What educational qualifications do I need?

You’ll probably need to study for a degree in maths, engineering or physics. You can also study for degrees in acoustics: Acoustical Engineering offered by the University of Southampton, Acoustical and Audio Engineering offered by the University of Salford. The degree at Southampton has a stronger emphasis on mechanical engineering, whereas the degree at Salford has pathways in environmental acoustics and audio engineering.  Edinburgh University offers a degree in Acoustics & Music Technology.

Although it is possible to start with degrees in music technology or environmental science, you will usually have to take a further course to acquire the skills required by the acoustic industry. This might be an MSc in Acoustics such as that at London South Bank University Environmental and Architectural Acoustics | London South Bank University (lsbu.ac.uk)  or the Institute of Acoustics’ Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control (Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control | ioa). The Diploma is the leading specialist qualification for the professional practitioner in acoustics. Successful completion of the Diploma is recognised by three Universities (London South Bank University, the University of Derby and Leeds Beckett University) as being the equivalent to the first year of their acoustically-related MSc courses (Applied Acoustics MSc at University of Derby (postgraduatesearch.com) and MSc Audio & Acoustics course | Leeds Beckett University).  Also, it is possible to study for individual modules of the Diploma (contact educationioa.org.uk (education[at]ioa[dot]org[dot]uk)).