Course Structure PO 2024

Module overview

  • 36 Credit Points: Mandatory Modules
  • 54 Credit Points: Mandatory Elective Modules, among those
    • 32 CP Mandatory Elective Courses
    • 6 CP Practical Subjects
  • 16 Credit Points: Free Elective Courses
  • 30 Credit Points: Master Thesis

We generally recommend taking 30 CP per semester in order to successfully complete the master’s degree course within 2 years (4 semesters).

In the first two semesters, you concentrate on the mandatory modules with 18 CP and add 12 CP of mandatory elective modules or free elective modules.

In the third semester, you will ideally have completed all mandatory modules and can complete the 30 CP in this semester with mandatory elective modules and free elective modules.

Please note that different courses are offered in the winter semester than in the summer semester.

In the fourth semester, you will then work on your Master's thesis.

Study Plan LAP (PO 2024)

Mandatory Modules

The mandatory modules are all modules you must take and pass. There is no way to bypass them. However, they provide you with all the important background information on lasers and photonics and are a solid basis for further specialisations. Ideally, you will have completed the mandatory modules after your second semester.

Module
Course
LV-NumberCPSemester
WiSeSoSe
Photonics Fundamentals
Photonics Fundamentals

141260
6
6
  
Optics Fundamentals
Optics Fundamentals

tba
6
6
  
Laser Fundamentals
Laser Fundamentals

tba
6
6
  
Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics
Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics

141478
6
6
  
Hands-On Fundamentals 6 
Master-Project Optics Fundamentals1422703  
Master-Project Advanced Optics 11422623  
English 6 
English for Specific Academic Purposes: Researching and Writing a Scientific Paper2512313  
English for Specific Academic Purposes: Producing and Presenting a Scientific Poster2512303  

Mandatory Electives

The mandatory elective courses are lectures that are concluded with an examination. The difference to the mandatory modules is that you can choose from a list of courses which you would like to take. You earn at least 32 CP from mandatory elective courses by the end of your studies, more are possible, but not less.

Module
Course
LV-NumberCPSemester
WiSeSoSe
Mandatory Electives ≥ 32  
[Cancelled in WT 2024/25] Biomedical Optics1412713  
Electromagnetic Fields1413675  
Fiber Optics1399406  
Laser Chemistrytba3  
Laser Materials Processing1399606  
Laser Spectroscopytba5  
Mid-IR and THz Photonicstba3  
[START in WT 2025/26] Nonlinear and Complex Systemstba6  
Numerical Photonics in Python1414825  
Optical Communications1412583  
Optoelectronics1412676  
Photovoltaics1412693  
Physics of Quantum Cascade Laserstba4  
Quantum and Nonlinear Opticstba6  
Soft Condensed Matter Physicstba6  
Techniques of Laser Metrology *1392306  
Ultrafast Laser Physics and Technology **1414246  
Upon approval from the master course coordinator further courses can be acknowledged as mandatory electives. Form for acknowlegdement is available at the examination office.
* Students who have passed the examinations of the courses "Laser Metrology" (139930) are excluded from taking this examination.
** Students who have passed the examinations of the courses "Ultrafast Laser Physics and Technology" (141420) or "Ultrafast Laser Physics 1: Basics of ultrashort pulses" (141421) or "Ultrafast Laser Physics 2: Generation and Applications of Ultrashort Pulses" (141423) are excluded from taking this examination.

Elective Practicals

Practical work in the lab, programming or reading and understanding papers – these are the practical subjects. You need at least 6 CP in practical subjects for your master's degree, which means that you have to take between 2 and 3 practical subjects during the course of your studies. Again, more is always possible, but not less.

Module
Course
LV-NumberCPSemester
WiSeSoSe
Practical Subjects ≥ 6  
Journal Club1432632  
Laser Colloquium1414222  
Master-Seminar Photonics1432643  
Master-Seminar Terahertz Technology1432653  
Master Project Advanced Optics 21422633  
Master-Project Applied Optics 11390403  
Master-Project Applied Optics 21390503  
Science Project1422644  
Research Project1422673  
Research Project Conference Participation1422681  
Competitive International Research Project1422652  
Competitive International Research Project Presentation1422663  
Upon approval from the master course coordinator further courses can be acknowledged as elective practicals. Form for acknowlegdement is available at the examination office.

Free Elective Courses

In the free elective courses, you can set additional individual specialisations. You can freely choose from the entire range of courses offered by Ruhr University in order to deepen your knowledge. In addition to technical subjects, e.g. taking more mandatory elective courses or practical subjects than needed, you can thus add courses from science, programming, economics, languages, philosophy and more to your studies.

All courses offered in English are listed in the RUB International Course Catalogue: https://international.rub.de/rubiss/studium/vvz.html.en 

In addition to your subject courses, you can also attend German as a Foreign Language (DaF) courses at RUB. The courses are free of charge and offered at different language levels. Note that you must register in good time to be able to attend. You can find the dates for registration online at: http://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/

Module
Course
LV-NumberCPSemester
WiSeSoSe
Free Elective Courses ≥ 16  
Free Choice141109   

Master Thesis

The grand finale of your master's programme is your master's thesis, which you ideally do in the 4th semester. Here you work on a scientific project for 6 months and write your thesis on it. This is usually done at a chair or a working group at the RUB, but it is also possible to write your thesis at a research institute or a company. However, you will need a first examiner from RUB, so make sure you get on early.

Module
Course
LV-NumberCPSemester
WiSeSoSe
Master Thesis 30  
Master Thesis14410330  

Postal address

Ruhr University Bochum
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Universitätsstraße 150
Postbox ID 16
D-44801 Bochum

Contact us

Dr.-Ing. Maxim Cherkashin & M.Sc. Yinghui Hu
Student Advisor Lasers and Photonics

Email: LasersPhotonics(at)ei.rub.de

 

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