1. General Information

School	School of Industrial and Information Engineering
Code Reference Law	425
Name	High Performance Computing Engineering
Reference Law	Ordinamento 270/04
Class of degree	LM-32 - Computer systems engineering
Degree level	Laurea Magistrale (Equivalent To Master Of Science)
First year of activation	2022/2023
Official length of the programme	2
Years of the programme already activated	1,2
Official language(s)	The Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) programme is offered in English but the degree programme meets the requirements of MIUR (Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) note of 11.07.2018 and the CUN opinion of 10.23.2018.
Campus	Milano
Dean of the School	Antonio Capone
Coordinator of the Study programme	Marco Brambilla
Website of the School	http://www.ingindinf.polimi.it
Website of the Study programme	https://masterhpc.polimi.it/

Central Student Office - Milano Leonardo

Address

VIA C. GOLGI, 42 (MI)

2. General presentation of the study programme

The main objective of the Study Course in High Performance Computing Engineering is to train technicians with solid competences in the main disciplines of computer engineering and mathematical modelling of complex systems.

In particular, we want to create a professional profile able to manage the main techniques for high performance computing (HPC) and mathematical-statistical modelling to solve high complexity problems.

The programme addresses the following relevant themes:

• design and implementation of high-performance parallel systems equipped with heterogeneous architectures based on multicore microprocessors and computing accelerators, such as GPUs, tensor computing units and Quantum Computers;
• design of black-box applications and algorithms for exploratory and predictive analysis, that can be scaled with the volume of data and with the complexity of the models on parallel supercomputing systems based on heterogeneous and quantum architectures, on distributed cloud systems and on data centers;
• design and optimization of high-performance scientific applications in different application domains (aerospace, biochemistry, genomics, finance, etc.) through advanced parallel and distributed programming techniques;
• design of algorithms and applications for quantum computing systems;
• differential or discrete modelling and other advanced mathematical procedures to solve numerical problems;
• analysis and interpretation of complex phenomena through advanced statistics, machine learning and deep learning techniques, where  high-performance parallel computing is required. 

This two-year Study Course (120 CFU) aims to train an intrinsically multidisciplinary profile, differing from the ones that are typically trained in other Study Courses (e.g., in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematical Engineering, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics) since the education path in HPC Engineering is at state-of-the-art and specifically designed to prepare students for the rapidly growing field of high-performance computing and its applications.

The programme combines lectures with practical and applied projects to prepare future high performance computing engineers.

Most of the courses are offered in English, as the official teaching language , making the Study Course international and attractive also for foreign students, in full consistency with the internationalization process of the educational offer at Politecnico di Milano.

The Study Course includes courses that deal with more general information technology topics, followed by more advanced courses in the field of numerical analysis, information processing systems and statistics.

Among the main professional and employment opportunities there are,  as  example and certainly not exhaustively, the public and private service market, companies specialised in information technology or in the treatment of complex computational problems, engineering companies to produce industrial goods that require in-depth design studies, research centers on high performance computing and the academy.

3. Learning objectives

The Study Course in High Performance Computing Engineering is aimed at training graduates who possess an adequate knowledge of general scientific methods and concepts in the field of computer science and information technology and applied mathematics.

In particular, the programme aims to train experts able to address problems related to the design of parallel applications based on mathematical / statistical models, the analysis of complex data in the field of supercomputing, and the development of algorithms and solutions in the emerging domain of quantum computing.

At the end of the Study Course, HPC Engineering graduates will have acquired:

• an adequate knowledge of the basic techniques of discrete and continuum mathematics;
• an adequate knowledge of the scientific method and data analysis that will allow them to analyse problems and systems in any field of computer engineering;
• a solid knowledge of the methodological-operational aspects, of the theoretical and applicative foundations of the various domains of computer engineering;
• a solid knowledge of the core concepts, the structural organization and the use of information processing systems to best seize all the opportunities enabled by high performance computing;
• a solid knowledge of the fundamental concepts, techniques and methodologies for the design, implementation and management of information systems and computer networks such as they will be able to conceive, plan, design and manage complex computing systems;
• the ability to communicate thoughts in a rational and consequential way, in order to make them clear and convincing by developing a positive attitude to study and lifelong learning mindset;
• the ability to understand the industrial context, the functions and processes in which they operate to address problems and opportunities.

4. Organization of the study programme and further studies

4.1 Structure of the study programme and Qualifications

The Study Course in HPC Engineering is a two-year programme with a curriculum of 120 credits. Each academic year is divided into two semesters.

The first year offers a set of compulsory courses related to core subjects, followed by more advanced courses, in the field of numerical analysis, applied statistics, algorithms, parallel computing and parallel programming paradigms, high-performance parallel processors and HPC, cloud infrastructures and data centers.

During the second year, students will be offered some compulsory courses in Quantum Computing and heterogeneous HPC systems based on accelerators (GPUs and tensor cores) and balanced elective courses between the two areas of computer engineering and mathematics / statistics. Moreover, there will be 20 credits focused on the application of high-performance computing in different engineering domains (such as computational fluid dynamics, aerospace, energy sustainability, mechanics, computational chemistry and biomechanics, finance) and a final thesis work (20 credits), that can be carried out even in an industry-oriented context or abroad.

