Study options

Acoustics and Audio Technology - Computer, Communication and Information Sciences, Master of Science (Technology)

The major in Acoustics and Audio Technology equips students with a fundamental understanding of human hearing, audio perception, and physics of sound. The skills they acquire enable, for example, reducing noise pollution, planning harmonic environments and designing coherent sound experiences.
Three Aalto University students working in a acoustics laboratory
Get a Master’s Degree in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences – Acoustics and Audio Technology at Aalto University, the leading international and multidisciplinary university in the Nordics and Europe.

Degree:

Master of Science (Technology)

Application period:

30 Nov 2023 – 2 Jan 2024

Language of instruction:

English

Duration:

2 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of study:

Technology and Engineering

Credits:

120 ECTS

Organising school:

School of Electrical Engineering

Tuition fees:

For non-EU/EEA citizens, €15000/y (Master’s studies) Read more

Applying to master’s programmes

Description

Much of the built environment does not sound the way it does by chance but because someone designed it so. Acoustic engineering is an exciting future-proof field that shapes how the world sounds: it can, for example, help reduce noise pollution to make way for more harmonic environments and coherent sound experiences. The major in Acoustics and Audio Technology prepares students for outstandingly diverse career prospects and equips them with a fundamental understanding of human hearing, audio perception, and physics of sound. This is a one-of-a-kind Master’s programme with internationally renowned and award-winning professors as well as world-class study facilities, including the newly renovated Aalto Acoustics Lab.

Upon graduating from the Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences – Acoustics and Audio Technology, graduates will have:

  • Wealth of knowledge and skills to engineer a better sounding world. Graduates possess the knowledge and skills to take on leading positions in their desired career field.
  • Fundamental understanding of what is important from the human hearing point of view. Graduates are able to measure, understand perceptual aspects, and design the kind of acoustics that put the human listener first.
  • Extensive knowledge to conduct independent research and experiments. Graduates have the skills, understanding and support needed to practically solve acoustic and audio design cases.
  • Confidence in perceptual decision-making. Graduates know how to rely on the available sensory information and foster greater critical thinking when faced with problems to solve.
  • A sustainable approach to sound engineering. Graduates have learnt to master resource efficiency and some of them specialise in noise reduction which significantly contributes to better and more sustainable environments.

Webinar | Acoustics and Audio Technology

In this webinar, the programme representatives introduce Aalto University, give a programme overview, explain the programme structure and content, discuss career opportunities, and answer questions from the audience.

Watch the webinar recording
Students in the acoustics lab

Language of instruction

In the Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences – Acoustics and Audio Technology, the language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Aalto University’s tuition fee for master’s programmes taught in English is 15 000 euros per academic year. Tuition fees apply to citizens of countries other than those of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Aalto University has a scholarship programme to support non-EU/EEA citizens who study in a fee-charging degree programme. The scholarship may cover 100% or 50% of the tuition fee.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

The Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Acoustics and Audio Technology is organised by the School of Electrical Engineering and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:

  • Major studies (40-60 ECTS)
  • Possible minor studies (20-25 ECTS)
  • Elective studies (25-30 ECTS)
  • Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)

More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.

The programme is characterised by cutting-edge research which is also strongly incorporated in the teaching. Students benefit from 24/7 access to world-class acoustic laboratories, including three anechoic chambers, a standardised multichannel listening room, a variable acoustics room, sound-proof listening booths, and immersive audiovisual environments.

Practical experiments and exercises are an essential part of the learning methods. Students have practical assignments, get involved in building prototypes, and keep learning diaries. Our personnel favors assessment through submission of coursework and projects rather than exam-based assessments. The programme is also known for its excellent links with the audio industry which further strengthens the invaluable hands-on and real-life learning experiences.

Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences
Janne Pietilä/ Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Acoustics and Audio Technology/ image: Lauri Viljavuori

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Specialisations

The programme provides students with vast knowledge, expertise, and experience for them to improve and transform the way we hear the world. Results from recent research in acoustics and sound engineering are integrated in the courses. Sustainability is deeply integrated into the studies, both in terms of resource-efficient learning methods and topics that contribute to a healthier environment. To give an example of the future-facing content, one growing field is audio engineering for telepresence and 3D virtual reality technologies.

All the major courses of Acoustics and Audio Technology are intended to be studied during the first year of master’s studies. Thereafter, students can choose from a range of optional courses and specialise in an area of their choice such as audio processing, building acoustics, noise control, or speech technology. The spring term of the second year is dedicated to the Master's thesis.

