This English-taught, two-year Master's program sits at the crossroads of optics and electronics, giving you the skills to move discoveries from the lab into practical devices. Building on advances in areas such as nanophotonics, semiconductor physics and quantum optics, the curriculum combines modern physics with precision engineering and up-to-date technologies. You will learn both the theoretical foundations of light–matter interaction and the hands-on techniques needed to design, fabricate and test optoelectronic systems.
Throughout the program you acquire a broad technical toolkit and a rigorous conceptual understanding that together prepare you for research or development roles. Projects and coursework emphasize real-world engineering of photonic components and systems, so graduates are ready for roles in industry as well as for continuing in academia. The program’s research orientation and international collaborations create clear pathways for doctoral study in Germany and elsewhere.
Studying here also connects you with European academic and industrial networks: you will find opportunities to work in internationally active research groups and to build contacts with emerging and established photonics companies across the region. This makes the degree a strong launchpad for careers in fields such as telecommunications, sensing, semiconductor devices, quantum technologies and other areas where photonics and electronics converge.
Program highlights (offered)
The programme combines a solid, compulsory core with flexibility for specialisation. During the first two semesters you take fundamental lectures in physics and electrical engineering alongside hands‑on laboratory practicals; most courses in this phase are mandatory to establish a broad technical base. All lectures include practical classes where students solve, discuss and present problems, and a seminar trains you to extract a research question from the literature and present your findings to peers.
In the second and third semesters you add elective courses to tailor the degree toward specific areas of optical technologies. You may also choose a few general‑interest courses from the university catalogue, for example German language classes, to support everyday life and career prospects in Germany. In the second year you join one of the departmental research groups and carry out a supervised individual lab project which can evolve into your Master’s thesis. The written thesis is submitted toward the end of the fourth semester and is followed by a colloquium in which you present and defend your work.
Graduates leave with a deep understanding of the fundamentals of optical technologies and well‑developed practical and scientific skills. The programme qualifies you for independent research and development tasks in both academia and industry, combines physics and engineering expertise valued by the optics and electronics sectors, and provides the academic standing to pursue PhD programmes in Paderborn or elsewhere.
Key modules and components
Learning outcomes
This master’s program is intended for students who hold a solid undergraduate grounding in physics. Candidates should have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Physics or a closely related natural science or engineering discipline that provides the same core knowledge.
“Equivalent” degrees must include the physical and mathematical fundamentals that underpin optoelectronics and photonics, plus at least one course in quantum theory or quantum mechanics. Examples of acceptable backgrounds include, but are not limited to, applied physics, materials science, electrical engineering or other engineering degrees that cover the required physics and math content.
If your degree title differs from “Physics,” you should be prepared to document the content of your prior courses (transcripts and course descriptions). If you are unsure whether your qualification meets the requirement, contact the admissions office for a pre-evaluation.
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
21 September 2026
Graduates obtain a solid foundation in optical technologies, combining physics and engineering skills that qualify them for independent scientific work in research and development. Career paths include roles in the optics and electronics industries (e.g. photonics, semiconductor, sensor and laser companies), technical development and engineering positions, as well as applied research in R&D departments. The degree also prepares students for academic careers: graduates are positioned to apply for PhD programmes in Germany and abroad and to join internationally active research groups, leveraging the programme's emphasis on practical lab experience and supervised research projects.
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