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Master'sDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Master’s in Sonar and Underwater Acoustics

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sonar and underwater acoustics: 12 modules covering physical acoustics, ocean propagation, transducers, arrays and beamforming, sonar signal processing, detection, passive, active and imaging sonar, AI classification and environmental regulation, under ISO 18405, IEC 60565-1 and ISO 17208-1, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration12–14 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Master the fundamentals of physical acoustics applied to the marine environment.

02

Predict acoustic propagation with numerical models.

03

Design acoustic transducers and arrays.

04

Implement beamforming and sonar processing algorithms.

05

Evaluate the performance of passive and active detection systems.

06

Apply imaging sonar and AI-based classification techniques.

07

Develop a complete sonar system in the Master's Thesis.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Sonar systems engineers.
  • Acoustic signal processing engineers.
  • Transducer designers.
  • Hydrographers moving into advanced acoustic survey work.
  • Acoustic analysts.
  • Underwater acoustics researchers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to move into the defence sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 18405:2017 (underwater acoustics terminology)
  • IEC 60565-1 (calibration of hydrophones)
  • ISO 17208-1:2016 (measurement of underwater radiated noise from ships)
  • IHO S-44 (standards for hydrographic surveys)
  • Directive 2008/56/EC (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)
  • ANSI/ASA S1.20 (procedures for calibration of underwater electroacoustic transducers)
  • MATLAB Phased Array System Toolbox
  • Bellhop
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • CARIS HIPS and SIPS
  • Python (PyTorch)
Syllabus

12 modules

  1. 1.1Waves in fluids
  2. 1.2Acoustic impedance
  3. 1.3Intensity and levels
  4. 1.4Sources and radiators
  5. 1.5Directivity
  6. 1.6Reflection and transmission
  7. 1.7Diffraction
  8. 1.8Non-linear acoustics
  9. 1.9Terminology according to ISO 18405
  10. 1.10Case study: directivity of a circular piston
  1. 2.1Sound speed and profiles
  2. 2.2Propagation losses
  3. 2.3Absorption
  4. 2.4Ray models
  5. 2.5Normal modes
  6. 2.6Shallow water
  7. 2.7Ambient noise
  8. 2.8Reverberation
  9. 2.9Temporal variability
  10. 2.10Laboratory: prediction with Bellhop
  1. 3.1PZT piezoelectric materials
  2. 3.2Tonpilz transducers
  3. 3.3Hydrophones
  4. 3.4Piezocomposites
  5. 3.5Hydrophone calibration
  6. 3.6Equivalent circuits
  7. 3.7Power and the cavitation limit
  8. 3.8Finite element design
  9. 3.9Manufacturing and encapsulation
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: FEM modelling of a transducer
  1. 4.1Array theory
  2. 4.2Main lobe and side lobes
  3. 4.3Delay-and-sum beamforming
  4. 4.4Aperture weighting
  5. 4.5Linear, cylindrical and spherical arrays
  6. 4.6Towed arrays
  7. 4.7MVDR adaptive beamforming
  8. 4.8Array calibration
  9. 4.9Array gain
  10. 4.10Workshop: implementing a beamformer
  1. 5.1Sampling and quantisation
  2. 5.2Digital filtering
  3. 5.3Spectral analysis
  4. 5.4LOFAR narrowband analysis
  5. 5.5DEMON analysis
  6. 5.6Matched filter
  7. 5.7Ambiguity function
  8. 5.8CW and FM pulses
  9. 5.9Doppler estimation
  10. 5.10Laboratory: LOFAR spectrograms
  1. 6.1The sonar equation
  2. 6.2Neyman-Pearson criterion
  3. 6.3ROC curves
  4. 6.4Threshold selection
  5. 6.5Noise models
  6. 6.6CFAR detectors
  7. 6.7Passive detection
  8. 6.8Active detection
  9. 6.9Performance prediction
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: ROC curves of a detector
  1. 7.1Passive sonar architecture
  2. 7.2Flank and towed arrays
  3. 7.3Bearing tracking
  4. 7.4Target motion analysis
  5. 7.5Acoustic classification
  6. 7.6Platform self-noise
  7. 7.7Radiated noise measurement
  8. 7.8Sonobuoys
  9. 7.9Fixed hydrophone networks
  10. 7.10Case study: TMA analysis
  1. 8.1Active sonar architecture
  2. 8.2The active sonar equation
  3. 8.3Reverberation limitation
  4. 8.4Waveform design
  5. 8.5Low-frequency active sonar
  6. 8.6Multistatic sonar
  7. 8.7Obstacle-avoidance sonar
  8. 8.8Environmental impact of emissions
  9. 8.9Mitigation measures
  10. 8.10Workshop: designing a waveform
  1. 9.1Side-scan sonar
  2. 9.2Multibeam echosounder
  3. 9.3Synthetic aperture sonar
  4. 9.4Bathymetry according to IHO S-44
  5. 9.5Processing sounding point clouds
  6. 9.6Sound-speed profile correction
  7. 9.7Seabed classification
  8. 9.8Underwater inspection and archaeology
  9. 9.9Sonar on autonomous vehicles
  10. 9.10Laboratory: multibeam data processing
  1. 10.1Acoustic feature extraction
  2. 10.2Deep learning in acoustics
  3. 10.3Labelled datasets
  4. 10.4Data augmentation
  5. 10.5Ship classification
  6. 10.6Marine mammal detection
  7. 10.7Explainability of classifiers
  8. 10.8Model validation
  9. 10.9Embedded deployment
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: CNN spectrogram classifier
  1. 11.1Marine Strategy Framework Directive
  2. 11.2Anthropogenic underwater noise
  3. 11.3Effects on marine mammals
  4. 11.4Measurement of underwater radiated noise from ships
  5. 11.5NOAA technical guidance
  6. 11.6Mitigation protocols
  7. 11.7Passive acoustic monitoring
  8. 11.8Environmental impact assessment
  9. 11.9Ethics of active acoustics
  10. 11.10Case study: acoustic mitigation plan
  1. 12.1Definition of the acoustic problem
  2. 12.2State of the art
  3. 12.3Propagation model of the scenario
  4. 12.4Sonar system design
  5. 12.5Processing and detection
  6. 12.6Performance simulation
  7. 12.7Experimental or synthetic validation
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB Phased Array System Toolbox, Bellhop, COMSOL Multiphysics, CARIS HIPS and SIPS and Python (PyTorch), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for tank calibration of hydrophones, multibeam echosounder data processing and detector evaluation using ROC curves. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: ISO 18405:2017, IEC 60565-1, ISO 17208-1:2016, IHO S-44, Directive 2008/56/EC, ANSI/ASA S1.20.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 18405, IEC 60565-1 and ISO 17208-1 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB Phased Array System Toolbox, Bellhop, COMSOL Multiphysics, CARIS HIPS and SIPS and Python (PyTorch), in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete sonar system design, from propagation modelling to performance simulation and validation, 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.

Acoustic problem definition
Define the operational scenario and review the state of the art.
Propagation modelling
Build a propagation model of the scenario with Bellhop.
Sonar system design
Design the transducers, array and beamforming for the system.
Processing and performance
Implement the processing chain and simulate detection performance with ROC curves.
Master's Thesis
A complete sonar system design with experimental or synthetic validation, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Sonar systems engineerAcoustic signal processing engineerTransducer designerHydrographerAcoustic analystUnderwater acoustics researcher
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, COMSOL Multiphysics, CARIS HIPS and SIPS and Python (PyTorch), 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 university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the 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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