The IMPRS Physics of Light is an international graduate programme based at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen that trains students at both MSc and PhD levels. It is run in partnership with Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, and offers funded MSc stipends as well as PhD positions. The programme’s working language is English, so knowledge of German is not required to participate.
The programme accepts students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree and provides a combination of core coursework in physics and engineering with opportunities to specialise in topics related to light and optics. After the taught component, MSc students complete one year of research training culminating in an MSc thesis. Master's students are formally enrolled in one of FAU’s degree tracks: the Master of Science in Physics or the Master of Advanced Optical Technologies (MAOT).
All formal instruction and supervision within the structured graduate programme is conducted in English. German language classes are available at both MPL and FAU for students who wish to learn or improve German. Full details about the programme and application process are available online.
The full IMPRS curriculum is published on the program website (see link below) and is integrated with the Master’s course offer at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). For a complete, up-to-date list of modules, course descriptions, credit allocation and the formal program structure, consult the IMPRS curriculum page and the FAU MSc course pages.
In practice the curriculum combines the IMPRS graduate training with the taught MSc courses at FAU. The program page describes the taught components, laboratory and research training, seminar and presentation obligations, and the Master’s thesis arrangement. It also explains how IMPRS research supervision and cohort activities complement the university coursework to form a coherent degree pathway.
Learning outcomes (as set out on the program pages) focus on preparing students to carry out independent, original research in the physics of light. Graduates are expected to demonstrate advanced subject knowledge, practical experimental and/or theoretical skills, experience of working in research teams, competence in scientific communication (oral and written), and readiness for careers in research or industry. Refer to the linked curriculum documents for the exact wording of module learning outcomes, assessment methods and credit requirements.
Quick links / requirements (check these pages for official, current details)
This Master's program requires applicants to have completed an undergraduate degree in a technical science. Specifically, the key academic prerequisite is a Bachelor’s-level qualification in either physics or an engineering discipline.
This is the principal eligibility criterion for admission. If you are uncertain whether your particular degree meets this requirement (for example, if your background is in a closely related field or comes from a different educational system), contact the program’s admissions office for guidance on equivalence and documentation.
Winter Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates are well prepared for research careers in academia and national/international research institutes, including PhD positions within Max Planck and university groups. The programme’s emphasis on optics and photonics also equips students for technical and engineering roles in industry sectors such as photonics, optical instrumentation, and applied research collaborations.
The combination of rigorous coursework and an extended research thesis develops transferable skills—experimental and theoretical competence, scientific communication, and teamwork in international environments—useful for careers in R&D, technology development, and higher education.
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