LIGHT UP YOUR FUTURE
The Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of
Southampton is the largest photonics research community in the UK.
Get into photonics at the ORC and transform society.
LET'S TALK!
Our staff and students are the best people to tell you about what studying at Southampton is like. Start a conversation and we’ll get in touch.
What is Photonics?
Photonics is the science of light.
It’s hidden in everyday things we take for granted.
Although we can’t see them, photonic technologies enable countless facets of modern life. Fibre optics that underpin the internet, fibre lasers used in eye surgery and next generation technologies such as silicon photonics, which are revolutionising everything from data centres to consumer electronics.
Why is photonics exciting?
PHOTONICS IS THRIVING
The UK photonics sector is growing rapidly at 12% per annum. It delivers £14.5bn per year to the economy and employs an 76,900 people. That’s why our PhD and MSc students go on to have extremely successful careers.
PHOTONICS IS EVERYWHERE
We use photonics every day to communicate, save lives, power our homes, monitor pollution, explore space, detect disease, advance AI and make better decisions.
PHOTONICS BRINGS UNEXPECTED PEOPLE TOGETHER
Photonics research and innovation needs people from a range of backgrounds to collaborate. Physicists, engineers, computer scientists, chemists and mathematicians.
PHOTONICS IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE
Light is fast. By harnessing the power of photons, we can develop devices, technology and ways to do things faster, cheaper and more efficiently.
What is the Optoelectronics Research Centre?
The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is the largest optics and photonics research community in the United Kingdom.
Founded in 1989, the ORC is home to state-of-the-art facilities including a £120m cleanroom complex and a team of highly accomplished academics who work in close partnership with industry, in the UK and globally.
A VIBRANT COMMUNITY
The ORC has a diverse and passionate community of PhD and MSc students and researchers, led by some of the leading figures in the field of photonics.
HIGH IMPACT
Our world-changing photonics inventions navigate airlines, cut steel, manufacture life-saving medical devices and power the internet.
WELL-CONNECTED
We have very strong links with local, national and international industries, and collaborate with many other university groups. Our entrepreneurial photoincs researchers have founded 12 spin-out companies.
Join us at the ORC to capture, create, and control light to change the world.
A VIBRANT COMMUNITY
The ORC has a diverse and passionate community of PhD students and researchers, led by some of the leading figures in the field of photonics.
HIGH IMPACT
Our world-changing inventions navigate airlines, cut steel, manufacture life-saving medical devices and power the internet.
WELL-CONNECTED
We have very strong links with local, national and international industries, and collaborate with many other university groups. Our entrepreneurial researchers have founded 12 spin-out companies.
Join us at the ORC to capture, create, and control light to change the world.
What it is like to study photonics at the ORC?
As a former student of the ORC, you will be a highly-valued member of our global community. The strength of this community is reflected by our long history of discovery and innovation, driven by the collaborative work of our research groups. We’re proud of our family atmosphere and make time to get to know each other and celebrate each other’s achievements.
