Photonics, machine learning and biometrics meet in the multidisciplinary master's programme in photonics.
Photonics for Security Reliability and Safety (PSRS) is a cross-disciplinary master's programme that opens doors to an international career in photonics.
The partner network of the degree programme includes four European universities, all known for their high-quality photonics expertise: Jean Monnet University (UJM), Saint-Etienne and University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) in France, Politecnico di Torino (PoliTo) in Turin, Italy, and the University of Eastern Finland. The programme also works closely with numerous academic and business partners.
The two-year master's programme focuses on photonics, but students also choose one of three specialisation options: "Photonics and machine learning", "Biometrics and machine vision" and "Micro/Nano technologies". Students begin their studies in France, from where they will continue to the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu after their first year of studies in the spring of their first year of study. After their first academic year, they will be able to complete a voluntary traineeship. In the autumn of the second year, students will move to study in France or Italy according to their specialisation options.
“The PSRS programme trains experts on today's and tomorrow's societal challenges related to the safety of people, goods and the environment,” says the Head of the Department of Physics and Mathematics and the programme's local academic coordinator, Professor Jyrki Saarinen.
Skills for international assignments and research
People who dream of photonics and have a bachelor's degree in technology, information technology or physics can apply to the programme.
Graduates of the programme understand the importance of science-based solutions in a global and societal framework. The studies comprehensively include the basics of photonics, data information and micronanotechnology, as well as optical design and laboratory exercises using, for example, imaging, micronanotechnology and laser processes.
“The first students were selected for the Master's Degree Programme in 2020; consequently, the first class graduated in fall 2022”. There is a great global need for photonics experts; thus, the graduates will have a wide range of career prospects. Most of the graduates end up working in companies in the field of optics and photonics around the world, but some of them also continue with their doctoral studies, Saarinen says.
Further information
Jyrki Saarinen, Head of the Department of Physics and Mathematics., Head of the Institute of Photonics jyrki.saarinen@uef.fi
Coordinator, Noora Heikkilä, noora.heikkila@uef.fi.
Contact information for the consortium: https://www.master-photonics4security.eu/, e-mail: master.PSRS@univ-st-etienne.fr