All topics covered are targeted to enable students to excel in engineering for the human experience – there is always a human listener at the end of the acoustic communication channel. A central subject area is technical psychoacoustics, which covers acoustical and audio technologies that are based on the understanding of human hearing mechanisms. In the programme, students have the opportunity to delve deeper in their areas of interests, that are listed, but not limited to:

  • Audio Signal Processing (5 ECTS)
  • Speech Processing (5 ECTS)
  • Noise Control (5 ECTS)
  • Computer Graphics (5 ECTS)
  • Building Materials Technology (5 ECTS)
  • Electroacoustics (5 ECTS)
  • Virtual Acoustics (5 ECTS)

Internationalisation

The Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Acoustics and Audio Technology brings together a highly multicultural group of students – over half of them come from outside Finland. There are multiple opportunities to develop one’s global competence, such as spending a semester or taking a summer course at one of Aalto University’s partner universities around the globe. Some students carry out their practical training or even master’s thesis research abroad.

Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad every year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through their studies, but also through multiple free time events, celebrations and extracurricular activities around the campus. Active tutoring programs and support services work hard to help international students integrate to the Nordic culture and feel at home in Finland.

Further study opportunities

The programme qualifies for doctoral studies (Doctor of Science in an applicable field).

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Photo: Leonardo Fierro.

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Career opportunities

Graduates from the Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Acoustics and Audio Technology have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market and are set for a vast number of career opportunities in both vocational and academic fields. Since the topics taught are universal by nature, graduates can take their skills to any country in the world. Many of the students begin their career in R&D positions and later may move to sales and management positions. Some of our alumni have embarked on entrepreneurial journeys or pursued doctoral studies.

Examples of career paths our graduates have taken include:

  • Audio DSP engineer in the R&D department of big international companies, such as Nokia, Huawei, Microsoft, Apple, or Dolby
  • Acoustical consultant in the field of environmental noise or building acoustics in consulting firms such as Akukon, A-Insinöörit, or Helimäki Acoustics in Finland as well as in large international companies like Arup or AECOM
  • Acoustics and noise control expert in the heavy industry, such as ABB and Kone
  • Product development in small- and medium-scale firms and startup companies, such as Genelec, Neural DSP Technologies, Yousician, or Noiseless Acoustics
  • Entrepreneur in the field of radical innovation, with a focus on product innovation (e.g. speakers, headphones, or music technology)

Aalto University has well-established career services to support students’ employment in Finland and abroad. Thanks to the flexible curriculum, many Aalto students work already during their studies and guarantee themselves entry positions before graduation. There is also a very active entrepreneurship community at Aalto, working as a springboard for founding a company.

Craig Rollo / Aalto University alumni/ Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences - Acoustics and Audio Technology

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Research focus

The department of Information and Communications Engineering combines competence in different areas of research fields varying from ICT technology to core electrical engineering and its basic phenomena. We have deep industry-academia relationships both in research and teaching. With these companies, we boost practical applications that create societal impact.

Aalto University/The Acoustics Lab/Michael McCrea and Rapolas Daugintis/image: Ira Matilainen

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Co-operation with other parties

Besides the wide selection of courses available at Aalto University, students have the opportunity to include courses in their curriculum from other universities – even internationally. The major also regularly welcomes visiting students from other universities. The CCIS (Computer, Communication and Information Sciences) programme is in itself multidisciplinary, encouraging collaboration across disciplines.

Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom of choosing elective courses across the university bring students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.

Applying to master’s programmes

Study-option-specific application instructions

Applicants to the programme must meet the general eligibility and language requirements that are common to all Master's programmes in Aalto University.

Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria decided in advance for each study option. The applications to Acoustics and Audio Technology, Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences (CCIS) are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Evaluation criteria

Evaluation process and requested documents

The evaluation process is described under Applicant evaluation process. In addition to obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Requested documents.

Chat with Aalto students

Are you wondering what it is like to study at Aalto? Come chat with our students about all things Aalto on Unibuddy chat platform.

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4 student ambassafors taking a selfie

Get to know us

Videos related to Acoustics and Audio Technology

Take a look at videos produced by research groups in the Acoustics lab of Aalto University.

Aalto University / measuring the effect of wind on radiation from human voice / video image

Department of Information and Communications Engineering

The department of Information and Communications Engineering has a strong focus in the ICT area varying from ICT technology to core electrical engineering and its basic phenomena.

 Äänen viivettä on tutkittu Suomen hiljaisimmassa huoneessa Otaniemessä sijaitsevassa kaiuttomassa huoneessa.  Kuva: Aalto-yliopisto / Mikko Raskinen

Chat with Aalto students

Are you wondering what it is like to study at Aalto? Come chat with our students about all things Aalto on Unibuddy chat platform.

4 student ambassafors taking a selfie

Get to know Finland and Aalto

Finland’s excellent reputation in education, combined with a wide range of courses offered in English, makes Finland and Aalto University an attractive study destination for international students.

A guy peeks from behind fresh green birch branches. Photo: Aalto University / Unto Rautio

Contact information

School of Electrical Engineering

For enquiries regarding the application process, general application documents and language tests, please contact [email protected]. For enquiries regarding the content of programme, the studies at the School of Electrical Engineering and the study option specific application documents please contact [email protected].

[email protected]

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