Tampere, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Application for studies starting in autumn 2025 begins 11 December 2024 and ends 3 January 2025
** per academic year for non-EU/EEA students
Key Summary
Introduction
Study photonics technologies – for a more sustainable future!
With photonics, the science and technology of light, you can make an impact and improve our daily lives sustainably. Producing, using, and controlling light is critical to communications, health care, energy production, manufacturing, safety and security as well as consumer products. Our Master’s Programme in Photonics Technologies will give you the perfect basis and knowledge for a future career in a growing industry.
Top-notch theoretical knowledge and collaboration with the industry
Our Master’s program provides you with in-depth knowledge of photonics, ranging from fundamental light-matter interactions, laser physics, and nonlinear dynamics to the design of optical systems, semiconductor technologies, advanced nanofabrication methods, and measurement techniques. In your studies, you can specialize either in Photonics Materials or Ultrafast Photonics and Lasers
You can also choose a minor of free choice studies from the wide array of courses offered by the multidisciplinary Tampere University.
You will put theoretical concepts into practice through experiments and hands-on laboratory assignments, and in close collaboration with the industry.
Bright future outlook
Studying photonics will give you the skills for a career as a high-tech expert in a rapidly growing industry. Your future role can be project engineer, technology specialist, developer, or manager. You can work in health care, energy production, communications, manufacturing, and safety, just to mention a few options. You might also opt for doctoral studies and pursue an academic career.
Benefit from high-quality research and international networks
Our extensive international networks offer lots of opportunities to gain international experience and help you stand out in the job market.
You may complete a double degree in Photonics at Bordeaux University. Students at Tampere University can apply for the double degree option during the first year of their master’s studies.
In addition, Tampere University is a partner in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degree Europhotonics. There is a separate application process for the program.
Our education is based on long-standing research in photonics. Tampere University coordinates the prestigious Finnish Academy Flagship for Photonics Research and Innovation, PREIN. It is a hub for high-quality research with proven societal impact.
Study photonics technologies with us and become a creator of a more sustainable future!
Admissions
Curriculum
Study contents
The compulsory basic studies of the Master’s Programme provide an introduction to photonics and provide prerequisites for pursuing advanced studies. Hands-on laboratory assignments where theoretical knowledge is put into practice are an important aspect of the program that will help you develop research and engineering skills to pursue a career in academia or industry. The program also includes frequent interactions with the industry and regular seminars on emerging research areas and technologies. The extended major of 90 credits in photonics includes a master's thesis (30 credits) completed in a research group or as an industrial project.
Tampere University offers the opportunity to pursue broad and cross-disciplinary education. You may include a freely chosen minor of 20 credits in the degree to acquire additional expertise in a field of your interest. You can choose free choice courses from a wide offering in different disciplines within Tampere University or other higher education institutions.
Specializations
After completing the basic study module, you can choose one of the two specializations
Specialization in Photonic Materials
This specialization provides students with in-depth knowledge of the different types of materials and structures used in photonics research and technology development. The module covers a wide range of materials and structures, including optical glasses and ceramics, polymers and liquid crystals, bio-inspired materials, and metamaterials, as well as surface structure and engineering. The module also includes studies in semiconductor devices and associated fabrication methods.
Specialization in Ultrafast Photonics and Lasers
The specialization in Ultrafast Photonics and Lasers introduces students to the latest trends in laser technology developments and applications. The module familiarises students with the theoretical concepts associated with ultrafast systems and nonlinear photonics. Special emphasis is placed on the latest generations of lasers and their applications, such as processing, biomedical, imaging, and communications in research and industry.
Structure of studies
The Master’s Programme (120 ECTS) may be completed in two years of full-time study.
Thesis
The Master's thesis (30 ECTS) trains the student for independent studies and research, mastery of scientific methods, the convention of references, and the scientific mode of presentation in a good literary form. The thesis can be done as part of the research conducted at the Laboratory of Photonics or in the industry. The thesis includes a thesis seminar and a maturity test (written exam).
Scholarships and Funding
Tampere University Tuition Fee Scholarships
Tampere University tuition fee scholarship is an exclusive opportunity awarded to a limited number of the best-performing applicants in each programme.
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships awarded at admission cover 50% of the tuition fees for the programme duration.
Early bird offer
While Tampere University scholarships are available to a limited number of applicants, the early bird offer is available at admission to all fee-paying students. The early bird offer gives a 1500 € reduction on the programme tuition fee during the first year of studies.
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Career Opportunities
Tampere University enjoys international recognition for its expertise in photonics, and light-based technologies is one of the research spearhead areas of our university. Our world-class research provides unique opportunities for our graduates to continue working in academia as scientists and pursue a doctoral degree.
After completing the Photonics Technologies programme you may become a technology expert, researcher, or manager in the rapidly growing photonics industry or related application fields. Industry careers in photonics may, for example, involve research and development or engineering in companies in the fields of communications, software development, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, consumer products etc. The degree will provide you with a wide range of career options and by making specific choices during your studies you will be able to tailor your degree towards the career path of your choice.
Internationalisation
Students in the Master’s Programme in Photonics Technologies can benefit from our extensive international collaboration networks.
Tampere University has a Double Degree programme in photonics with the University of Bordeaux (France). Students at Tampere University can apply for this Double Degree during the first year of master’s studies.
Tampere University is a member of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Programme Europhotonics coordinated by the Aix Marseille Université in France. The other partners are Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), Barcelona Universities (Spain) and Vilnius University (Lithuania). There is a separate application to the Joint Erasmus Mundus Master’s Degree Programme. Students in the Photonics Technologies programme participate in the same teaching in Tampere and may apply for an exchange period at one of the partner universities.
Co-operation with other parties
Students may include studies in international or Finnish universities in the degree. In addition to studies in one’s own Master’s Programme, students may take full advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community from technical to vocational studies in various fields.