Lighting design is a growing interdisciplinary field cutting across areas such as architecture, physics, and sustainability. Students of lighting design may study such topics as the interaction of natural and artificial light, using light to affect moods and create environments, and the latest trends in commercial lighting.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

Part time learning allows one to obtain part-time degrees even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at his or own pace, gradually accumulating credits which count towards final qualification.