Photonics, M.Sc.
Master's in Photonics at the Abbe School of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany — an English-taught, research-oriented program covering laser and strong-field physics, nanooptics, biophotonics, optical instrumentation, and quantum photonics, with students able to specialise through elective modules. Located in Jena, a recognized global centre for optical and photonic industry, the program combines mandatory lab-based practical training with a master's thesis conducted within active research groups or in partnership with industry.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.04 |
| Admission | Aptitude assessment: the university evaluates how well your previous education fits the programme |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €333.05 per semester |
| Practical semester | Yes, mandatory |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Admission goes through an aptitude assessment: the university checks how well the subjects, credits and grades of your previous education fit the programme. There is no fixed cut-off — the assessment is comparative.
- ✓Those with a strong interest in the physics and technology of light — from fundamental quantum phenomena to applied optical engineering.
- ✓Students who enjoy working at the intersection of theory and experiment, and who are comfortable with the mathematical rigour that underpins modern photonics.
- ✓Those drawn to emerging fields such as quantum optics, nanoscale imaging, or optical biosensing, and who want specialised depth rather than a general physics degree.
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- ✓Applicants who see themselves working in high-technology industries — laser manufacturing, telecommunications, optical instrumentation, or medtech — or who plan to pursue a PhD and research career.
- ✓Those who thrive in internationally oriented, English-language scientific environments and value close proximity to industrial partners during their studies.
- ✓Students who appreciate a structured yet flexible curriculum where elective choices shape their own specialisation path.
- —Jena is a mid-sized city with a lower cost of living compared to German metropolitan centres, which is a practical advantage for students on modest budgets — but those expecting the cultural density of Berlin or Munich should calibrate expectations accordingly.
- —The program is highly research-oriented; applicants expecting a purely course-taught degree with limited independent work may find the research and thesis demands demanding.
- —The photonics job market in Jena and Germany is strong, but it is a specialised field — career outcomes are excellent within optics and laser technology sectors, but less transferable to unrelated industries.
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- —An international peer group and entirely English-language instruction means German language skills are not required for study, though some German can ease daily life in the city.
- —Students intending to pursue a PhD should be aware that the Graduate School of Photonics offers a direct pathway, but doctoral positions remain competitive even among program graduates.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
The Master's in Photonics at the Abbe School of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, is a research-oriented program designed to produce specialists capable of working at the frontier of light-based science and technology. Delivered entirely in English, it draws on Jena's exceptional position as a global hub for optical and photonic industries, giving students direct exposure to both cutting-edge research and industrial application.
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The curriculum is structured around five core areas: laser and strong-field physics, nanooptics, biophotonics, optical instrumentation and systems, and quantum photonics. Students select elective modules that align with their chosen research focus, allowing them to tailor the program to their specific scientific interests while building a broad foundation across modern photonics.
A mandatory practical component is embedded in the program, ensuring that theoretical knowledge is complemented by hands-on experience in laboratories and applied settings. The research emphasis becomes most visible in the final master's thesis, which is typically conducted within one of the university's active research groups or in collaboration with industrial partners in the Jena photonics cluster.
Throughout the program, students work in an international scientific environment alongside peers and faculty from around the world. The combination of rigorous academic training, specialised research tracks, and a mandatory internship creates a learning experience closely aligned with professional practice in optical technologies.
For those considering a scientific career, the program connects directly to doctoral training through the Graduate School of Photonics, offering a clear path from master's-level study into advanced research.
What you study
Semester 1 — Foundations and Specialisation Entry
The first semester establishes advanced theoretical and experimental foundations in photonics. Students take core modules that span the main branches of the field, including topics in classical and quantum optics, electromagnetic wave theory, and optical materials. Elective choices in the first semester begin to signal the student's intended specialisation track.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates of this program are in strong demand across industries built on light-based technologies. Typical employment areas include laser technology, precision optical instrumentation, telecommunications and fibre optics, photonic systems development, and biophotonics applications in medical technology.
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Jena's position as a European centre for the photonics industry — home to companies operating across the full optical technology spectrum — means that students are often in contact with potential employers during their studies. Job offers before graduation are a documented pattern among alumni.
For those choosing academic paths, the Graduate School of Photonics provides a structured route into PhD-level research, positioning graduates for scientific careers in universities and research institutes.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Thuringia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €333.05 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in physics, photonics, optics, or a closely related scientific or engineering field. |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.04 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 3Application directly to the university until 15.04Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 4Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Video about the programme
The video is hosted on YouTube. When you play it, data is sent to Google.
The video is hosted on YouTube. When you play it, data is sent to Google.
The video is hosted on YouTube. When you play it, data is sent to Google.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.04.2027 (183 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.