Numbers
International PhD students
Of faculty from abroad
Of Italian faculty members previously worked in international research centers
Of international postdocs
of research publications involve co-authors from foreign institutions
Universities in the collaboration network
SISSA is an Italian university that works like an international research institute. Since it was founded in 1978 it has offered only postgraduate education. Its PhD programmes and Professional Master’s courses are designed to train researchers and professionals for the most demanding scientific and technological settings.
As one of Italy’s Scuole Superiori ad Ordinamento Speciale, the School has full academic autonomy. It monitors the quality of its teaching through regular evaluations and student feedback, and elected student representatives take part in academic decision-making.
At SISSA, PhD students start doing research on their first day. Each student joins a group led by a Principal Investigator, works on real research projects and often co-authors papers with internationally recognised scientists. Each PhD programme offers its own advanced courses, along with weekly seminars, workshops and colloquia with speakers from leading institutions worldwide. Students can also take courses in scientific writing, communication, project management, data stewardship and public speaking. By the time they finish, they already have publications and an international network of contacts. SISSA graduates go on to careers in academia, industry and public institutions.
English is the working language of the School for teaching, research and everyday life. More than 30% of PhD students come from outside Italy, and many faculty members were recruited from institutions abroad. Every PhD student receives a full scholarship, so they can focus entirely on research. The School helps with housing, visas and residence permits, and offers career guidance and mobility grants for conferences and research visits. Students also have access to language courses, shared spaces for study and social life, and psychological support. A PhD is demanding, and SISSA treats students’ wellbeing as part of their education.
SISSA also trains professionals in emerging fields through its advanced Master’s programmes:
- the Master in Science Communication “Franco Prattico”, one of the first of its kind in Europe
- the Master in High Performance Computing, run with ICTP
- the Master in Data Management and Curation, run with Area Science Park
The School also runs Master’s degrees jointly with other universities in Italy and abroad. These programmes connect research with the needs of industry and society.
SISSA alumni work in universities, companies and public institutions around the world. Many continue in academic research and hold positions at research centres and universities such as CERN, EMBL, Caltech and ETH Zurich. Others have moved into industry, at companies like Google, Amazon and IBM, or have started their own businesses. Some work in public institutions and science policy, where their scientific background helps shape decisions.
Wherever they end up, SISSA alumni bring the skills they learned during their PhD: they can work independently, tackle complex problems and collaborate across disciplines and countries. Many stay in touch with the School through the SISSA Alumni Association. Alumni also come back for JOIN, a series of events where they share their career paths with current students and young researchers.
Every PhD student at SISSA is followed closely by a supervisor, who guides their research and helps them shape their own line of work. Because the School is small, students also have easy access to other faculty members, postdocs and visiting scientists. Senior colleagues are always there for advice, from the first project to the next career step.
SISSA brings together students and researchers from many countries and with very different backgrounds. The School is committed to an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect and can do their best work. This commitment rests on two tools. The Gender Equality Plan sets out concrete actions for equal opportunities in study, research and careers. The Comitato Unico di Garanzia (CUG) promotes equal opportunities and wellbeing and works against all forms of discrimination. Students support each other through peer networks and shared spaces, and many of the friendships made at SISSA last well beyond the PhD.