University of St Andrews

This programme will involve study of Applied Photonics (PhD students with Heriot-Watt and Glasgow/ Strathclyde) at an advanced, research-led level in which students will gain an understanding of how knowledge is created, advanced and renewed. The programme will encourage in all students a desire to pursue independent learning with curiosity, integrity, accuracy and intellectual rigour.

This is a 48-month programme of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). It contains 120 credits of taught modules, and with the majority of the time on the programme normally being on a research project in a university.
For information about core and optional modules in the St Andrews part of the programme, please consult the Programme Requirements, which can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/reqs/2024-25/RSPFPHYCAPT.html?1718102915367

Broader information is at https://cdtphotonics.hw.ac.uk/the-programme/

These describe the detailed structure of the course.

The EngD and PhD programmes in Applied Photonics are run as part of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics. These research degrees are normally run in collaboration with industry. The first two semesters of the programme are spent taking postgraduate taught modules of relevance in the field. First semester is normally spent at St Andrews, and the second semester taking modules from the University of Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt University. The majority of the rest of this research degree is spent undertaking a major research/development project. For most EngD students this is largely based in industry, and for most PhD students this is largely based in a university. Students are co-supervised by an industrial and an academic supervisor, and can benefit from the resources and expertise of both the university and the company. Different students will have their research projects supervised from different universities, but all students will normally be in St Andrews for their first semester of taught modules. The remaining taught modules are typically business oriented, and are delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University in intensive blocks, during years two and three of the programme.

https://cdtphotonics.hw.ac.uk

In the course of this programme students will develop knowledge, understanding, and skills in applied photonics. The technical modules near the start of the programme provide useful technical input. This is combined with the supervised research experience and the business-oriented modules to build a set of advanced skills and a knowledge base that should be of great value for employment in applied photonics.

Students will engage with independent and group study in a supportive framework of teaching and learning. In the taught modules lectures, laboratories, tutorials, and associated discussions and feedback will be used. In the research project there will be much experiential learning, supervision with discussions and feedback, and opportunities to present and discuss the work of the project.

Assessment can be a blend of diagnostic work to determine student needs, formative work submitted for assessment and feedback (but not necessarily for academic credit) and summative work submitted for academic credit.

Students' scholarship skills (in, for example, academic writing, information gathering and academic conduct) will be supported and developed through this programme. The following may be available, where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme and/or the research project.

Lectures
Small group discussions / tutorials
Autonomous learning groups
Independent study activities (supervised and unsupervised)
Laboratory based teaching and problem solving
Computer based teaching and analysis
Demonstrations
One-to-one discussions / supervision
Project work
Presentations
Practice exercises
Larger group discussions / seminars
Technology enhanced learning
Group work
Reflective practice
Simulations
Guided instruction/coaching
Project supervision
Experiential learning