Optical Engineering

On this one-year master’s degree you’ll gain specialist knowledge of technologies that harness the power of light, such as lasers and optical fibres. You’ll learn how to design and create optical components and materials, working in the largest multidisciplinary cleanroom of its type in the UK.

You’ll be taught by leading experts in the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC). Our inventions can be found on the Moon, on Mars and on the International Space Station. We built the foundations of the internet and our research is powering changes in medicine, telecommunications, defence, renewable energy and manufacturing. 97% of our Engineering research is rated as world leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

If you've got a passion for physics and engineering materials, but want to keep your job opportunities open, this course will allow you to explore both. Many of our students go on to study for a PhD, but many also go into industry, or set up their own business.

You'll gain practical insights into how to run a modern photonics business through our Industrial Showcase Week. During the week you’ll visit several businesses and learn from experienced photonics business leaders how to apply research and engineering skills to real-world problems. 11 spin-out companies have so far been developed from the Optoelectronics Research Centre.