First year training
First-year SISSA students must achieve a minimum of 37 credits by passing a number of exams from the Basic Courses, including at least one exam between Standard Model and Quantum Field Theory I. The students have to accomplish a final weighted average grade of at least 27/30, with no grade below 24/30.
Students have the option to define an individual study programme including courses given within other PhD programmes of SISSA. Such individual study programs need to be approved by the Scientific Board, which will deliberate on the number of credits to assign to courses external to the PhD.
Exams should be given in one of these sessions:
- First session: December 16, 2023 - January 8, 2024
- Second session: March 29, 2024 - April 22, 2024
- Third session: June 3, 2024 - September 30, 2024
A complete list of the courses of the current academic year together with information regarding the syllabuses, credits, duration and relative schedule is avalaible in the section Basic Courses.
Admission to the second year and choice of the research project
In order to be admitted to the second year, students should accomplish their first year duties, as detailed above. Students admitted through a 'preselection' procedure must also pass a qualifying exam. Students are strongly encourage to complete their course study program within the early Summer of the first year, if they can, so to start their PhD project at the earliest.
After completion of the coursework, and, if required, the qualifying exam, students start a research project under the supervision of a member of the Scientific Board; an external supervisor can also be considered, subject to the approval of the Scientific Board. The supervisor is finally assigned by the Scientific Board, taking into account the student's wishes. In case this supervisor is not a member of the Scientific Board, a co-supervisor belonging to the Scientific Board will be nominated as well.
Students are also given the opportunity to follow more specialized courses, which can not be taken to gain credits. These courses are intended for second and higher-years students, post-doc and staff members. A list for the current academic year is available in the section Advanced Courses.Admission to the following years
By the early summer of the second year, after a report from the supervisor and a presentation of the research activity by the student, the Scientific Board makes a decision regarding the admission of students to the third year. Special attention will be given to the attendance to SISSA Activities and Soft Skills Courses. The same procedure applies at the end of the third year in order to be admitted to the fourth year. If a student is judged not to be able to reach a sufficiently high level of performance to let her/him conclude the PhD project with reward, the board of professors might offer the possibility to conclude the course of studies with a Magister degree.
A list of the Alumni of the TPP curriculum can be found here .