SISSA – International School of Advanced Studies

Founded in 1978, SISSA – Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati – is a university institution and a centre of excellence in postgraduate education and research.

The School’s activities are divided into three main areas: Physics, Mathematics, and Neuroscience. SISSA’s mission is to foster the advancement of scientific inquiry by training students for high-level research, both fundamental and applied.

The activities of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Natural and Human Sciences (ILAS) aim to bridge scientific and humanistic culture. ILAS offers several advanced training programmes, including the Master’s in Science Communication “Franco Prattico”, one of the first postgraduate specialisation course in science communication in Europe.

SISSA offers 12 PhD programmes, 3 postgraduate specialisation courses, and six Master’s degree programmes in collaboration with other universities.

Through its initiatives, the School promotes its core ethical values, including integrity, responsibility, scientific rigour, merit, transparency, dialogue, inclusion, and equal opportunities. It also positions itself as a hub for academic innovation.

Beyond its commitment to education and research, SISSA supports and organises initiatives aimed at strengthening the social and economic development of the local area.

• 1,761 PhD diplomas awarded from 1978 to 2023. In 2023, there were 308 enrolled PhD students.
• SISSA ranked first in Italy in five disciplinary fields in the ANVUR Research Quality Assessment: “Geometry,” “Mathematical Analysis,” “Mathematical Physics,” “Theoretical Physics, Models and Mathematical Methods,” and “Physiology” out of the nine evaluated.
• 32 ERCs out of 75 faculty members as at 31 December 2024

• For the headquarters at Via Bonomea 265: 6,686 sqm for the garage, 100,000 sqm of garden and park, 24,261 sqm of interior space. For the headquarters at Via Beirut 2/4: 2,446 sqm for the garage, 2,520 sqm of green space, 7,779 sqm of interior space.
• Number of laboratories at the Via Bonomea 265 headquarters: 11
• Research infrastructure: ULYSSES, a high-performance computing cluster located at the Via Beirut 2/4 headquarters.
• Number of libraries and study rooms: Via Bonomea 265 headquarters has 1 library and 15 study rooms. Via Beirut 2/4 headquarters has 4 study rooms.
• Canteens / Bars: 1 canteen and 1 bar at the Via Bonomea 265 headquarters.
• Conference rooms: 2 (1 at Via Bonomea 265, 1 at Via Beirut).
• Other facilities: at the Via Bonomea 265 headquarters, 1 nursery, 1 gym, 1 shuttle service to ICTP, 1 recreational club (SISSA CLUB), and 1 Alumni Association.

As a special-status university and a national centre of excellence in education and scientific research, SISSA currently has around sixty international collaborations with leading universities and research centres worldwide. Among these, approximately 35 are in Europe, 15 in the United States, and about ten in the East.

Some of the most prestigious collaborations include: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts); the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN, Geneva, Switzerland); Imperial College (London, UK); Sorbonne University, Jacques-Louis Lions Laboratory (Paris, France); the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany); the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS, Cape Town, South Africa); the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Lausanne, Switzerland); and the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC, Hefei, China).

• Annual events such as: Junior Math Days, CECAM Summer School, Workshop on Geometric Correspondence on Gauge Theories
• Dubrovin Medal and Ambrosetti Medal in Mathematics, awarded every two years
• Training programmes for students and young researchers from developing countries: ICTP/IAEA Sandwich Training Education Programme and TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme

SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR PhD STUDENTS

• Annual scholarship
• One-time contribution for settlement expenses
• Contribution for accommodation for those residing in the province of Trieste
• One-time contribution for the purchase of a laptop
• One-time contribution for training and networking for third- and fourth-year students
• Contribution of up to 70% of the scholarship for 5 months in case of illness, pregnancy, or serious personal reasons
• Annual award for the best PhD thesis in each scientific area
• Silvia Zucchelli Award for the best thesis on biological macromolecules

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE MASTER IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION “FRANCO PRATTICO” (ANNO 2023-2024):

• Pezcoller Foundation Scholarship
• SISSA-City of Trieste Scholarship
• Scholarship for the best project on the history of Italian science journalism, donated by Fabio Pagan
• “Science Policy” Award Scholarship, donated by Professor Mariachiara Tallacchini
• Awards for the best thesis and best product

MASTER IN HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING SCHOLARSHIPS

• 3 contributions for the 2024/2025 academic year from OGS, based on the agreement between SISSA and OGS for covering tuition fees
• 1 contribution for the 2024/2025 academic year from LEONARDO SPA, based on the agreement between SISSA and LEONARDO SPA for covering the tuition fee

• Assistance with visa, registration, residence permit, and accommodation search
• Coverage of health insurance in Italy
• Language courses, including Italian, and cultural exchange opportunities through the SISSA Club
• One-time contribution for settlement expenses for students