M.Sc. Photonics

The Master of Science in Photonics is an all-English, two-year Master's degree course in the field of optics and photonics.

Group picture of MSc Photonics students class of 2022/23.

Image: Ira Winkler

M.Sc. Photonics

Group of Master of Science in Photonics students in 2023.
Image: Ira Winkler (Uni Jena)

The Master of Science in Photonics (M.Sc. Photonics) is an all-English, two-year Master's degree course providing multidisciplinary coverage in the field of optics and photonics. The course schedule ranges from fundamental scientific subjects to application-oriented photonics engineering aspects. The program is designed to incorporate students of different backgrounds and nationalities and aims to provide them with a solid knowledge of optics and photonics, both for scientific research and for its technological applications in industry. All lectures, courses and modules are taught completely in English. Students enrolled in the two-year program receive dedicated tutorial support and are trained for leading positions in industry and academia. Moreover, graduating the M.Sc. Photonics program is the most direct way to enter our prestigious doctoral (PhD) program afterwards.

Image: Thomas Ernstling/ Gruner & Jahr.
Application for the academic year 2025/26 Apply for our next Master's program starting in autumn 2025! The application system will open in December 2024.
Image: David Zakoth, Lichtwerkstatt Jena.
Study Program Our Master's degree students obtain hands-on experience while taking methodology courses which take place in state-of-the-art photonics laboratories.
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)
Key Education Areas By choosing the respective elective modules, our students can specialize at least in the one out of five key education areas already during their Master's degree studies.
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)
Curriculum During the 4-semester Master's degree studies, our students obtain more and more freedom to choose from a great number of different subjects.
Image: Fraunhofer IOF Jena
Experimental Optics Course (1st semester) The experimental optics courses teaches hands-on lab experience and also offers some remotely controllable setups for teaching purposes.
Image: Christoph Worsch (University of Jena)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) When considering to study in Jena, please have a detailed look at the (most) frequently asked questions of previous and your fellow students – and our answers to them.

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Admission requirements for the M.Sc. Photonics program

3D facial image recognition and patterning.
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)

In order to be accepted in the Master of Science in Photonics program, applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualifications in Physics, Natural Sciences, or Engineering. The majority of our students are graduates with a B.Sc. in Physics, a B.Sc./B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering, a B.Sc./B.Eng. in Optoelectronics, or similar degrees. However, we are nevertheless open to considering applicants from other disciplines, who have a strong motivation to enter the field of photonics.

Regardless of their previous study program, all applicants should have a profound knowledge in fundamental physics, mathematics, and electromagnetic theory. Detailed knowledge of optics is not an essential prerequisite to enter the M.Sc. Photonics program, since this will be the subject of our teaching. Nonetheless, existing experience in the field of optics can be helpful for an efficient study process.

On-campus study with an online entry option

Digital photonics lecture.
Image: Steffen Walther.

The MSc Photonics program was conceived as an on-campus study course. Nevertheless, a limited number of online-only study slots for the duration of the first and second semester exists as well. Thus, the program can be studied entirely remotely during the first year of studies, and all 60 necessary credit points (CPs) can be earned during that period of time. However, in order to advance to the third semester and to finally obtain the Master's degree, each first-year online student has to move to Jena at some point before the start of the third semester. It is mandatory for all students to study on-campus during the third and fourth semesters.