Thirty-seven students from developing countries have earned ICTP diplomas in physics or mathematics by completing coursework in the Centre's year-long Diploma Programme. As a result, more than half of them have earned places at competitive universities in Europe, the US, and elsewhere.

"It was one of the best years in my life; I have learned a lot during this year. People from the third world frequently don’t have the opportunities to learn very technical things, and ICTP is giving us that chance," said Alejandro Cabo from Cuba, who completed studies in high energy physics.

Cecilia Nyamwandha of Kenya echoed Cabo's sentiments. "For me it's been an interesting experience. Here, you're doing so much in a very short time, so it makes it more intense, but actually it's a good thing," she said. Nyamwandha, who studied Earth system physics, will begin doctoral studies in September at the University of Memphis in Tennessee, USA.

The Diploma Programme comprises four specialised fields, reflecting ICTP's core research activities: high energy physics, condensed matter physics, earth system physics, and mathematics.

Of this year's Diploma students, 25 were from Africa, 17 from Asia, 3 were from Latin America, and 1 from Eastern Europe. Eight students studied high energy physics, 10 studied condensed matter physics, 10 pursued studies in earth system physics, and 9 pursued mathematics diplomas. Twenty-one of the Diploma students have been admitted to universities in Europe, the United States, Canada and Africa and will begin their studies this autumn.

ICTP also supports a Diploma Programme in Basic Physics, designed for students from sub-Saharan Africa, that provides an intense and comprehensive revision of advanced undergraduate-level physics. Nine students completed the programme this year, of whom 6 will join the full Diploma Programme and 1 will participate in ICTP's Training and Research in Italian Laboratories (TRIL) programme.

For more details about the ICTP Diploma Programme, visit its website.