Theoretical Particle Physics PhD Program
The International School for Advanced Studies SISSA is one of the leading scientific institutions in Italy for postgraduate training and high-level research.
Theoretical Particle Physics is traditionally one of the principal teaching and research field in SISSA. Its aim is to study and develop theories and models devoted to the understanding and unification of the four fundamental interactions in Nature. Since the birth of SISSA a PhD Program is entirely dedicated to the training on this field.
The students are selected yearly by means of an entrance examination held in Trieste; non-EU students can also be admitted through a preselection based on academic qualifications only (see for further details the section Admission).
During the first year the students are offered a number of courses covering a wide spectrum of topics (see section Teaching). The students are to select a subset of them and pass the relevant exams within the first year. By the beginning of the second year they have to undertake a research program under the supervision of one or more docents (see section Training). The main research lines are: Physics at the LHC, Physics Beyond the Standard Model, Neutrino Physics, String and Brane Theories, Quantum Field Theory of Gravity. Students will benefit from the rich environment of scientific institutions, such as the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the Physics Department of the University of Trieste and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN).
At the end of a three- or four-year course of study and research students are admitted to the final examination to obtain the Ph.D. degree, equivalent to the Italian "Dottore di ricerca". During the course of these studies they benefit from contacts with scientists from all over the world.
The School offers grants (currently € 1.135,00 net/month approximately), depending on the amount of funds available, to students who have made a specific request in the online application. The grant is awarded for three years, extendable for a fourth year subject to approval by the School authorities. A contribution towards living expenses of the amount of € 1.200,00 gross per year will also be awarded to those who will submit a regular rental contract.
A number of short fellowships will be available for students who wants to participate in the entrance exam, entitling them to a stay before the exam in order to familiarize them with SISSA and its environment. Application forms and additional information can be found in the following link.
More information about admission can be found here: