SPIE - Laser Technology, Engineering, and Applications Scholarship

Laser Technology, Engineering, and Applications Scholarship

You will receive a one-time payment of about 4,600 EUR (US $5,000). You may use it towards tuition fees, books, materials and equipment required by your school or university. The scholarship is awarded by SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, in collaboration with the former Forum for Military Applications of Directed Energy (F-MADE). It recognises outstanding academic achievement in the fields of laser technology, engineering or applications.

Who can apply

• Level of study: Every level of education, from upper secondary education and universities of applied sciences right through to Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD programmes.
• Field of study: You are enrolled on a degree programme in the field of optics and photonics.
• Enrolment: You must remain enrolled for the entire academic year for which the scholarship applies.
• SPIE membership: You are an active SPIE student member. The annual membership fee is approximately 18 euros ($20 US dollars), and school pupils can join free of charge.
• Nationality: Students from all over the world are welcome to apply.
• Financial need: That doesn’t matter. Awards are given on the basis of merit, not need.
• Already have a final degree? You cannot apply if you already hold a highest academic qualification, such as an MD, JD or PhD.

How to apply

Apply online via the SPIE application portal by 15 February (17:00 Pacific Time). A single application allows you to apply both for this scholarship and for more than 70 other scholarships within the SPIE programme. You will need two letters of recommendation, your academic transcripts, a CV and a short essay (max. 400 words) about your experience in the field of optics and your career goals. You will receive a response in May or June.

How realistic are your chances?

SPIE awards this scholarship worldwide to students at all stages of their studies, so there is a large pool of applicants. The key factor is, above all, your potential to make a long-term contribution to optics and photonics. You will be compared with others at a similar stage in their studies, which is an advantage if you are still at the beginning of your degree. A clearly written essay and convincing references from people familiar with your work are the most important factors. Preference is given to applicants who have not yet received an SPIE scholarship.