PhD in Photonics
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* no tuition fee, but only a minor administration fee of 200 EUR per semester, covering e.g. free public transport and students discounts on accommodation and mensa food
Scholarships
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Introduction
The Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP) is a top-tier interdisciplinary graduate school in Germany that provides a unique PhD program (as well as a combined MSc and PhD program) in Photonics for excellent graduates from all over the world. We are not a single university, but a network of 19 top universities and research institutions across Germany. Therefore, we combine the knowledge of the best researchers and offer our students a unique graduate school experience.
Our Program explained in less than 4 minutes:
Learn more at our website >
The "Research Phase" - Our Ph.D. Program
Students entering the program at the research phase must either have successfully completed the study phase of the program or have otherwise received an excellent Master's degree with sufficient exposure to physics from elsewhere.
During the research phase, students focus on scientific research for their Ph.D. project which is conducted within a research group led and supervised by an MPSP Fellow. Students are also assigned a co-supervisor, ideally located at another university. Close supervision is ensured through regular meetings and progress reports. Students are also encouraged to conduct short- or mid-term research stays with the research group led by their co-supervisor.
Excellent Education meets Soft Skill Training
Our PhD candidates are offered various training opportunities and workshops on social and professional skills such as project management or start-up leadership and organization, as well as more discipline-specific expert seminars. These courses are held either through our virtual campus or during the MPSP spring and autumn schools. They also give our PhD candidates the chance to meet and connect with each other and with the MPSP Fellows.
Additionally, Ph.D. students present and discuss their research progress at doctoral seminars offered on a regular basis, bringing together participants from the various research groups. Due to the nationwide character of the program, courses during the research phase will be provided largely via MPSP Virtual Campus.
Research Topics
The research fields listed below are currently available for Ph.D. research within the MPSP program. Students applying for entry into the research phase directly are required to provide a preference of at least one (and a maximum of five) of the listed research fields on which they would like to base their Ph.D. research. Specific topics within these fields are presented on the website and can be adapted within the selection process together with the potential supervisor. Changes regarding the preferences can be made before the application deadline.
- Advanced Imaging
- Attosecond Physics
- Biophotonics
- Fiber Optics
- Laser Source Development
- Nanophotonics
- Nanoscopy
- Optical Design
- Optical Communication
- Quantum Optics
- Strongfield Physics
- Ultrafast Imaging
- X-ray Science
Learn more about our research topics here >