Sound and Vibration

We are affected by sound and vibration in our daily life. Beyond this basic shared experience, “sound and vibration” as an interdisciplinary subject incorporates fields as diverse as physics, mechanics, physiology, signal processing, psychology and electrical engineering. Sound and vibration properties are critical for the function and quality of environments, products and transportation.

Today the design of e.g. high-speed trains, cars, transport infrastructure and buildings is strongly influenced by the performance requirements for sound and vibration properties.

The main aim of the programme is to educate specialists in the field of sound and vibration who contribute to a competitive and innovative industry and to a sustainable society where the negative effects of noise and vibration on the natural and urban environments and people’s health and well-being are diminished.

Who should apply

The programme is designed for students with a high level of interest in interdisciplinary work where engineering skills are applied to increase the level of comfort and health of people. It is suitable for students with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, urban planning, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, engineering mathematics, architecture and engineering or architectural engineering.

Why apply

With its breadth, the programme is unique in Sweden. Students can specialise in the field of noise control engineering, architectural acoustics or environmental acoustics. Cooperation with other Scandinavian universities enables the range of specialisations to be further extended (e.g. underwater acoustics, musical acoustics).
As a specialist in sound and vibration, graduates have a wide application area in which to work that extends from the vehicle industry to audio technology. The educational profile enables students to find professional opportunities as specialists all over the world, especially in Europe where there is a clear need for specialists in the field

Research connections

The Division of Applied Acoustics is one of the leading acoustics laboratories in Europe. Having initiated and coordinated numerous EC projects, it is a strong international player in the research field. At the same time, it has a strong basic research profile. We have good relationships with most of the well-established acoustics laboratories in Europe (e.g. ISVR, UK, ITA Berlin and INSA Lyon), including regular exchange on both student and PhD level.

Industrial cooperation partners include Swedish vehicle manufacturers (Volvo Trucks (AB), Saab Automobile AB, Bombardier, as well as companies in Europe such as Fiat, Volkswagen, and Continental. We also work together with major consultancy and research institutes in Sweden and abroad (Technical Research Institute of Sweden (SP), WSP, ÅF Ingemansson, Müller BBM in Germany and CSTB in France).

First Year

AUTUMN TERM Study period 1

Compulsory courses

• Sound and vibration measurement, Laboratory
• Audio technology and acoustics, Examination
• Individual preparation course, Project

Elective courses

• Active noise control, Examination
• Design of silent products, Design exercise

AUTUMN TERM Study period 2

Compulsory courses

• Sound and vibration measurement, Laboratory
• Technical acoustics 1, Oral examination
• Individual preparation course, Project

Elective courses

• Electroacoustics, Examination
• Design of silent products, Design exercise

SPRING TERM Study period 3

Elective courses

• Technical acoustics 2, Laboratory
• Room acoustics, Examination
• Human response to sound and vibration/sound quality, Examination

SPRING TERM Study period 4

Elective courses

• Technical acoustics 2, Laboratory
• Building acoustics and community noise, Examination
• Room acoustics, Examination

Second Year

AUTUMN TERM Study period 1

Elective courses

• Active noise control, Examination
• Design of silent products, Design exercise

AUTUMN TERM Study period 2

Elective courses

• Electroacoustics, Examination
• Design of silent products, Design exercise

SPRING TERM Study period 3

Elective courses

• Technical acoustics 2, Laboratory
• Room acoustics, Examination
• Human response to sound and vibration/sound quality, Examination

SPRING TERM Study period 4

Elective courses

• Technical acoustics 2, Laboratory
• Building acoustics and community noise, Examination
• Room acoustics, Examination

Diploma thesis

• Master's thesis in Civil and environmental engineering, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Civil and environmental engineering, part A, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Civil and environmental engineering, part B, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Energy and environment, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Energy and environment, part A, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Energy and environment, part B, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Signals and systems, part A, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Signals and systems, part B, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Applied physics, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Applied physics, part A, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Applied physics, part B, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Applied mechanics, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Applied mechanics, part A, Diploma thesis
• Master's thesis in Applied mechanics, part B, Diploma thesis

Bachelor´s degree (or the equivalent) with a Major in: Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Mathematics, Architecture and Engineering or Architectural Engineering.English Language ProficiencyThe most common and important scores that are accepted are IELTS (academic training), 6.5 (with no part of the test below 5.5)TOEFL (Internet based): 90 (with a minimum of 20 on the written part)TOEFL (paper based): 575 (with a minimum of 4.5 on the written part) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C) TOEFL paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90

All Scholarships administered by Chalmers have now been awarded and all applicants have been notified of their selection results.

Important: Applications for scholarships should be made along with the application for Master's studies. Students should not wait until they receive an admission to do so.

• The Avancez Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and are funded by the Chalmers Foundation. These scholarships are available to all students who are liable to pay tuition fees i.e., students with non-EU/EEA nationality.

• The IPOET (International Programme Office for Education and Training) Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers funded by the Government of Sweden. They are awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and available to nearly all fee-paying students, with the exception of 12 countries.

• The Mölnlycke Health Care Scholarships are 100% fee tuition waivers with possibilities for summer internships and a final master's thesis project.

• The Sievert Larsson Scholarship Fund (within Friends of Chalmers) offers a 100% tuition fee waiver and living expenses to students of Thai nationality who aim to study on a Master’s programme at Chalmers University of Technology.

• The US Friends of Chalmers Scholarship is a scholarship comprising USD 35 000 (i.e. a reduction of the tuition fee by USD 8750 per semester) and is awarded to one student with US citizenship.

• The Volvo Car Corporation Scholarships are 100% tuition fee waivers awarded to 2 Chinese students with the guarantee of participation in the VESC (Volvo Engineering Student Concept) programme which includes a summer job, master thesis project, mentorship and possible employment at Volvo Car Corporation.

• The Volvo Group Scholarship Programme is a 100% fee tuition fee waiver awarded to students of Indian nationality and Chinese nationality. The Scholarship includes possibilities for internships during the summer, a final Master thesis project and mentorship.

Scholarships that will not be offered in 2014

• The Chalmers MasterCard Scholarship (will be offered again in 2015) Available biennialy for a Master's student from Central America, South America or Mexico. The scholarship comprises a 280 000 SEK reduction of the tuition fee (70 000 SEK reduction/ semester).

• The FlexLink Scholarship (not available in 2014) for a Master's Student from China is a 100% tuition fee waiver along with possibilities for internship and a final master thesis project.

Note: Being granted alternative funding from external patrons does not affect the possibility of obtaining scholarships from Chalmers as an applicants financial status is not taken into account during the nomination process.

Scholarships for current students

Adlerbert 60th Anniversary Scholarships - Will be offered for the first time during 2014 to fee paying Master's Programme students who were admitted Autumn 2013, including scholarship holders whose scholarships do not include costs of living coverage. This means that, for instance, holders of Swedish Institute scholarships and Sievert Larsson, version 2 scholarships will not be eligible to apply. In order to be eligible the applicant must have passed at least 60 credits during the first year of studies. The scholarships, which amount to 60 000 SEK each, will be awarded based on the applicants' cumulative grade point average . Around 10 to 20 scholarships will be offered in 2014. More information about how to apply, etc., will be published soon.

Adlerbert Foreign Student Hospitality Fund - Only open for international students who have been admitted to, and enrolled on, a Master's Programme at Chalmers. Thus, prospective students cannot apply. Students can be awarded the scholarship a maximum of two times. The application period opens in late January and closes in late February. Consequently, it is only possible to apply during this period of a student's first and second year.

Scholarships administered by the Swedish Institute

The Swedish Institute, a government agency, administers over 500 scholarships each year for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university. Use their online guide in order to find out if any of the Swedish Institute scholarships are available for citizens of your country at your intended level of study.