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ICTP Postgraduate Diploma Programme

Postgraduate Diploma Programme

An intense, pre-PhD programme for talented students

Supporting its mission to promote advanced scientific research in developing countries, ICTP offers a Postgraduate Diploma Programme that prepares talented students for PhD studies.

The Postgraduate Diploma Programme started in 1991, and since then, many of its graduates have gone on to do PhDs at various prestigious universities, including in Europe and North America. Many of them, after a few postdoctoral stints abroad, have returned to their home countries, where they are actively involved in teaching and in developing advanced research groups there. Others have pursued scientific careers in leading scientific institutions worldwide. Many former students continue to maintain an active collaboration with ICTP throughout their careers.

The Programme is open to young qualified graduates in physics, mathematics or related fields. A limited number of scholarships (around 10 per field) are awarded to successful candidates from developing countries (with particular emphasis on students from the least developed regions of the world) to cover travel and living expenses during their stay at ICTP. The selection of the candidates is based on their university performance as well as on academic recommendations. The selection committee aims to select the best academically qualified candidates while striving for gender balance and geographical distribution. After the completion of the courses (including examinations), participants are required to work on a dissertation, to be submitted and defended.

Fields of research
High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

I Term  September 2024  – January 2025

  • Quantum Mechanics (HEP-QM)    K.S. Narain   (18 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on  9 September      EXAM: 29 Oct. 2024

  • Classical Field Theory (HEP-CFT)   B. Acharya  (10 lectures of 2 h each)   Starting on 17 September      EXAM: 4 Nov. 2024
  • General Relativity I (HEP-GR I)   M. Mirbabayi  (17 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on  11 November       EXAM:  10 Jan 2025
  • Quantum Field Theory I (HEP-QFT I)   A. Bissi  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 5 November       EXAM: 16 Jan 2025
  •  

  • Tutorials

  • Classical Field Theory tutorials (HEP-CFT tut.)  - D. Baldwin
  • Quantum Mechanics tutorials (HEP-QM tut.) - F. Ferrari
  • Quantum Field Theory I tutorials (HEP-QFT I tut.)  - N.A. Dondi
  • General Relativity I tutorials (HEP-GR I tut.) - E. Ebrahimian

 

II Term  January 2025 - May 2025

  • Standard Model I (HEP-SM I)   G. Villadoro  (21 lectures of 1.5 h each)      Starting on 20 January 2025      EXAM: 21 March 2025
  • Quantum Field Theory II (HEP-QFT II)  S.Randjbar-Daemi  (20 lectures of 1.5 each)    Starting on 20 January 2025      EXAM: 14 March 2025
  • Standard Model II (HEP-SM II)  E. Miro’  (21 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 24 March 2025     EXAM: TBC
  • General Relativity II (HEP-GR II)  P. Creminelli  (21 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 24 March 2025    EXAM: TBC
  •  
  • Tutorials
  • Standard Model I tutorials (HEP-SM tut.) - S. Chen
  • Standard Model II tutorials (HEP-SM II tut.) - S. Dutta
  • General Relativity II tutorials (HEP-GR II tut.) - A. Zahed
  • Quantum Field Theory II tutorials (HEP-QF II tut.) - N.A. Dondi
Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics

Condensed Matter Physics

 

I Term:  September –  December 2024

  • Mathematical Techniques (CMP-MT)   M. Sellitto (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 9 September 2024     EXAM: 28 Oct 2024
  • Linux Basics (CMP-LB)  M. Stella and C. Egan (5 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on  9 September 2024       NO EXAM
  • Numerical Methods I (CMP/ESP-NUM I)  E. Coppola, G. Giuliani, Z. Li, D. Bhakuni  (18 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on 17 September 2024   EXAM:  28 Nov 2024
  • Statistical Mechanics (CMP-SM)    A.  Jelic (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on 25 September 2024    EXAM: 23 Jan 2025
  • Electrons and Phonons in Solids (CMP-EPS)   N. Binggeli, N. Stojic (29 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 17 September 2024    EXAM:  10 Dec 2024
  • Advanced Quantum Mechanics (CMP-AQM)  G. Santoro, R. Fazio (31 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on 24 September 2024     EXAM: 15 Jan 2025
  • Selected Topics in Condensed Matter Physics (CMP-ST)   N. Seriani + G. Fux   (10 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 11 October 2024
  •  

