(QPT) Quantum and Photonic Technologies
The Quantum and Photonic Technologies (QPT) master track is a two-year program offered within the Master’s in Fundamental Physics and Applications at the University of Lille. Open to students entering either the first or second year, the program is designed for those with a background in fundamental physics. Taught entirely in English, it offers training in a vibrant international environment, preparing students for careers and research in the rapidly evolving fields of quantum science and photonics.
Training objectives
The Quantum and Photonic Technologies master track aims to train physicists to tackle the major scientific questions of the 21st century, from concrete to applied challenges. A wide range of physics is part of the master track, going from fundamental quantum physics and quantum technologuies, the physics of light and photonic technologies, to condensed matter physics and statistical mechnaics.
The training is based on the knowledge and expertise of the following laboratories on the campus: PhLAM (Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules) and IEMN (Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie).
Recruitment profiles
Students sought for entry into the first year will have a bachelor's degree in Fundamental Physics or equivalent. We also accept direct enrollment in the second year for students who can demonstrate completion of a first year of a master's program or a fourth year of higher education.
The enrollment procedures depend on your background and are described on the pages dedicated to first-year enrollment and second-year enrollment.
From concepts to applications
The program is aimed at curious and motivated students such as:
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Students seeking a deep conceptual understanding of modern physics;
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Students seeking to apply fundamental physics concepts to the development of future technologies.
Analytical methods and tools
During their studies, students will have the opportunity to learn:
- how to analyze and model a quantum physics problem, particularly the use of quantum information and computation;
- how to use photonic tools to manipulate light;
- how to use modern computer science methods and tools such as AI resources.
Skills acquired upon completion of the degree
Students in the Quantum and Photonics Technologies program will become experts in quantum physics and/or the physics of light. They will also gain a broad scientific background through courses in condensed matter (including strongly correlated systems), equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical physics, the modern view of phase transitions, and field theory.
They will be trained in advanced analytical methods, enabling them to tackle modern physics problems independently.
The program also includes aspects of digital sciences. The first year offers general courses such as an introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning and their uses in physics.
Finally, students will have the opportunity to develop their general skills, communication skills, and professional skills through language classes, specialized project-based courses including oral and poster presentations, and long-term internships.
They will thus be prepared for doctoral studies and careers in research and development in industry or the public sector.
Program
The master's program is organized into two years and four semesters of 30 credits each, with classes and internships from September to June or July, for a total of 120 ECTS credits. In order to welcome students from all backgrounds and prepare them to work in a European and international context, the language of instruction is English. The majority of teachers are French-speaking and able to answer questions and interact in French, but classes are taught in English.
The courses are structured into three skill and knowledge blocks (BCC - Blocs de Compétences et Connaissances) described below.
Skill and knowledge blocks
Year 1 – Semester S1
- AI and advanced computational methods in physics – 3 ECTS
Explore the intersection of AI, Machine Learning, and Physics in this class. Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge techniques and applications tailored for the world of physics. - Atomic scale modeling I – 3 ECTS
Discover powerful simulation techniques like Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo to predict and design material properties at the atomic scale. - States of Matter and Materials Science Primers – 3 ECTS
Have a clear understanding of the different families of materials (metals and alloys, ceramics, polymers) based on their properties and microstructure.
Year 1 – Semester S2
- Satellites and remote sensing – 3 ECTS
Master the principles and applications of remote sensing and satellite technology through comprehensive lectures and practical work with insights into environmental monitoring and cutting edge research. - Radiative transfer and radiation-matter interactions – 3 ECTS
Master the principles and applications of radiation-matter interaction in the context of atmospheric studies. Through a good balance between theoretical, numerical and practical elements. - Large scale research infrastructures – 3 ECTS
This course aims to introduce students to the principles, functioning, and applications of major large scale research infrastructures (LSRI) used in both fundamental and applied research.
