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.
Master’s in Sonar, Underwater Acoustics and Sensor Integration Engineering — studying from Malta
Malta's defence sector is comparatively small, reflecting the country's neutrality and modest armed forces. Activity centres on the Armed Forces of Malta, maritime surveillance, border security and the associated technical support. Engineering roles are mostly found in equipment maintenance, communications, infrastructure and government procurement rather than large-scale defence manufacturing. Professionals may find opportunities through public service and contractors supplying the armed forces and related agencies, where reliability and compliance with national procurement rules are important.
Fees for Malta: €9,930 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which bodies regulate defence and military engineering work in Malta?
Malta's Armed Forces and the Ministry responsible for defence oversee military engineering and procurement. General engineering practice is regulated by the Chamber of Engineers (KSU) under the Engineering Profession Act. Export and dual-use controls follow EU and national rules. A SEIUM qualification is private and not accredited, so any recognition depends on employers or the relevant authority.
What career paths exist in Malta for land systems and defence engineering?
Opportunities in Malta are limited and mostly within government, the Armed Forces and their suppliers, with more substantial defence industry work typically found abroad. Many roles require security clearance and specific experience. A private qualification can support your profile, but you should expect employers to focus on experience and clearance eligibility.
How do I study this from Malta, and what should I consider about workload and funding?
The programme is delivered fully online in English, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. You do not need a visa to study from home in Malta. Durations range from 300 to 1,900 hours, so plan time alongside any work commitments. Ask about instalment payments and whether employer sponsorship is available.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply the physics of underwater acoustics.
Model sound propagation in the sea.
Design and calibrate transducers and arrays.
Develop signal processing algorithms.
Integrate acoustic and non-acoustic sensors on platforms.
Plan tests and calibrations to accredited procedures.
Assess the environmental impact of underwater noise.
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.
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)
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Wave equation in fluids1.2Speed of sound in the sea1.3Sound speed profiles and sound channels1.4Surface and seabed reflection1.5Absorption in seawater1.6Propagation loss1.7Reverberation1.8Ambient noise1.9Civil applications of underwater acoustics1.10Case study: analysis of a sound speed profile
2.1Ray theory2.2Normal modes2.3Parabolic equation2.4Wavenumber integration methods2.5Selecting the right model2.6Oceanographic databases2.7Bathymetry and seabed type2.8Environmental uncertainty2.9Model validation2.10Lab: propagation with Bellhop
3.1Piezoelectric materials3.2Tonpilz transducers3.3Hydrophones3.4Broadband transducers3.5Transducer calibration3.6Directivity3.7Power and efficiency3.8Manufacturing and potting3.9Tank testing3.10Practical exercise: hydrophone calibration by comparison
4.1Array geometries4.2Conventional beamforming4.3Shading and sidelobes4.4Adaptive beamforming4.5Towed arrays: principles4.6Hull-mounted arrays4.7Conformal arrays4.8Fibre-optic arrays4.9Array calibration4.10Lab: beamforming in MATLAB
5.1Sampling and digital filtering5.2Spectral analysis5.3Signal detection5.4Detection theory and ROC curves5.5Matched filter5.6Broadband and narrowband processing5.7Direction-of-arrival estimation5.8Classification with machine learning5.9Real-time processing5.10Practical exercise: detection of a signal in noise with a matched filter
6.1Sonar equation6.2Active sonar: concepts6.3Passive sonar: concepts6.4Side-scan sonar6.5Multibeam echosounders6.6Synthetic aperture sonar6.7Hydrographic applications6.8Fisheries and research applications6.9Performance comparison6.10Case study: sonar equation for a multibeam echosounder
7.1Integration on surface ships7.2Integration on submarines7.3Integration on unmanned underwater vehicles7.4Platform self-noise7.5Acoustic domes7.6Electromagnetic compatibility7.7Data interfaces7.8Thermal management and power supply7.9Sensor maintenance7.10Practical exercise: self-noise budget of a platform
8.1Magnetometry8.2Electromagnetic sensors8.3Underwater optical sensors8.4Bathymetric LiDAR8.5Oceanographic sensors8.6Underwater sensor networks8.7Ocean observatories8.8Multi-sensor fusion8.9Calibration8.10Lab: data fusion of oceanographic sensors
9.1Acoustic data fusion9.2Contact tracking: principles9.3Acoustic visualisation9.4Operator interfaces9.5Operator workload9.6Automation and human oversight9.7Recording and post-analysis9.8Simulator-based training9.9Performance evaluation9.10Case study: design of a spectral analysis display
10.1Acoustic test tanks10.2Lake and sea trials10.3Calibration of complete systems10.4Self-noise measurement10.5Environmental testing10.6Shock testing10.7Measurement uncertainty10.8Test documentation10.9Accreditation of test laboratories10.10Practical exercise: sea trial plan for an array
11.1Impact of underwater noise on marine mammals11.2Marine Strategy Framework Directive11.3Underwater noise indicators11.4Mitigation measures11.5IMO guidelines on ship noise11.6Law of the sea11.7Civil and defence dual use11.8Export controls11.9Professional ethics11.10Workshop: acoustic mitigation plan for a survey campaign
12.1Definition of the acoustic problem12.2State-of-the-art review12.3Propagation modelling12.4Transducer or array design12.5Signal processing12.6Platform integration12.7Environmental analysis12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
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.
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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