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Studies & Degrees in Laser and Fibre Optics

Laser and fibre optics is the part of applied physics and engineering that deals with producing, guiding and measuring light. Today the field is usually taught under the wider names of optics and photonics. A laser, as NASA explains, produces a narrow beam of light in which all the light waves have very similar wavelengths and travel in phase, so the beam can be focused on a very small spot and can travel long distances. Optical fibres guide that light along thin strands of glass, which is how most telephone, television and internet signals are carried.

Students learn how light is generated and how it behaves, and then how to build devices that use it. Typical course subjects are beam propagation, laser systems, optical fibres and telecommunications, optical design, imaging, non-linear optics and laboratory work. The applications range from communication networks and sensors to cutting and welding of materials, surgery, medical imaging and environmental measurement.

Qualifications and levels

There are few first degrees with this exact name. Most students reach the field through a bachelor's degree in physics, engineering physics, telecommunications or electronic engineering and specialise afterwards.

  • Bachelor's degree. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, which is four years of study. In the United States the usual route is a four-year Bachelor of Science; Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, for example, offers a BS in Physics and a BS in Engineering Physics.
  • Master's degree. This is the level at which most specialised programmes are found. Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Master's degree in Photonics taught jointly in the Barcelona area by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universitat de Barcelona and the research institute ICFO lasts one academic year (60 ECTS credits), is taught in English and is an official degree recorded by the Spanish ministry. Its curriculum includes courses such as Laser Systems and Applications and Fibres and Telecommunications. Applicants need a university degree of at least 180 ECTS credits in physics, engineering or a related field. The Erasmus Mundus master Europhotonics is a two-year programme run by universities in Marseille, Karlsruhe, Barcelona, Tampere and Vilnius.
  • Research degrees. The Laser and Fibre Optics Centre (LAFOC) of the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, commissioned in 1993 as an African regional centre affiliated to the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, offers M.Phil. and PhD research in optics and photonics together with the university's Department of Physics.
  • Technician training. People who install and repair fibre optic networks usually train through a certificate, a short college programme or vocational training in electronics or telecommunications, followed by training on the job.

Where to study it

This is a small specialism. The directory lists three schools for laser and fibre optics: one in Ghana (the University of Cape Coast), one in the United States (Saint Joseph's University) and one in Iraq (the University of Thi-Qar). Many more universities teach the subject inside a physics or engineering department without using the name, so it is worth looking at the optics or photonics courses of any physics or telecommunications degree.

English is a common language of instruction at master's and doctoral level; the Barcelona master's degree mentioned above is taught in English. Before applying, check which first degree the programme accepts, how much laboratory time it includes and whether the thesis can be done in a research group or a company.

Careers

Graduates work in two broad kinds of jobs. The first is research and development: designing lasers, sensors, imaging systems or optical components in companies, hospitals, universities and research centres. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes optical physicists as specialists who study light and its interaction with atoms and molecules, and notes that a PhD is typically required for research and academic posts. It projects employment of physicists and astronomers in the United States to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035.

The second is technical work on networks. Telecommunications technicians install and repair telecommunications lines and fibre optic cables, and those who work with fibre must be able to splice and terminate optical cables. In the United States the Bureau projects that employment of telecommunications technicians will decline 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, although about 20,300 openings are still expected each year because workers need to be replaced. Figures for other countries differ, so check the national statistics office of the country where you plan to work.

Frequently asked questions

Is laser and fibre optics the same as photonics?

Photonics is the wider name for the science and technology of light. Lasers and optical fibres are two of its main topics, and most university programmes now use the name optics or photonics.

Which degree do I need to specialise in lasers and fibre optics?

Most specialised programmes are master's degrees that ask for a first degree in physics, engineering or a related field. The Master's degree in Photonics in Barcelona, for example, requires a university degree of at least 180 ECTS credits in a scientific or technological field.

Do I need a university degree to work with fibre optics?

Not for installation and repair work. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, telecommunications technicians typically need at least a high school diploma, and employers may prefer a certificate or associate's degree. Research and design jobs normally require a university degree.