Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP)

Your excellent international graduate school in Germany

The Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP) is a top tier interdisciplinary graduate school in Germany that provides an integrated MSc and PhD program (or PhD only) in Photonics for excellent graduates from all over the world.

<span>The Max Planck School of Photonics is your best option for a career in Photonics academia or industry. Here are four good aswers, why:</span><br /><br /><span>- </span><strong>Full funding</strong><span> and no tuition fees</span><br /><span>- </span><strong>Excellent teaching</strong><span> and research facilities</span><br /><span>- </span><strong>Outstanding network</strong><span> of world-renowned Fellows </span><br /><span>- Very good </span><strong>connections to industry</strong>

Why to join the MPSP:

The Max Planck School of Photonics is your best option for a career in Photonics academia or industry. Here are four good aswers, why:

- Full funding and no tuition fees
- Excellent teaching and research facilities
- Outstanding network of world-renowned Fellows
- Very good connections to industry

Our PhD candidates can conduct their research at one of our 17 network partner institutions, i.e. top-ranking universities or renowned research institutions across Germany. Find more abour our locations here .

More about the MPSP PhD program

The MPSP PhD program is structured in two phases. During the first phase, which we call the study phase, you obtain a Master’s degree in photonics from one of three teaching universities. During the second phase, called the research phase , you conduct your PhD research under the supervision of one of the 48 MPSP Fellows.

**Overview of our integrated Master and PhD program.** With a qualifying Master’s degree, you can start the three-year research phase straight away. With a Bachelor's degree (=undergraduate), you first complete the 2-year study phase.

During the whole program, you benefit from excellent networking opportunities as well as a supporting interdisciplinary curriculum to foster interactions between the different photonics-related disciplines, strengthen the research network and advance personal and professional skills.

The Max Planck School of Photonics at a glance

Find out what makes us the best graduate school to start your career in Photonics in less than three minutes. Our explanation video sums it up and gives you a first impression of our program.

Why Photonics?

Photonics is a dynamic physical science which focusses on light itself, (the photon) creation, manipulation, control and photonics applications in everyday life. As the key technology for various research areas and innovative branches of industry, it drives the technological development in the 21st century. It has gained such importance that this century is predicted to be the age of photonics, as the 20th century was for electronics.

If you are a graduate with a background in physics, engineering or a related field, Photonics is your chance to enlight the world with your research and work. With a PhD in Photonics, you'll have numerous career opportunities in both academia or industry.

Learn more about our Research Topics >

Why studying at MPSP in Germany?

Germany is one of the leading Photonics nations in Europe and the whole world. German researchers at universities and non-universitarian research institutions produce excellent contributions to all photonics-related disciplines and fields - from attosecond physics to quantum optics, from fundamental research to industry-oriented applications.

At the Max Planck School of Photonics, we connect the brightest minds from diverse institutions to give our PhD candidates access to their combined knowledge and cutting-edge research. You can join research groups of your choice and contribute to the groundbreaking research. The MPSP set the goal to educates the best international junior scientists in an environment of excellence.
The research environment and study life in Germany do the rest for a fantastic grad school experience: Excellent research facilities and labs - fantastic, easy-to-reach nature and culture in your free time.