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MSc Photonics

The MSc Photonics course provides a thorough basis for a successful job in the photonics, optical, and life sciences industries. It offers the opportunity to explore and master a large range of photonic technologies, enabling students to put devices in the context of an optical system and/or application.

Key Facts

• Start date: September
• Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time
• Ranked: #1 in the UK for Physics by the Daily Mail University Guide Subject Tables 2025

Why this Course?

The course gives students a thorough basis for a successful job in the photonics, optical, and life sciences industries. It provides the basis to excel in more interesting and challenging posts. The course can also be an entry route into an optics-related PhD programme.

Course Content

The course consists of two semesters of taught classes followed by a three-month research project (MSc students only). Students can choose classes relevant to their career interests from a wide range of topics, including:

• Photonics and photonic materials
• Nanosciences
• Optics at the physics-life sciences interface
• Laser-based plasma physics
• Quantum optics and quantum information technology

Learning and Teaching

Our teaching is based on lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory experiments, and research projects.

Assessment

The assessment of most taught modules is based on a written examination and continuous coursework (about 20%), and, in some modules, an oral examination. The final project is assessed mainly by a report supplemented by a talk, an oral examination (viva), and an assessment of the performance and engagement during the project by the supervisor.

Student Competitions

• The Department of Physics MSc Excellence Prize: Awarded to a meritorious student of at least distinction level on any MSc course offered by the Department.
• The Department of Physics MSc Prize: Awarded to a meritorious student of at least distinction level on any MSc course offered by the Department.

Facilities

This course is run by the Department of Physics. Departmental facilities include:

• Well-equipped optical labs for semiconductor photonics, semiconductor spectroscopy, and fluorescence lifetime analysis.
• The Ultrafast Chemical Physics lab with state-of-the-art femtosecond laser systems for multi-dimensional IR spectroscopy.
• Cutting-edge high-power laser research with SCAPA, the highest power laser in a UK university.
• A scanning electron microscopy suite for analysis of hard and soft matter.
• Access to top-of-the-range high-performance computer facilities.
• Industry-standard cleanroom in the Institute of Photonics.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements: Minimum second-class Honours degree, or international equivalent, in physics or a related subject.
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.0 (with no component below 5.5).

Fees and Funding

• Scotland: £11,900
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £11,900
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• International: £28,700
• Available scholarships: Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities.

Careers

The course gives students a thorough basis for a successful job in the photonics, optical, and life sciences industries. It provides the basis to excel in more interesting and challenging posts. The course can also be an entry route into an optics-related PhD programme. Over the years, many of Strathclyde’s optics and photonics graduates have found successful employment at the large variety of local laser and optics companies as well as with national and international corporations.