Year 2 – Semester S3
- Structural properties of matter : electron microscopy and diffraction – 3 ECTS
Characterize the state of materials at the crystal to nanometer scale using advanced experimental methods such as the scanning and transmission electron microscope, and powder X-ray diffraction - Atomic scale modeling II – 3 ECTS
Discover quantum first principles methods to solve the problem of the electronic structure of molecular systems, from isolated molecules to solids - Advanced Spectroscopy of Molecular Systems: From Gas Phase to Condensed Matter (ASMS) – 3 ECTS
This course aims to introduce fundamental principles in molecular physics characterization by optical (vibrational, rotational) and neutron spectroscopies, as well as dielectric techniques.
Year 1 – Semester S1
- Foreign language (French or English) – 3 ECTS
Improve your communication skills in a foreign language - PE or Graduate Program Special Teaching – 3 ECTS
Learn on current topic from the Materials for a Sustainable Future graduate program - Tutored trainings – 3 ECTS
Discover new topics in physics based on the scientific literature, and develop your teaching and presentation skills in front of your peers.
Year 1 – Semester S2
- Tutored trainings – 3 ECTS
Discover new topics in physics based on the scientific literature, and develop your teaching and presentation skills in front of your peers. - Experimental project – 3 ECTS
Develop students’ autonomy, scientific rigor, and technical skills through the realization of an experimental project in pairs. Apply theoretical knowledge acquired so far to solve a real-world problem. - Internship – 6 ECTS
A two-month-long experience in a professional working environment
Year 2 – Semester S3
- Foreign language (French or English) – 3 ECTS
Improve your communication skills in a foreign language - Specialty (pick 3 out of 5 – 2 ECTS each):
- Materials under extreme conditions: fundamentals in state of matter under extreme pressure and temperatures with applications in condensed matter, materials, and planetary sciences.
- Metals and alloys: discover elements of research in physical metallurgy, from fundamental research to real world applications.
- Polymers: Gain insights into the structure-property relationships of polymer materials and understand essential characterization and processing techniques. Learn to select the polymer in relation to use properties.
- Mathematical crystallography: mathematical formalism to discover relationships between planes and directions, symmetry operations, coordinate transformations, and conversions from direct to reciprocal space.
- Instrumentation in spectroscopy: fundamentals of spectroscopy, instrumentations, and relations to the domain of relevance (environmental sciences, astrophysics, energy, human health, drug design, fundamental physics, etc.).
Year 2 – Semester S4
- PE or Graduate Program Special Teaching – 3 ECTS
Learn on current topic from the Materials for a Sustainable Future graduate program - Internship – 27 ECTS
A five-month-long experience in a professional working environment
Year 1 – Semester S1
- Continuum mechanics – 3 ECTS
Introduction to the principles of stress, strain, anisotropic and isotropic elasticity with applications covering a broad area relating to the mechanical behavior of materials. - Statistical physics and critical phenomena – 3 ECTS
Fundamental concepts in statistical physics, focusing on Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics, phase transitions, critical phenomena, and the renormalization group. - Condensed matter I – Electrons – 3 ECTS
Basics on electronic properties in solid state physics, covering equilibrium and transport properties of crystalline solids, from the Sommerfeld model to semi-conductors. - Atomic physics – 3 ECTS
Explore the quantum mechanical description of both single and multi-electron atoms, gain a deeper understanding of the periodic table's structure, and investigate how atoms interact with light and how their spectra provide insights into these systems.
Year 1 – Semester S2
- Condensed Matter II – Phonons – 3 ECTS
This lecture explores the vibrational properties of crystalline solids, from lattice symmetries and phonon dispersion to thermodynamic behavior. It provides the fundamental tools to understand heat capacity, thermal transport, and the quantum nature of lattice vibrations in condensed matter systems. - Fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy – 3 ECTS
Gain a solid understanding of the quantum mechanical principles behind molecular spectroscopy, with emphasis on rotational and vibrational transitions and the role of symmetry in determining spectroscopic activity. - Microstructures and defects in materials – 3 ECTS
Discover how grains, defects, and other microstructural elements and how they control the physical properties of materials.
Year 2 – Semester S3
- Advanced thermodynamics and phase transformations – 3 ECTS
This course explores the principles governing crystalline and amorphous physical states and their transformations across diverse materials like metallic alloys, glasses, and polymers. - Molecular mobility and amorphous state of matter – 3 ECTS
This course presents the characteristics of molecular motions found in amorphous materials in the supercooled and glassy states, and the temperature dependence of these dynamics. - From macro to nanophysics – 3 ECTS
Introduce the physics of nanomaterials, and show how optical / electromagnetic / thermal / mechanical properties are modified from macroscopic to the nanometer scale. - Materials plasticity – 3 ECTS
Physical basis of plasticity of crystalline solids, from the elementary mechanisms to the plastic behavior in various conditions.
Syllabus
You will find details of the course content in the following detailed syllabus.
First year master program
The first year is divided into two semesters, with classes
- from September to December for the first semester;
- from January to the end of April for the second semester;
- a two-month internship in May and June (which may be extended into July and August).
The program is based on traditional teaching in the form of lectures and tutorials, project-based teaching, and practical work, both digital and instrumental.
Some of the courses are shared with the Quantum and Photonic Technologies (QPT), Advanced Physics of Pharmaceutical Materials (A2PM), and Erasmus Mundus BIOPHAM programs.
List of courses (year 1)
Syllabus
You will find details of the course content in the following detailed syllabus.
Second year master program
The second year is divided into two semesters, with
- classes from September to January;
- a five-month internship starting at the end of January and ending at the end of June (which can be extended into July and August but not be longer than 6 months).
As in the first year, the program is based on traditional teaching in the form of lectures and tutorials, project-based teaching, and practical work, both digital and instrumental. Students also have the opportunity to work directly on research equipment, such as spectrometers and electron microscopes.
Some courses are shared with the Advanced Physics of Pharmaceutical Materials (A2PM) program and the Erasmus Mundus BIOPHAM program.
Details of the courses for each semester and their distribution into skill and knowledge blocks and teaching units are described below.
List of courses (year 2)
Syllabus
You will find details of the course content in the following detailed syllabus.
Jobs and careers
The Quantum and Photonic Technologies program allows for recruitment in public or private research laboratories in one of the many fields covered by the program. It is possible to enter the workforce directly after graduation or after further studies and a doctorate.
Scholarships and funding opportunities
Graduate program at Univ. Lille
The Graduate Programs at the University of Lille offer scholarships with the aim of attracting exceptionally talented students to their master's programs. These scholarships not only reward academic excellence, but also aim to promote a diverse and dynamic academic community. In 2025, they were worth €8,500 for incoming international students enrolling for the first time in a French higher education institution and €4,500 for French students, international students already in France, and those extending their scholarship for a second year as part of a Master's degree in the Graduate Program.
For the 2025 academic year, the timelines were as follows
| Call | Applications | Results |
| #1 | 1 February - 15 March | 15 April |
| #2 | 1 April - 15 May | 15 June |
Mobilex fellowships
Another possibility will be support from the Mobilex program at the University of Lille, upon recommendation by the director of studies. Candidates are picked through partnerships or among the applicants of the "Etudes in France" program. Applications are processed in the spring, for a fellowship starting in September.
Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program
Developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program provides annual training for future foreign decision-makers in the public and private sectors in degree programs at the Master's and Doctoral levels. Applications are submitted exclusively by French higher education institutions.
France Excellence Eiffel scholarship holders receive a monthly allowance of €1,200 (from January 2026), to which is added several services: International transportation, national transportation, insurance, housing searches, cultural activities, etc.
Applicants should contact the Campus France in their country of origin or the French Embassy's Cooperation and Cultural Action Department, who can guide them and advise you on your study plans. They should then contact the director of studies of the master program who can support their application inside the University.
See more details on the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program.
Application deadline to the director of studies is in early November, for a fellowship starting in September of the following year.