Acoustics and Music Technology MSc

The MSc in Acoustics and Music Technology is also offered as a part-time degree programme. The course load is half that for the full-time programme, with the dissertation work completed during the second summer period.

Teaching

The MSc is taught by a combination of:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• practical work

Students will receive training in the use of the Matlab prototyping environment, as well as Python.

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 accompanied by a presentation.

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.

This is a science and engineering focussed programme. 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.

Graduates of the MSc in Acoustics and Music Technology have gone on to work at more than 50 companies worldwide, including:

• Apple
• Microsoft
• Meta
• Yamaha
• Korg
• Native Instruments
• Arup.

Teaching spaces are in Alison House for core coursework, and some tutorials are held in central campus large computer labs. Students will also have access to various specialist facilities in the building, including:

• studio spaces
• VR/multichannel rooms
• practice spaces including access to our fleet of Steinway pianos.

Lauriston campus redevelopment

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 to April 2027.

The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.

The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.

You can find more about the project at the below link:

Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston Campus | Edinburgh College of Art

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

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.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which 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 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English 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.

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme

Additional costs

No additional costs.

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money
  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

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.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding