Media Engineering
Factfile
| Typical Entry Requirements | MEng: A level grades AAA (360 points) or AAB (340 points) if A level Physics or other suitable science or technology-related subject is included
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| Required Subjects | Mathematics to full A level (or equivalent) required for all programmes. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | Higher grades refer to MEng programmes. BTEC National Diploma - DDD-DDM (depending on subjects and appropriate mathematics qualifications) International Baccalaureate - 36-34 points European Baccalaureate - 76-74% A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis such as Access to Higher Education Diplomas, Cambridge Pre-U, Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish qualifications and Foundation courses. |
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| Selection Process | Offers are normally made in terms of grades and/or experience. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme, meet staff and current students and have a tour of the facilities and accommodation. Candidates unable to visit the University will be considered based on their UCAS application. |
| Professional Recognition | The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has accredited all degree programmes in Media Engineering at Surrey as contributing towards professional registration. MEng programmes fully satisfy the educational requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer. |
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Over the past decade digital technology and computing have revolutionised the music and entertainment industries. Media Engineering degrees were developed in response to a clear industry demand for graduate engineers with the skills to develop digital technologies for audiovisual content production and delivery.
You will receive an integrated training in digital electronics and computing with an understanding of their application in the latest technologies for audiovisual processing in music, film, broadcast, games and the web. We offer a unique combination of modern digital systems engineering with the latest industry technologies for music, audio, video and computer graphics production.
Further information
Degree Programmes
BEng (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BEng (Hons) Audio Media Engineering | J930 | 3/4* years |
| BEng (Hons) Digital Media Engineering | H640 | 3/4* years |
MEng Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| MEng Audio Media Engineering | J932 | 4/5* years |
| MEng Digital Media Engineering | H645 | 4/5* years |
Our Degrees
Two areas of media engineering are available for you to study. As a graduate of either programme the professional accreditation will contribute towards the requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and you will have advanced skills in digital media hardware and software. You will also have developed a thorough understanding of how these systems can be used creatively for audiovisual content production.
Audio Media Engineering combines modern digital audio technology with software and hardware development. This is a suitable choice if you wish to enjoy a career designing audio technologies for music production, the games industry, broadcasting and web development. The focus of this programme is audio engineering for future multimedia systems.
Digital Media Engineering integrates training in software and hardware technologies with applications to audiovisual content production, delivery and display. The degree combines core subjects in computer engineering and electronics with specialist subjects in audio, video and computer graphics. You will benefit from this programme if you wish to pursue a career in the entertainment or consumer electronics industries, from film and broadcast through to game development and multimedia system design.
Audio and Digital Media Engineering share a common first year with all degree programmes in Electronic Engineering, providing a foundation to specialise in subsequent years.
You also have the opportunity to undertake a professional training year, developing skills and experience that will make you highly employable. Media Engineering offers excellent employment prospects in a diverse range of media-related industries. Our audio and digital media programmes are designed to satisfy the increasing demand for highly skilled media engineers both in the UK and internationally.
MEng/BEng Audio Media Engineering
Audio Media Engineering aims to prepare you as an engineer responsible for audio factors in future multimedia industries, ranging from music production and game development to web design.
A modern audio engineer needs to be proficient not only in sound technologies, such as the perception of sound, MIDI sequencers and synthesisers, but also in multimedia, Internet applications, digital audio, signal communications and speech processing.
Graduates from the programme will be competent engineers with advanced skills in audio data capture and processing, and an understanding of how these systems can be used creatively for audiovisual and computer-based content production. Audio Media Engineering is primarily concerned with the audio aspect of multimedia systems. Therefore, it may appeal to candidates who are particularly interested in audio and music, (with a strong technical background).
MEng/BEng Digital Media Engineering
Digital Media Engineering aims to train graduate engineers with the knowledge of software and hardware needed to implement modern digital systems used in the entertainment, computing and IT industries.
The programme is intended for individuals who wish to become engineers in the rapidly evolving field of digital systems technology. Graduate engineers will gain experience of modern digital electronics and computer systems engineering, together with a working knowledge of their application in media production.
