Postgraduate research in photonics and optoelectronics at the University of Southampton. Scholarships available

Join our vibrant community of PhD students and researchers. We're part of the growth of the photonics industry, including the optical telecommunication technology that underpins the internet as well as solutions in medicine, biosciences sensing, security and manufacturing.

Our inventions are making the world a better place – in air travel, the internet and in life-saving medical devices. We received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our expertise in fibre optics and photonics.

You'll study at our dedicated Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) based at the Zepler Institute. We have more than 90 state-of-the-art photonics labs to work in and over 200 researchers working in photonics, physics and advanced materials.

We'll make sure you have a thorough grounding in photonics and you'll be supported by a supervisor who'll guide your research. Your supervisor will encourage you to attend international conferences and write journal papers and also recommend additional courses to develop your skills. Courses include training in report writing, project management, time management, presentation skills and safety training.

Our PhD students and postdoctoral researchers have made successful careers in universities worldwide or as scientists and business leaders in industry. The quality of our research outputs, the cluster of spin-off companies and the worldwide network of successful alumni place the ORC amongst the top institutes worldwide for doctoral research.

We'll also introduce you to the University of Southampton Optics and Photonics Society (OPSoc), which is the hub of a wide variety of social and professional activity among our students.

Find a research project

Funding opportunities  

Your doctoral research at the University of Southampton will change your career – and potentially the world. We’ve made a range of financial support available to help you begin your PhD journey.

You may qualify for one of our postgraduate scholarships or fee waivers that cover your tuition fees and more:

• Black Futures scholarship is aimed at talented UK-domiciled Black and mixed-Black heritage students. Deadline for Black Futures Scholarship applications to be received is Friday 28 February 2025.

• Innovation and Social Impact scholarships for researchers looking to drive social impact through their work. 

• Horizon Europe fee waivers introducing a new programme to support the reassociation of the UK with the Horizon Europe programme, and the University strategy to grow the international diversity of its doctoral cohort. The University will apply a fee waiver - equivalent to the difference between overseas and UK fees - for eligible postgraduate research students commencing their doctoral studies in the 2024-25 academic year.

• Presidential Bursaries for overseas postgraduate researchers, cover the fee difference between UK and overseas fees. 

For more information and how to apply visit our website