Why choose this programme

Since the?Institute of Sound Recording was created in 1998, it has become known internationally as a leading centre for research in psychoacoustic engineering, with world-class facilities and significant funding from research councils and industry.

Our primary goal is simply this: to make sound better.

We’re interested in human perceptions of audio quality, particularly of high-fidelity music signals. Our work combines elements of acoustics, digital signal processing, psychoacoustics (theoretical and experimental), psychology, sound synthesis, software engineering, statistical analysis and user-interface design, with an understanding of the aesthetics of sound and music.

Our research aims to provide tools to assist in any area where assessment of the quality of audio as perceived by human listeners is desirable but, for one reason or another, potentially problematic; and to provide complementary tools to allow appropriate adjustment where the assessed quality is not as it should be. More generally, we aim to engineer perceptually-motivated signal analysis, processing and control systems.

What you will study

Our Audio Engineering PhD will prepare you for success at each stage of your project. The structure is designed to provide intensive graduate preparation for a future career and is suitable for either part-time or full-time candidates. You can also study for an MPhil with us; the differences between an MPhil and PhD is in the volume, originality and significance of the work you will do.

You’ll begin your project with a thorough review of previously published academic literature in relevant areas, which will lead to a critical/analytical report. The conclusions to this report will suggest an appropriate next step, which will normally be some sort of experimental study, designed to test a hypothesis you have formulated from your literature review.