The degree combines a core in digital systems engineering with the theory and practice of visual computing used in modern audiovisual technologies. The first two years are common with other electronic and computer engineering degree programmes incorporating core topics in audio and visual computing. This provides the foundation for specialist media engineering subjects in subsequent years which include options in computer graphics, digital image processing, video analysis, multimedia systems, computer vision and machine intelligence. Individual project work utilises state-of-the-art studio facilities to gain experience of modern audiovisual technology.
Programme Structure
Level 1
Modules contain topics such as:
- Digital Electronics
- Computer Programming
- Engineering Mathematics
- Computer Systems and Networks
- Audio Signal Processing
- Acoustics
- Electronics and Audiovisual Laboratories
- Professional Studies
- Signals and Communications
Level 2
Modules contain topics such as:
- Engineering Mathematics
- Digital Signal Processing
- Digital Systems Engineering
- Electronics
- Signals and Communication
- Microprocessor Design
- Software Engineering
- Audio Engineering
Audio Media Engineering:
- Sound Synthesis and MIDI
- Electroacoustics
Digital Media Engineering:
- Computer Graphics
- Visual Computing
Level P
- Optional professional training year
Level 3
Modules contain topics such as:
- Individual Project in Audio or Visual Media
- Digital Signal Processing
- Software Engineering
- Video Engineering
- Web Technology
Audio Media Engineering:
- Audio Engineering
- Synthesis of Speech and Singing
- Multimedia Information Systems
Digital Media Engineering:
- Digital Image and Video Processing
- Computer Games and Special Effects
- Artificial Intelligence
Level M (MEng only)
Modules contain topics such as:
- Multidisciplinary Multimedia Group Project
- Multimedia Systems
- Advanced Signal Processing
Audio Media Engineering:
- Speech and Audio Processing
- Voice Recognition
- Psychoacoustics and Spatial Sound
Digital Media Engineering:
- Advanced Image Processing
- Computer Vision
- Computer Generated Imagery
- Image and Video Compression
Professional Training
Your professional placement will start at the end of your second year and counts towards the training component required for Chartered Engineer status by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The placement also counts towards your final degree mark.
The UK is a world leader in the media production industries such as film production, games, consumer electronics and broadcast. We put a great deal of effort into finding appropriate placements within the creative industries. We already have strong links with companies in this sector, and in recent years students have been placed with over 80 different companies. Most have been in southern England but some have been further north, in mainland Europe (France, Germany, Spain and Norway) or further afield (North America and Saudi Arabia).
During your professional training year, you will be visited regularly by an academic member of staff who monitors your progress and advises you on areas where you may wish to develop expertise. Many companies prefer to recruit people with professional experience, and those returning after professional training are often sponsored for their final year and/or have a job offer from their placement company.
Ten reasons to study Media Engineering at Surrey
- Excellent teaching quality informed by our research in computer vision, graphics, audio and music
- Department ranked second in UK 2008 National Student Survey
- An integrated education in software and hardware for engineering next generation media technologies
- The application of engineering knowledge to the design of technologies for media production, transmission and display
- Purpose-built audiovisual production facilities
- Small-group and hands-on practical experience of media technology
- A professionally accredited engineering programme
- Professional training to gain industry experience
- Excellent employment prospects in media, computing and consumer electronics industries
- The UK is a world leader in media production for music, film, broadcast and games
Top for Jobs
Media Engineering degrees were introduced in 2005 in response to industry demand and our first students graduated in 2009. The programmes offer excellent employment opportunities in a diverse range of media-related industries.
The Department of Electronic Engineering has an excellent record of graduate employment.
Career Opportunities
Media engineering offers excellent employment prospects in a diverse range of media-related industries. Our other programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences can boast an outstanding track record for graduate employment. Over 99 per cent of these students have gained employment within six months in previous years. We fully expect Media Engineering graduates to continue this impressive record, with our programmes specifically designed to satisfy the increasing demand for highly skilled engineers both in the UK and internationally.
