Optics and Photonics
Discover why optics is of key importance to many industrial sectors on one of the College’s longest-established courses.
Discover why optics is of key importance to many industrial sectors
Carry out substantial laboratory and project work in one of the UK’s largest centres for optics research and application
Study on one of the College’s longest-established courses
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
1 year, 2 years
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
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Fees
Full-time: £14,500 Part-time: £7,250 per year Home
Full-time: £34,700 Part-time: £17,350 per year Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard 2023
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2:1 in physics, mathematics or electrical engineering
Course overview
Advance your knowledge of optics in one of the largest centres for optics-based research and application in the UK. Discover why this field is of key importance to many industrial sectors including medicine, ICT and high-tech manufacturing.
Imperial has offered an advanced course in optics for over 80 years. The current MSc in Optics and Photonics draws on that wealth of experience to prepare graduates for employment within a variety of careers in industry or further doctoral studies.
The programme will explore key topics including imaging, laser fundamentals, optical measurements and devices, and optical communications.
You'll carry out substantial laboratory and project work during the course, often based within industry. There is also a chance to undertake a self-study project in an area of your choice, and your studies will conclude with a full-time project, which may be in industry, an academic research group, or abroad.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
You’ll take all of these core modules, and complete a full-time project looking into a specialist area of optics research.
Core modules
Explore themes including Fermat's Principle, Snell's law, stops and pupils, complex amplitude and the resolution of imaging systems.
Gain an understanding of the fundamentals of laser physics.
Explore common optical measurement and devices, learn about polarisation, and discover practical techniques for the manufacture of thin film devices.
Carry out a self-study project in an area of your choice.
You’ll also choose optional modules to a total of 25 to 27.5 ECTS.
Optional modules
Understand the operation principles and technology of optical fibre networks and analyse the key physical concepts underlying laser and nonlinear optics.
Engage with theories of plasmonics and metamaterials and understand how photonics and nanotechnology can be combined into the new discipline of nanophotonics.
Explore elements of optimal design including finite ray tracing, chromatic aberrations, and the use of aspheric surfaces in imaging systems.
Develop your understanding of nanoscale photonics, and explore photonic technologies for growing applications in biophotonics and telecommunications.
Become familiar with the principles and practice of laser devices and nonlinear optical technology.
Analyse the principles and practice of biomedical imaging technologies, including microscopes, fluorescence and tomography.
Examine the most important device components from the worlds of optical telecommunication, space lighting, optical displays and sustainable energy production.
Discover how fibre and ultrafast lasers work and gain insight into why they are such useful tools in a wide variety of scientific and industrial applications.
Showcase your knowledge and skills acquired across the course on a four-month, full-time project.
This can be carried out in industry, abroad, or in conjunction with an academic research group.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures and classes
- Laboratory work
- Project work
- 44% Lectures and classes
- 17% Laboratory work
- 39% Project work
Teaching and learning methods
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Virtual learning environment
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Individual project
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Lectures
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Lecture recordings
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Practical work
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Problem classes
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Tutorials
Balance of assessment
Key
- Written examinations
- Laboratory work
- Project work
- 44% Written examinations
- 17% Laboratory work
- 39% Project work
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Examinations
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Oral presentation
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Poster
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Practical
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Reports
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Oral assessment
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 5 closes on Friday 7 July 2023
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by midnight (UK time) on the relevant application round deadline to ensure that you receive the outcome of your application by the decision date.
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Apply by 4 November 2022
- Decision by 19 December 2022
Round 2
- Apply by 20 January 2023
- Decision by 10 March 2023
Round 3
- Apply by 31 March 2023
- Decision by 12 May 2023
Round 4
- Apply by 26 May 2023
- Decision by 27 July 2023
Round 5
- Apply by 7 July 2023
- Decision by 4 August 2023
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for all taught Master's applications excluding those to the Imperial College Business School
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH07-01-01
- Descriptor: Physics
- Supervisor name: Professor Michele Dougherty
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2023 entry
£14,500
Part-time
£7,250per year
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount was £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
Full-time
£34,700
Part-time
£17,350per year
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount was £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Learn how to apply your knowledge of optics and photonics to a wide range of industrial and research contexts.
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Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
Alumni are highly sought after for a variety of careers in industry.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 7512
- Email: l.sanchez@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Kenny Weir
Visit the Department of Physics website.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications