The Postgraduate Diploma Programme offers courses in five specialized fields, reflecting the core research activities at ICTP. The basic topics include:
The academic programme is intense and consists of three terms. The first is dedicated to courses in basic subjects; the second, to advanced topics in the field; and the third, to carrying out research under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. During the first nine months of the programme, students attend, on average about 10 hours of lectures per week, and complete obligatory homework assignments. Final examinations are administered for each of the 8-10 courses. Those who successfully complete this stage can progress to work on dissertations during the last three months of the programme, ending in an oral defence of the written dissertation.
The ICTP Postgraduate Diploma is awarded to those students who have successfully completed the examinations and dissertation work, and complied with other formalities as may be decided by the Scientific Committee of the Postgraduate Diploma Programme.
The grades are based on a combination of problem sets and course final exams. Further details are available on the Grading System page.