This demand is reflected in the UK’s status as a world leader in the media production industries, with film post-production and games development recognised internationally and second only in size to the USA. Our location is also of great benefit as London and the South East have the highest UK concentration of media-related companies. These include music production, broadcast, film post-production, games development and major international consumer electronics companies.
Teaching
Teaching styles vary from large group lectures to small group tutorials and laboratory studio sessions. The tutorial system within the Department underpins all our teaching activities and ensures that you receive individual attention when needed. In the first three semesters you will meet once a week with your personal tutor, in small groups of up to five students, to establish an effective but informal working relationship. Our staff are approachable and friendly and we pride ourselves on the rapport we have with our students, especially as a large and active department.
Facilities
As a Media Engineering student at Surrey you will have access to a purpose-built audiovisual production facility which includes a sound-proofed television recording studio and professional quality audio and video production and editing facilities. Our Media Engineering Laboratory provides a specialist environment for audio and video design.
We also have state-of-the-art facilities for digital content production including a multiple-camera broadcast studio, the latest high-definition digital television used in film production, and real-time motion capture for animation. Audiovisual facilities also include a broadcast picture-quality assessment and multi-channel digital audio recording suite. Industry standard tools for audiovisual production and post-production include animation packages, professional video editing suites and games development platforms. These facilities are all available to you for audiovisual project work.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a mix of examinations and coursework, the latter of which is worth about 30 per cent of the total mark. Marks from your second year onwards count towards the final total, forming the basis of the degree award. If you undertake a professional placement, you will also be assessed on your performance during this professional stage of your degree.
Contact Details
T: 0800 980 3200 or +44 (0)1483 681681
What our students say
Student Profile: Chris Robinson
MEng Audio Media Engineering Level M
I lived in Holland before I came to Surrey but the University was accommodating to this; they gave me a special tour on a UCAS Open Day and helped with my accommodation.
My programme offers a diverse range of subjects to study (anything from Acoustics to Circuit Theory to Computer Programming) and it’s specifically tailored to the engineering of audio and visual systems. It allows students to combine creativity with engineering discipline to achieve unique results to a problem.
During my placement year I worked for Sony BPRL (Broadcast and Professional Research Labs) on a sports computer vision project. This system is currently in use by a major broadcaster and I still work for Sony at the weekends assisting in these broadcasts. A placement year allows students to use and develop the skills they learn outside of an academic environment. For example, I cemented my understanding of computer vision and programming.
This degree offers such a solid engineering base that the skills you learn can be readily transferred between industries. I am currently applying to several graduate programmes from organisations ranging from the Ministry of Defence to financial houses based in London. I am also applying to audio engineering firms but the breadth of the degree offers comfort in not being tied to a particular industry, particularly in the current economic climate.
I work at the Students’ Union bar which allows me to interact with people outside of my course and the atmosphere is always good. I also play guitar and drums and host open mic nights in and around the local area.
Student Profile: Markela Deverikou
BEng Audio Media Engineering Level 2
I chose to come to Surrey for my degree as I felt it was one of the best universities in the UK. It is near London, has great facilities, halls and campus. Plus, in my opinion, it offers the best modules for Audio Media Engineering.
I really enjoy the media-related projects and the opportunities we have to explore video and audio applications and software. The programme is broad and opens up many possibilities for your career path.
For my professional training year I worked in a music recording studio which I really enjoyed. It was a great opportunity to apply my learning to a working environment and gain experience in my chosen field.
During my time at Surrey I have developed my technical skills through my course, in particular my communication skills. Working in a team makes you realise how important communication is in this industry. When I graduate I plan to continue my studies in music production and recording, so these skills will be useful to me in the future. My dream is to become a music producer.
In my spare time I enjoy going to gigs and the cinema. Guildford town is pretty and there are lots of things to do, plus it has a great nightlife. I also do a lot of exercise for both my body and mind as it helps with stress. The accommodation at Surrey is very good and I really like the campus here.
