The Heriot-Watt Industrial Doctorate Centre in Optics and Photonics Technologies

We are one of eighteen EPSRC-funded Industrial Doctorate Centres. In partnership with our industrial partners we provide commercially-focused, Engineering Doctorate training across an expansive range of technologies in optics and photonics: including devices and systems and cognate technologies in signal and image processing, microsystems and product design and manufacture.

The EngD is an alternative to a traditional PhD aimed at students wanting a career in industry. Students spend about 75% of their time working directly with a company in addition to receiving advanced-level training from a broad portfolio of technical and business courses. On completion students are awarded the PhD-equivalent EngD. Students entering our EngD programme typically have a background in the physical sciences, engineering or mathematics. Initial evidence suggests that the EngD qualification enhances employment prospects and starting salaries compared to a conventional PhD. The Industrial Doctorate Centre in Optics and Photonics Technologies is a collaboration between Heriot-Watt, Glasgow, St Andrews and Strathclyde Universities. With 350 members we are the largest academic body of optics and photonics researchers in the UK. If you are a prospective student or a company interested in collaborating with us on an EngD project the information provided via the links on the left should be useful. For additional information please contact us directly.