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Studies & Degrees in Sound Engineering

Sound engineering is the technical study of sound: how it is produced, transmitted, recorded and heard. The Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF) in Argentina defines its degree as the study of sound and of mechanical waves in general, including their production, transport and reception. The name covers two different things. One is an engineering degree with mathematics, physics, electronics and acoustics. The other is practical training for people who operate recording and live sound equipment.

Students of the engineering route learn three areas, in the terms UNTREF uses for its branches:

  • Recording: techniques and processes in recording studios, mastering and live sound
  • Audio electronics: how electronic equipment works and how to design, build and specify it
  • Acoustics and electroacoustics: vibration, noise, absorption, reflection and transmission, and the acoustic treatment of rooms and industrial sites

Qualifications and levels

Engineering degree. The Ingeniería de Sonido programme at UNTREF lasts five years and has more than 3,800 class hours. Students who pass 60% of the programme receive an intermediate qualification, Técnico de Grabación y Sonido. The first year includes physics, mathematical analysis, algebra and English, and the final year includes a professional placement and a thesis. Applicants need to have completed secondary education and to meet the university's general entry requirements.

Vocational training. In Spain the practical route is the higher vocational qualification Técnico Superior en Sonido para Audiovisuales y Espectáculos, which lasts 2,000 hours according to TodoFP, the ministry's vocational training portal. It teaches the technical design of sound projects and the set-up of equipment for recording and live events.

University degrees in Spain. A Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. Sound is usually part of a telecommunications or audiovisual engineering degree and not a degree of its own, so the exact title varies by university.

Short courses. Private schools in many countries offer courses in music production, mixing and live sound. Ask each school what recognition its qualification has.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists one active school for sound engineering: the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, a public national university in Argentina with its head office in Sáenz Peña, in the province of Buenos Aires. Teaching is in Spanish and the classes of this degree take place in the morning. The teaching staff includes engineers, physicists, mathematicians, acoustic engineering specialists, recording engineers and musicians, according to the university.

Students who want to study in another country should compare the content of programmes and not only their names. A course called sound engineering may be a full engineering degree or a short technical course.

Careers

UNTREF lists a wide range of fields for its graduates: architectural acoustics, advising architects and builders; the manufacture of professional and industrial audio equipment; software development; broadcasting, television and recording studios; mixing, mastering and post-production; and sound for cinema and live events. TodoFP lists roles for holders of the Spanish vocational qualification such as studio recording technician, live sound technician and sound editor.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes sound engineering technicians, also known as audio engineers or sound mixers, as the people who assemble and operate sound equipment. Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree, depending on the position. It projects overall employment of broadcast, sound and video technicians in the United States to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,800 openings each year.

Frequently asked questions

Is sound engineering a real engineering degree?

It depends on the programme. The degree at UNTREF lasts five years and includes mathematics, physics, electronics and acoustics. Many other courses with a similar name are shorter technical courses in recording and live sound.

Do I need to play an instrument or read music?

The entry conditions published by UNTREF mention completed secondary education and the general entry requirements, not musical training. Other schools may set their own conditions.

How long does it take to become a sound engineer?

The Ingeniería de Sonido degree at UNTREF takes five years, with an intermediate technician qualification after 60% of the programme. The Spanish higher vocational qualification in sound lasts 2,000 hours.

Where do sound engineers work?

In recording studios, broadcasting, cinema and live events, and also in acoustics, noise control and the design of audio equipment.