Optical technologies are central to many modern products and processes — from barcode scanners to laser-based manufacturing, telecommunications, and medical diagnostics. This master's programme explores the unique properties of light and their technological uses, giving students an interdisciplinary grounding that spans physics, engineering and applied research. The curriculum is designed to foster innovation across industries such as automotive and mechanical engineering, micro- and optoelectronics, lighting technology, and medical and pharmaceutical device engineering.
The degree prepares graduates to become specialists and managers within the optical industry by combining fundamental science with practical engineering applications. Teaching and research are closely linked through strong cooperation between scientific and engineering departments in Hannover. In particular, students benefit from connections to the Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT) and the Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH), enabling early involvement with industry projects and research groups. Collaboration between the Faculties of Mathematics & Physics and Mechanical Engineering ensures a pathway from basic research to technical implementation.
Study emphasis areas include optical metrology, laser technology, biophotonics, technical optics and automotive lighting, and the role of optics in production and power engineering. For full programme details and application information, consult the programme web page (German): https://www.maschinenbau.uni-hannover.de/de/studium/studienangebot-der-fakultaet/optische-technologien-m-sc/.
Requirements / key facts (as given)
This master’s curriculum builds a wide-ranging, up-to-date foundation in optical technologies, with particular emphasis on photonics and laser technology. Course content reflects current scientific developments and methods, ensuring you learn state-of-the-art concepts and research directions in applied optics. The programme is designed to welcome students from diverse backgrounds and brings everyone to a common technical level before progressing to advanced topics.
Core, mandatory coursework strengthens fundamentals in physics and engineering—most notably the courses "Optical Measurement Technology" and "Design and Simulation of Optomechatronic Systems"—so students with different undergraduate degrees can advance together. A rich mix of compulsory, compulsory-elective and elective modules lets you tailor your studies toward specialized areas of applied optics, enabling deeper study in topics that match your interests and career goals. Key modules emphasize measurement and instrumentation, optomechanical design and simulation, and advanced photonics and laser methods.
Hands-on experience is a major component: you undertake numerous laboratory classes within university institutes, an eight-week basic internship, a twelve-week industrial training placement and a scientific student project. The programme culminates in a master’s thesis that requires you to apply learned methods and competencies to a current scientific problem. Graduates leave with practical lab skills, competence in optical measurement and optomechatronic design, experience of industrial workflows, and the ability to transfer theoretical knowledge into research or applied engineering tasks.
Requirements and major components
Applicants should hold an academic undergraduate qualification in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline. Acceptable credentials include a Bachelor’s degree, a German Diplom, a Staatsexamen, or an equivalent qualification in physics, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field. You must also provide documentation showing that you have earned the required credit points for the foundational courses relevant to this master’s program.
Important: if your academic records include coursework or degrees from certain countries, an additional document verification step is mandatory. Any university-level study achievements from the countries listed below generally need to be reviewed and certified by the Akademische Prüfstelle (APS), regardless of your current nationality or whether your degree was completed in a different country.
Requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Summer Semester (International)
30 November 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for technical and managerial positions in the optical and photonics industries, including roles in R&D, product development, quality and production engineering, and optical system design. Typical sectors include telecommunications, medical device and pharmaceutical engineering, automotive lighting, micro- and optoelectronics, and industrial laser applications.
Thanks to compulsory internships and close cooperation with research centres and companies, graduates often move directly into industry projects or continue into doctoral research. The mix of fundamental optics knowledge and applied engineering skills also supports careers in consulting, technical sales, and specialised manufacturing.
Friedrich Schiller University Jena — Jena
University of Göttingen — Göttingen
Technical University of Munich — München
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz — Mainz