Join the Wits OC Lab
An MSc or PhD at our lab isn't just "more university." It is a fundamental shift from consuming knowledge to creating it. We don't do coursework here. We don't do standard answers. We are looking for the builders, the coders, and the deeply curious who are ready to stop sitting in lectures and start exploring the frontiers of optical communication and machine intelligence.
Is this you?
- The "Rabbit Hole" Diver: You’re the person who opens one tab to check a fact and ends up reading about photonics for three hours. You have a genuine, active love of learning that goes beyond the syllabus.
- The Tinkerer: You aren't satisfied with equations on a page. You have an urge to build, code, break, and fix things to see how they really work.
- The Resilient: You understand that failure is just data. You are willing to take intellectual risks, "fail fast," and iterate until you find the solution.
The Mission
Our lab operates on creative freedom and rigorous inquiry. We provide the resources and the support; you provide the drive. We are actively seeking students who are not afraid to ask "Why?" and "What if?"—and who have the discipline to answer those questions.
How to Join
We don't just want your grades; we want your mind.
- Engage: Read our recent Publications. Don't just skim them: interrogate them.
- Think: Identify the open questions. What would you do next?
- Connect: Send a thoughtful email sharing your ideas (and the usual other things like a CV) to Mitchell.Cox@wits.ac.za or Ling.Cheng@wits.ac.za .
(For administrative details on MSc and PhD registration, visit the School's postgraduate admissions page.)
Funding Opportunities
This section isn't comprehensive, but a good first port of call...
For MSc and PhD studies, a good first option is to apply for an NRF freestanding scholarship which is open to both South African and international students. Deadlines are around mid-year and it is competitive so you will need to dedicate some time to a winning application. For more information, please see the NRF web site, which has all the information you will need. If you are interested in applying, please let us know so that we can assist you.
In addition to general funding we may have (which you need to ask us about), we tend to have some funding available for specific projects, should you not succeed at winning an NRF scholarship. We are happy to discuss this with prospective students and post-docs. We may advertise specific positions below, but please reach out to us as we don't always list everything on this page.