Employees
The Master in High Performance Computing (MHPC) is a one-year, intensive advanced training programme focused on computational science and high performance computing. Internationally referred to as a “Master”, it is formally classified in the Italian system as a postgraduate advanced training course. Jointly organised by SISSA and ICTP in Trieste, the programme combines rigorous academic coursework, practical laboratories and a final project to prepare participants for research, supercomputing centres and high-technology industries. It is designed for students who want to turn a strong scientific background into advanced computational expertise that can be applied immediately in academic and professional contexts.
The MHPC is a one-year advanced training programme designed to prepare highly qualified specialists in computational science and high performance computing. It combines rigorous academic coursework with practical training, providing students with the theoretical foundations and technical skills needed to tackle complex computational challenges. Through lectures, laboratories and a final project, participants develop advanced competencies in scientific computing, parallel programming and data-intensive applications. It is an intensive and focused learning experience for students who want to specialise in a field that is increasingly relevant across science and technology.
Students come from diverse scientific backgrounds, including physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering. Through a combination of lectures, practical laboratories and project-based learning, participants acquire both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience with modern computational methods. Students learn how to design and implement efficient algorithms, use parallel computing architectures and manage large-scale scientific data. The programme culminates in a final project that allows participants to apply their skills to real computational problems. Each edition of the MHPC admits approximately 10–15 students, ensuring close interaction with instructors and a highly collaborative learning environment. The programme runs from September to June.
The programme is jointly organised by the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), two internationally recognised institutions based in Trieste. SISSA is a leading research institution focused on advanced postgraduate education and frontier scientific research. ICTP is a global centre for theoretical physics and scientific training, promoting international collaboration and supporting scientists from all over the world. This partnership brings together complementary expertise in research, education and international scientific cooperation. For students, this means studying in an environment shaped by scientific excellence, international openness and direct exposure to advanced research.
The programme aims to provide students with a solid foundation in high performance computing and computational science, with applications across scientific research and industry. By the end of the programme, students are expected to understand the principles of high performance computing architectures and parallel systems, design and implement efficient parallel algorithms, develop and optimise scientific software for large-scale computational problems, analyse and manage data-intensive simulations and complex computational workflows, apply machine learning and data-analysis techniques to large scientific datasets, and apply HPC methodologies to real scientific, technological and industrial challenges.