About this course

Through this optical fibre course, you'll gain specialist knowledge of technologies that harness the power of light, such as lasers and optical fibres. You'll also master the engineering skills and business insight to apply your knowledge in this growth sector.

In 2017 we were awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, in recognition of our world-leading expertise in photonics and fibre optic technology.

If you've got a passion for physics and engineering materials, but want to keep your job opportunities open, this optics and photonics engineering course will allow you to explore both. Many of our students go on to study for a PhD, but many also go into industry, or set up their own business.

You’ll be part of an active, research-focused, postgraduate-only community; the largest photonics group in the UK. You'll also have a rare opportunity to see firsthand how fibres are made, as we’re one of only a handful of universities with optical fibre production facilities.

During this MSc degree, you'll make photonic components and devices in our new 1,200m2 cleanroom complex. This is the largest multidisciplinary cleanroom of its type in the UK.

Our inventions can be found on the Moon, on Mars and on the International Space Station. We built the foundations of the internet and our research is powering changes in medicine, telecommunications, defence, renewable energy and manufacturing.

Some of the best photonics researchers in the world will support you to develop your research skills and you’ll gain hands-on experience of the many practical applications of optical fibres and photonics engineering.

You'll gain practical insights into how to run a modern photonics business through our Industrial Showcase Week. During the week you’ll visit several businesses and learn from experienced photonics business leaders how to apply research and engineering skills to real-world problems.

We’ll foster your entrepreneurial spirit, helping you develop your ideas and connect with mentors and investors; 11 spin-out companies have so far been developed from our Optical Research Centre.

Careers

By taking this course you’ll be ready to be part of the global growth in photonics, and will open a number of photonics job opportunities. Photonics technology in the UK produces £13.5 billion in output every year and is growing four times faster than overall UK manufacturing (Photonics Leadership Group 2019).

Our alumni have gone on to:

• take leading roles in industrial photonics research across the globe
• take leading roles in photonics product development across the globe
• run their own photonics businesses
• pursue their research at PhD level

Around a third of our graduates continue their study with us on our PhD programmes. We offer a number of generously funded PhD opportunities. Some of our students also take up PhD studies at our sister institute Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

You’ll benefit from our academics’ industry knowledge and exceptional global connections. Our dedicated Careers Hub organises an annual Engineering and Technology Careers Fair that’s attended by global photonics companies, where you can learn about MSc phonics job opportunities.

We foster a strong culture of innovation at the ORC. To date, we’ve developed 11 spin-out companies and our unique Industry Showcase Week helps you understand how to operate a business in this sector. If you’ve an idea that has commercial potential, you’ll get plenty of support.