  • Tutorials

  • Statistical Mechanics tutorials (CMP-SM tut.)  - J. Niedda
  • Electrons and Phonons in Solids (CMP-EPS tut.)   - N. Stojic

 

II Term:  January –  April 2025

  • Scientific Python (CMP-SP)     I. Davydenkova   (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 27 January 2025    NO EXAM
  • Biophysics (CMP-BIO)   A. Hassanali, A. Jelic   (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 10 March 2025    EXAM: TBC
  • Numerical Methods II (CMP-NUM II)   M. Dalmonte, A. Hassanali   (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 3 February 2025    EXAM:  30 April 2025
  • Selected Topics in Condensed Matter Physics (CMP-ST)   N. Seriani + G. Fux   (10 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Re-starting on 7 February 2025   EXAM: TBC
  • Supercondictivity and Magnetism (CMP-SUP)  M. Kiselev   (14 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 3 February 2025    EXAM:  TBC
  • Electronic Structure (CMP-ES)    R. Gebauer (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on 3 February 2025    EXAM:  25 March  2025
  • Advanced Statistical Mechanics (CMP-ASM)   A. Scardicchio (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on 17 Fabruary 2025    EXAM:   TBC
  •  

  • Tutorials

  • Advanced Statistical Mechanics tutorials (CMP-ASM tut.)  - J. Niedda

 

Mathematics

Mathematics

Coordinator: Lothar Göttsche

Courses for the academic year 2024-2025

 

LINK TO THE 2024-25  MATH DIPLOMA LECTURES

 

 

I Term   September –  December 2024

  • Real Analysis (MTH-RA)  S. Bianchini  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)      Starting on 12 September 2024     EXAM:  13 December 2024
  • Complex Analysis (MTH-CA)    S. Sinha  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on 16  September 2024     EXAM:  19 December 2024
  • Topology (MTH-TOP)  D. Zuddas  (15 lectures of 1.5 h each)      Starting on 1 October 2024     EXAM: 5 December 2024
  • Algebra (MTH-ALG)  L. Goettsche (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)      Starting on 14 October 2024      EXAM:  17 January 2025
  •  
  • Tutorials
  • Real Analysis tutorials (MTH-RA tut.) - A. Bousclet
  • Complex Analysis tutorials (MTH-CA tut.) - M. Das
  • Topology tutorials (MTH-TOP tut.) - Q. Dang
  • Algebra tutorials (MT-ALG tut.) - M. Aliouane

 

II Term    January –  May  2025

  • Functional Analysis (MTH-FA)   E. Carneiro  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 14 January 2025     EXAM: 15 April 2025
  • Partial Differential Equations (MTH-PDE)   G. Bellettini (15 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on January 2025     EXAM:   10 April 2025
  • Differential Geometry (MTH-DG)  C. Arezzo  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 18 February 2025    EXAM: TBC 
  • Algebraic Geometry (MTH-AG) L. Goettsche (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 26 February 2025    EXAM: TBC 
  • Algebraic Topology (MTH-AT)  A. Marian (15 lectures of 1.5 h each)      Starting on 21 February 2025     EXAM: TBC     
  • ODE & Dynamical Systems (MTH-ODS)  S. Luzzatto  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 5 March 2025    EXAM: TBC 
  • Supervised Machine Learning (MTH-SML)  J. Barbier  (11 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 8 January 2025   EXAM: 01 April 2025
  •  
  • Tutorials (approx. 7 tutorials per course)
  • Functional Analysis tutorials (MTH-FA tut.) - T. Ismoilov
  • Partial Differential Equations tutorials (MTH-PDE tut.) - Q. Dang
  • Differential Geometry tutorials (MTH-DG tut.) - H. Ounesli
  • Algebraic Geometry tutorials (MTH-AG tut.) -  E. Vitale
  • Algebraic Topology tutorials (MTH-AT tut.) -  Y. Benyahia and M. Awais
  • Supervised Machine Learning (MTH-SML tut.) - M. Nguyen
Earth System Physics

