Research School for Advanced Photon Science (RS-APS)

RS-APS is the doctoral research school of the Helmholtz Institute Jena and provides structured PhD training in advanced photon science. It connects the Helmholtz research infrastructure with university expertise and offers lecture weeks, soft-skill training, and research collaboration across Jena and associated Helmholtz centres.

Academic requirements

excellent Master's degree (or equivalent)

Minimum GPA

The official programme page refers to excellent master's-level qualification or equivalent but does not publish a fixed numerical GPA threshold.

English requirements

The official programme page requires adequate proficiency in English; native speakers are exempt.

Accepted bachelor fields

Suitable previous studies include physics, photonics, laser technology, applied physics, engineering physics, or a closely related field.

APS Certificate

Yes

Tuition fee

None

Semester contribution

No separate semester contribution is published on the official RS-APS doctoral page. If doctoral candidates enrol at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the current semester contribution is 315.05 EUR per semester for Summer Semester 2026.

Funding info

Tuition: None Semester contribution: No separate semester contribution is published on the official RS-APS doctoral page. If doctoral candidates enrol at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the current semester contribution is 315.05 EUR per semester for Summer Semester 2026.

Graduates are prepared for advanced research careers in academia, national laboratories, and high-technology R&D environments focused on lasers, optics, and photon science.

• 1

  Physics

  Ruhr-Universität Bochum

  Bochum · Master of Science · English

• 2

  Biophysics, Master of Science

  Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

  Würzburg · Master of Science · English

• 3

  Master's: Advanced Quantum Physics

  RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau

  Kaiserslautern · Master of Science · English

• 4

  Elite Master's Programme: Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

  Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

  München · Master of Science · English

• 5

  Physics

  University of Greifswald

  Greifswald · Master of Science · English