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Master'sDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Master’s in Sonar, Underwater Acoustics and Sensor Integration Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sonar, underwater acoustics and sensor integration engineering, structured in 12 modules covering underwater acoustics, propagation models, transducers, arrays and beamforming, signal processing, sonar principles, platform integration, non-acoustic sensors, testing and calibration, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Apply the physics of underwater acoustics.

02

Model sound propagation in the sea.

03

Design and calibrate transducers and arrays.

04

Develop signal processing algorithms.

05

Integrate acoustic and non-acoustic sensors on platforms.

06

Plan tests and calibrations to accredited procedures.

07

Assess the environmental impact of underwater noise.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Underwater acoustics engineers working on sonar and propagation.
  • Signal processing engineers developing detection and beamforming algorithms.
  • Transducer engineers designing and calibrating hydrophones and projectors.
  • Sensor integration engineers working on ships, submarines and UUVs.
  • Hydrographers using multibeam and side-scan sonar.
  • Acoustic test engineers running tank and sea trials.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the naval defence industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 18405 (underwater acoustics: terminology)
  • ISO 17208-1 (underwater acoustics: quantities and procedures for describing and measuring underwater sound from ships)
  • IEC 60565 (underwater acoustics: hydrophones and hydrophone calibration)
  • Directive 2008/56/EC (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)
  • IHO S-44 (standards for hydrographic surveys)
  • MIL-DTL-901E (shock tests for shipboard equipment)
  • ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (general requirements for the competence of testing laboratories)
  • MATLAB (Phased Array System Toolbox)
  • Bellhop (Acoustics Toolbox)
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Python (SciPy)
  • PZFlex (OnScale)
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Wave equation in fluids
  2. 1.2Speed of sound in the sea
  3. 1.3Sound speed profiles and sound channels
  4. 1.4Surface and seabed reflection
  5. 1.5Absorption in seawater
  6. 1.6Propagation loss
  7. 1.7Reverberation
  8. 1.8Ambient noise
  9. 1.9Civil applications of underwater acoustics
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of a sound speed profile
  1. 2.1Ray theory
  2. 2.2Normal modes
  3. 2.3Parabolic equation
  4. 2.4Wavenumber integration methods
  5. 2.5Selecting the right model
  6. 2.6Oceanographic databases
  7. 2.7Bathymetry and seabed type
  8. 2.8Environmental uncertainty
  9. 2.9Model validation
  10. 2.10Lab: propagation with Bellhop
  1. 3.1Piezoelectric materials
  2. 3.2Tonpilz transducers
  3. 3.3Hydrophones
  4. 3.4Broadband transducers
  5. 3.5Transducer calibration
  6. 3.6Directivity
  7. 3.7Power and efficiency
  8. 3.8Manufacturing and potting
  9. 3.9Tank testing
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: hydrophone calibration by comparison
  1. 4.1Array geometries
  2. 4.2Conventional beamforming
  3. 4.3Shading and sidelobes
  4. 4.4Adaptive beamforming
  5. 4.5Towed arrays: principles
  6. 4.6Hull-mounted arrays
  7. 4.7Conformal arrays
  8. 4.8Fibre-optic arrays
  9. 4.9Array calibration
  10. 4.10Lab: beamforming in MATLAB
  1. 5.1Sampling and digital filtering
  2. 5.2Spectral analysis
  3. 5.3Signal detection
  4. 5.4Detection theory and ROC curves
  5. 5.5Matched filter
  6. 5.6Broadband and narrowband processing
  7. 5.7Direction-of-arrival estimation
  8. 5.8Classification with machine learning
  9. 5.9Real-time processing
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: detection of a signal in noise with a matched filter
  1. 6.1Sonar equation
  2. 6.2Active sonar: concepts
  3. 6.3Passive sonar: concepts
  4. 6.4Side-scan sonar
  5. 6.5Multibeam echosounders
  6. 6.6Synthetic aperture sonar
  7. 6.7Hydrographic applications
  8. 6.8Fisheries and research applications
  9. 6.9Performance comparison
  10. 6.10Case study: sonar equation for a multibeam echosounder
  1. 7.1Integration on surface ships
  2. 7.2Integration on submarines
  3. 7.3Integration on unmanned underwater vehicles
  4. 7.4Platform self-noise
  5. 7.5Acoustic domes
  6. 7.6Electromagnetic compatibility
  7. 7.7Data interfaces
  8. 7.8Thermal management and power supply
  9. 7.9Sensor maintenance
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: self-noise budget of a platform
  1. 8.1Magnetometry
  2. 8.2Electromagnetic sensors
  3. 8.3Underwater optical sensors
  4. 8.4Bathymetric LiDAR
  5. 8.5Oceanographic sensors
  6. 8.6Underwater sensor networks
  7. 8.7Ocean observatories
  8. 8.8Multi-sensor fusion
  9. 8.9Calibration
  10. 8.10Lab: data fusion of oceanographic sensors
  1. 9.1Acoustic data fusion
  2. 9.2Contact tracking: principles
  3. 9.3Acoustic visualisation
  4. 9.4Operator interfaces
  5. 9.5Operator workload
  6. 9.6Automation and human oversight
  7. 9.7Recording and post-analysis
  8. 9.8Simulator-based training
  9. 9.9Performance evaluation
  10. 9.10Case study: design of a spectral analysis display
  1. 10.1Acoustic test tanks
  2. 10.2Lake and sea trials
  3. 10.3Calibration of complete systems
  4. 10.4Self-noise measurement
  5. 10.5Environmental testing
  6. 10.6Shock testing
  7. 10.7Measurement uncertainty
  8. 10.8Test documentation
  9. 10.9Accreditation of test laboratories
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: sea trial plan for an array
  1. 11.1Impact of underwater noise on marine mammals
  2. 11.2Marine Strategy Framework Directive
  3. 11.3Underwater noise indicators
  4. 11.4Mitigation measures
  5. 11.5IMO guidelines on ship noise
  6. 11.6Law of the sea
  7. 11.7Civil and defence dual use
  8. 11.8Export controls
  9. 11.9Professional ethics
  10. 11.10Workshop: acoustic mitigation plan for a survey campaign
  1. 12.1Definition of the acoustic problem
  2. 12.2State-of-the-art review
  3. 12.3Propagation modelling
  4. 12.4Transducer or array design
  5. 12.5Signal processing
  6. 12.6Platform integration
  7. 12.7Environmental analysis
  8. 12.8Conclusions
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB (Phased Array System Toolbox), Bellhop (Acoustics Toolbox), COMSOL Multiphysics, Python (SciPy) and PZFlex (OnScale), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for acoustic propagation modelling, transducer design and calibration, and signal processing and beamforming. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: ISO 18405, ISO 17208-1, IEC 60565, Directive 2008/56/EC, IHO S-44, MIL-DTL-901E, ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 18405, ISO 17208-1 and IEC 60565 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB (Phased Array System Toolbox), Bellhop (Acoustics Toolbox), COMSOL Multiphysics, Python (SciPy) and PZFlex (OnScale), in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A sonar and sensor integration project covering propagation modelling, transducer or array design, signal processing, platform integration and environmental analysis, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Propagation modelling
Model sound propagation for a given environment with Bellhop.
Hydrophone calibration
Calibrate a hydrophone by the comparison method.
Array beamforming
Implement conventional and adaptive beamforming in MATLAB.
Matched-filter detection
Detect a signal in noise using a matched filter and ROC analysis.
Master's Thesis
A complete sonar or sensor integration study with propagation, design, processing and environmental analysis, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Underwater acoustics engineerSignal processing engineerTransducer engineerSensor integration engineerHydrographerAcoustic test engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with MATLAB (Phased Array System Toolbox), Bellhop (Acoustics Toolbox), COMSOL Multiphysics, Python (SciPy) and PZFlex (OnScale), using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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