Earth System Physics

Coordinator: Riccardo Farneti

Courses for the academic year 2024-2025

LINK TO THE 2024-25  ESP DIPLOMA LECTURES

 

 

I Term   September - December 2024

  • Wave Physics (ESP-WP)  F. Romanelli  (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on 9 September 2024   EXAM: 10 October 2024
  • Physics of the Earth for Geohazards (ESP-PEG)  A. Aoudia  (16 lectures of 1.5 h each) Starting on 28 October 2024.   EXAM:  16 January 2025
  • Thermodynamics and Physics of the Atmosphere (ESP-TPA)  A. Tompkins, G. Biagioli (21 lectures of 1.5 h each)  Starting on 29 October 2024    EXAM: 8 January 2025
  • Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (ESP-GFD)  R. Farneti, S. Salon (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)  Starting on 30 September 2024    EXAM: 18 December 2024
  • Linux Basics (ESP-LB)  G. Giuliani   (5 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on 9 September 2024     NO EXAM
  • Numerical Methods I (CMP/ESP-NUM I)  E. Coppola, G. Giuliani, Z. Li, D. Bhakuni (18 lectures of 1.5 h each)  Starting on 17 September  2024    EXAM: 28 November 2024

 

II Term   January - May 2025

 

COURSES FOR BOTH GROUPS:

  • Scientific Python (ESP/CMP-SP) D. Davydenkova  (20 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on 27 January 2025    NO EXAM
  • Numerical Methods and Data Analysis in GeoScience (ESP-NDA) G. Giuliani, A. Tompkins (22 lectures of 1.5 h each)  Starting on 3 February 2025    EXAM: TBC

 

CLIMATE  

  • Atmospheric Dynamics (ESP-AD)   F. Kucharski (15 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on 4 February 2025    EXAM: 1 April 2025     
  • Ocean Dynamics (ESP-OD)   R. Farneti (17 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 3 February 2025    EXAM: TBC
  • BioGeochemical Cycles (ESP-BGC)  C. Solidoro, A. Pozzer (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 26 March 2025    EXAM: TBC
  • Earth System Modelling (ESP-ESM)   E. Coppola (13 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 18 March 2025    EXAM: TBC

SOLID EARTH 

  • Theoretical Seismology (ESP-SEIS)  F. Romanelli  (9 lectures of 2 h each)     Starting on 13 January 2025    EXAM:  20 February 2025
  • Space Geodesy and InSAR (ESP-SG) A. Borghi  (14 lectures of 1.5 h each)   Starting on 24 March 2025    EXAM: 29 April 2025
  • Applied Seismology (ESP-APS)  S. Parolai (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 3 February 2025    EXAM: 10 April 2025
  • Physics of Volcanoes (ESP-PV)  E. Rivalta (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 14 April 2025    EXAM: TBC
  • Mechanics of Earthquakes and Tectonophysics (ESP-MET)  A. Aoudia (12 lectures of 1.5 h each)     Starting on 3 March 2025     EXAM: TBC 
  • Observations and Computer Methods (ESP-OCM)  (25 lectures of 1.5 h each)    Starting on 15 April 2025    EXAM: TBC

 

Quantitative Life Sciences

Quantitative Life Sciences

 

Coordinator: Matteo Marsili

Courses for the academic year 2024-2025

Link to QLS Diploma Schedule   

 

I Term  (September 2024 - February 2025)

  • Probability and Information Theory (QLS-PIT)  M. Marsili (44 h)  Course starts on Monday 9 Sept. 2024    EXAM on 17 Jan 2025
  • Statistical Mechanics  (QLS-SM)  D. Das  (14 lectures of 1.5 h each = 21 h)   Course starts on Thursday 12 Sept.   EXAM on 11 Nov 2024
  • Biophysics  (QLS-BIO)  E. Roldan  (28 lectures of 1.5 h each = 42 h)  Course starts on Tuesday 8 Oct. 2024.     EXAM on  10 February 2025
  • Ecology and Evolution (QLS-EE)  J. Grilli  (27 lectures of 2 h each = 54 h)  Course starts on Wednesday 2 Oct. 2024     EXAM on 29 January 2025
  • Numerical Methods in Python (QLS-PYT) W. Shoemaker, O. Mazzarisi, D. Princepe  (6 lectures of 2 h each = 12 h)  Course starts on Monday 16 Sept.2024.   EXAM on 14 Oct 2024
  • Mathematical Methods (QLS-MM)  F. Camilli   (8 lectures of 2 h each = 12 h) Course starts on Wednesday 18 Sept.   EXAM on 30 Oct 2024

