Postgraduate Diploma in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception. 8 modules covering ISO 532-1 (loudness, Zwicker method), ECMA-418-2 (psychoacoustics: tonality and roughness) and HEAD ArtemiS SUITE. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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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
Explain how human hearing works.
Calculate psychoacoustic metrics such as loudness, sharpness and roughness.
Analyse the human response to vibration.
Carry out NVH measurements with binaural instrumentation.
Design perception tests with listening panels.
Define product sound quality targets.
Relate noise and vibration to comfort and health.
Who it's for
- NVH engineer looking to specialise in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception.
- Sound quality specialist looking to specialise in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception.
- Psychoacoustics engineer looking to specialise in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception.
- Acoustic test engineer looking to specialise in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception.
- Product sound designer looking to specialise in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception.
- Researcher in auditory perception looking to specialise in Psychoacoustics, Human NVH and Perception.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 532-1 (loudness, Zwicker method)
- ECMA-418-2 (psychoacoustics: tonality and roughness)
- ISO 226 (equal-loudness contours)
- DIN 45692 (calculation of sharpness)
- ISO 2631-1 (whole-body vibration)
- ISO 5349-1 (hand-arm vibration)
- Regulation (EU) 540/2014 (vehicle sound level)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Anatomy of the outer, middle and inner ear1.2Cochlear mechanics and basilar membrane1.3Hearing threshold and audible field1.4Critical bands and the Bark scale1.5Simultaneous and temporal masking1.6Temporal and frequency resolution1.7Pitch perception1.8Binaural hearing and localisation1.9Hearing loss and ageing effects1.10Practical case: interpreting audiograms from a listener panel
2.1Loudness according to Zwicker and ISO 532-12.2Moore-Glasberg loudness, ISO 532-22.3Sharpness2.4Roughness and fluctuation strength2.5Tonality and tone prominence index2.6Articulation Index (AI) and its use in cabins2.7Impulsiveness and transient sounds2.8Intelligibility metrics: STI2.9Zwicker psychoacoustic annoyance2.10Lab: calculating loudness and sharpness with Python
3.1Body response to vibration3.2Resonances of organs and body segments3.3ISO 2631-1 standard for whole-body vibration3.4Frequency weightings Wk and Wd3.5Hand-arm vibration, ISO 53493.6Seat transmissibility (SEAT)3.7Tactile perception of vibration3.8Motion sickness and low frequencies3.9Interaction between noise and vibration3.10Practical: ISO 2631 assessment of a seat vibration recording
4.1Microphones and binaural heads4.2Accelerometers and mountings4.3FFT analysis, orders and spectrograms4.4Binaural recording and playback4.5Measurement in anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers4.6Transfer path analysis (TPA)4.7Tyre, wind and engine noise4.8Electric vehicle sounds: inverter tones4.9Calibration and measurement chain4.10Lab: binaural recording and order analysis on a vehicle
5.1Designing listening experiments5.2Paired comparison and scaling5.3Semantic differential5.4Listener panels: selection and training5.5ISO/TS 15666 annoyance scales5.6Headphone reproduction and simulators5.7Statistics of subjective judgements5.8Correlation between metrics and preference5.9Reliability and order effects5.10Practical: paired comparison test of cabin noises
6.1Sound quality as a product attribute6.2Brand sound and acoustic signature6.3Door closing and control sounds6.4Appliance and equipment noise6.5Active noise cancellation6.6Sound synthesis in electric vehicles6.7AVAS system: UNECE R138 Regulation6.8Sonification and auditory interfaces6.9Balancing information and annoyance6.10Practical case: redesigning the sound of an AVAS
7.1Non-auditory effects of noise7.2Noise and cognitive load in drivers7.3Fatigue from prolonged exposure7.4Soundscape according to ISO 129137.5Multisensory perception: sound, vibration and vision7.6Cultural differences in preferences7.7Accessibility for people with hearing loss7.8Occupational exposure limits: RD 286/20067.9WHO environmental noise guidelines7.10Workshop: soundscape assessment of a train cabin
8.1Product definition and objective8.2NVH measurement campaign8.3Calculation of psychoacoustic metrics8.4Design of the perception test8.5Statistical analysis of judgements8.6Preference prediction model8.7Proposal for sound quality improvements8.8Validation of the proposal8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
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: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is HEAD ArtemiS SUITE, Simcenter Testlab, MATLAB, PsychoPy, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real listening-booth procedures for jury panels, binaural measurements with an artificial head, and a seat vibration test bench. Assessment is continuous across each module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain how human hearing works.
Calculate psychoacoustic metrics such as loudness, sharpness and roughness.
Analyse the human response to vibration.
Carry out NVH measurements with binaural instrumentation.
Design perception tests with listening panels.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with HEAD ArtemiS SUITE, Simcenter Testlab, MATLAB and PsychoPy. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate a free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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