulate an attitude of enquiry and independent self-learning, and foster an ethos of life-long learning and professional development.
• To promote awareness of engineering in practice through interaction with industry, e.g. work placements, external speakers, industrial visits and industrial group design projects.
• To provide recognition of your skill set on completion of your studies through the award of a highly esteemed degree that meets the requirements of the Engineering Council for registration as a chartered engineer.

Teaching and learning methods

Knowledge and understanding

Knowledge and understanding are taught principally through lectures (typically classes of less than 30) and practical laboratories. Extensive use is made of tutorial exercises for private learning which is supported by one-to-one support in tutorial classes. Sometimes you are required to find out for yourself (e.g. from libraries and e-resources) what is relevant to solving a particular problem.

Intellectual skills

Problem solving skills are developed through personal study of tutorial exercises supported by tutorial classes and worked solutions. Such problems are typically well defined and conducive to hand calculation. The treatment of open ended problems which require defining and solution by numerical means are taught through individual and group assignments. The MATLAB programming language is used extensively. Commercial software is used where appropriate such as for CAD, Finite Element analysis and Architectural acoustics.

Whilst elementary design principles are generally taught through lectures, design skills are developed through design challenges which are often group based. Use is made of both hand drawn and CAD engineering drawings.

Analysis and interpretation of measured data is taught through experimental laboratories and design exercises.

Assessment methods

Knowledge and understanding is assessed principally by a combination of unseen written examinations and written assignments such as laboratory and design reports. The relative weightings vary from one module to another. Coursework essays are occasionally set for more qualitative subjects. Oral presentations are often used to assess knowledge and understanding of project work and to report information gathering and research based activities.

Problem solving by means of hand calculation is assessed by unseen written examination. More realistic open ended problem solving and design skills are assessed through written assignments and submitted engineering drawings.

The tutorial system

Every student is assigned a personal tutor when they start their university degree. Your year course tutor changes every year, but your personal tutor will stay the same throughout your time here. Your personal tutor will meet you when you enrol, and you will see him/her three or four times a term in the first year, for academic as well as pastoral support. Your personal tutor is accessible throughout your time in Southampton.

Research

Our research is relevant to your undergraduate course because you will be taught by people who are experts in their area of research. This is especially important for engineering and science subjects, where knowledge is advancing rapidly. This is particularly true for your final year. In your third year, you have the opportunity to do an individual research project.

Administration

The Faculty of Engineering and the Environment has a team of administrators who act as a point of contact for day-to-day advice and information for undergraduate students. They are also responsible for collecting assignments and issuing the documents and forms which are required during your period of study.

Programme leader

Dr Tim Waters