 

II Term   (February 2025 - in progress)

  • Spring College on the Physics of Complex Systems   (60 h)  -  smr 4056 from on 17 Feb to 14 March 2025                         
  • Supervised Machine Learning (QLS-SML)   J. Barbier   (15 lectures of 1.5 h each  = 22.5h) course starts on Thursday 8 Jan 2025    EXAM on 1 April 2025
  • Reinforcement learning (QLS-RL)   A. Celani  (21 lectures of 2 h each = 42 h) course starts on 17 March 2025    EXAM: TBC
  • Introdution to Neuroscience (QLS-NEU)   A. Treves and A. Ingrosso (12 lectures of 2 h each   = 24 h)   Course starts on 22 April 2025      EXAM: TBC
  • Introduction to Mathematical Economics (QLS-MEC)    M. Marsili   (6 lectures of 2 h each = 12 h)  Course starts on 9 April 2025     EXAM: TBC

 

Tutors:

  • Mauro Pastore (for MM)
  • Minh-Toan Nguyen (for SML)

 

Who can apply

Postgraduate Diploma Programme

The Postgraduate Diploma Programme is open to young (generally below 28 years of age), qualified graduates from all countries that are members of the United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA. The minimum qualification for applicants is a degree equivalent to an MSc (or an exceptionally good BSc) in physics, mathematics or in a field related to the topics listed below.

The selection of candidates will be based on their university record and on academic recommendations. Since the Postgraduate Diploma Programme is in English, fluency in speaking and writing is an essential qualification.

The applicant is expected to have adequate knowledge of the following topics in the specific field for which he/she is applying:

  • For Condensed Matter Physics: solid state physics; quantum mechanics; statistical mechanics; classical mechanics; electrodynamics; mathematical physics.
  • For High Energy, Cosmology and Astropartical Physics: classical mechanics; electrodynamics; special theory of relativity; quantum mechanics; statistical mechanics.
  • For Earth System Physics: a theoretical background in physics, mathematics or engineering; mathematical methods applied in geophysics and geosciences.
  • For Mathematics: basic abstract algebra; elements of real and complex analysis; topology.
  • For Quantitative Life Sciences: classical mechanics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, mathematical methods for physics, basic programming skills

 

Entitlements

Tuition-free; 10 yearly scholarships plus travel grant for applicants from developing countries.

In each Postgraduate Diploma Programme, scholarships and travel grants will be awarded to those 10 students selected from developing countries. There are no course fees. Students will receive a scholarship for the entire year of study. A limited number of qualified candidates who meet the same selection criteria as others may attend the courses at their own cost. They must supply written evidence from a funding agency or a banking institution that funds are available for their entire year's stay, and are equal to those offered by the Centre.

How to apply

Postgraduate Diploma Programme

In addition to completing an online application form, candidates should upload the following as part of their application:

  • Copies of transcripts of university academic records and university degrees in English (The selected candidates will be required to provide originals or certified copies of these documents as well as of their official English translation before he/she can be admitted to the Programme);
  • Any certificates or documents that give proof of the student's ability to follow advanced-level courses, study and write scientific literature in the English language;
  • Two letters of recommendation, from senior scientists familiar with the applicant's studies and work.
Contacts

If you have problems with the online application, please contact the Diploma Office at diploma@ictp.it

SECRETARIAT

Ms. Sandra Alimanovic 

Programme Assistant

+39 040 2240 4362

Ms. Manuela Schipizza

Programme Assistant

+39 0402240 4487

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Frequently Asked Questions.pdf
Poster_DP_Academic_years_2025_2026.pdf
Organizers
Diploma Programme
BSc (but a MSc is preferred) in physics or mathematics under the age of 28, from UN member country
for Developing countries
Trieste
1 year, from 1 September to 31 August
Call
To be announced
ICTP
Apply Online