For more details, please refer to Section 7.3 hereof.

4.2 Further Studies

The qualification grants access to "Dottorato di Ricerca" (Research Doctorate, Ph.D programmes), "Corso di Specializzazione di secondo livello" (2nd level Specialisation Course) and "Master Universitario di secondo livello" (2nd level University Master).

The qualification grants access to "Dottorato di Ricerca" (Research Doctorate), "Corso di Specializzazione di secondo livello" (2nd level Specialization Course) and "Master Universitario di secondo livello" (2nd level University Master)

5. Professional opportunities and work market

5.1 Professional status of the degree

In Italy, the Master’s Degree in HPC Engineering allows graduates to access – after passing a State Exam – the Class of Information Engineering (“Ingegneria dell’Informazione”) of Section A of the national professional Register of Engineers, with the title of Engineer.

Specific suggestions on the range of professional activities in the sectors indicated by the Register are included in the Presidential ordinance dated June 5 2001, n. 328 "Modifiche ed integrazioni della disciplina dei requisiti per l'ammissione all'esame di Stato e delle relative prove per l'esercizio di talune professioni, nonché della disciplina dei relativi ordinamenti", published in "Supplemento ordinario N. 212/L alla G.U. n. 190 del 17 agosto 2001 - Serie generale".

We remark, however, that passing the above mentioned State Exam and being included in the National Register are not necessary to work in the professions related to computer science, neither in the private sector nor in the public one.

In Italy, the degree allows graduates to access - after a State Exam, the national professional register of Engineers in the class of "Ingegneria dell'Informazione", with the title of Engineer.

5.2 Careers options and profiles

Politecnico di Milano prepares engineers that can play an important role in a global setting, as demonstrated by the presence of our graduates in top positions not only in Italy but also in foreign countries.

High Performance Computing applications are constantly growing and expanding in various domains. The HPC engineer is characterized by a high-level profile, which sees an increasing interest from the public and private services market, companies specialised in information technologies, engineering companies specialised in complex computational problems, industrial goods production companies for which in-depth design studies are needed, research centres on high performance computing and the academy.

High-performance Computing has various fields of application in different sectors, including:

• the study of the global climate in Climatology;
• the fluid dynamic equations of Physics, which find wide application in the aerospace, mechanical, biomechanical and energy sectors;
• the study of matter at the atomic level (Schrödinger Equation) in the field of Chemistry;
• the development of new drugs in Pharmacology;
• the study of proteins in Medicine, which finds important applications in the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases;
• the analysis of genomic data;
• financial simulations, such as time series analysis, trading and large-scale data analysis.

More in general, the employment perspectives of the Master’s Degree Class in Computing Systems Engineering are very satisfactory.

According to the most recent statistics issued by Politecnico di Milano, none of the graduates of the Class of Computer Systems engineering (LM-32) is still looking for a first job 9 months after their graduation, in particular 84% has obtained an occupation in three months or less, and 40% out of them got their first job even before graduating. These figures are far better than the National averages and are also better than Politecnico di Milano averages in other study fields. The employment areas for graduates of the LM-32 Master’s Degree Class, both according to Alma Laurea data and according to the survey of the Career Service of Politecnico di Milano, are relevant to the training received, and include both the industrial sector, services and consultancy.

Finally, this Study Course guarantees the full possibility of continuing in the Academia through the admission to PhD programmes (at national or international level), post-graduate masters, and specialisation courses.

The HPC Engineering graduates can also participate in the State Exam to access the Register of Information Engineers.

5.3 Qualification profile

High Performance Computing Engineer

 

Role of the graduate in the world of work

The High-Performance Computing Engineer is an expert in all the aspects of designing, managing and using parallel systems (multicore, GPU, quantum computer) as accelerators for applications of high-performance computing, applied mathematics and big data analysis.

The HPC Engineer can perform several job functions, such as: 

• abstract and critically analyse really complex problems;
• integrate different and sophisticated skills and technologies;
• model high complexity problems, also through formal methods;
• simulate and analyse large amounts of highly complex data;
• report the results to design strategies for process improvements.

This professional profile has an active and critical role in the scientific-technological development of this sector and its applications, thanks to an in-depth general culture, a critical thinking attitude, as well as a marked professional qualification.

 

Skills associated with the role

The main skills acquired in the Study Course in High-Performance Computing Engineering that will be most requested and applied in the professional role refer to the ability to: 

• address specific problems by using advanced algorithms and parallel and distributed programming techniques, numerical modelling methods, machine algorithms and statistical learning;
• use advanced programming techniques and parallel algorithms;
• master numerical-statistical modelling to address complex problems, synergistically exploiting the opportunities provided by high performance computing;
• analyse, evaluate and design high performance computing systems, being able to propose new techniques for the improvement of their architecture;
• analyse, evaluate, design and manage system software in supercomputing environments, being able to propose innovative optimization techniques;
• apply the scientific method to the study and analysis of problems in any field of Computer Science, and in the conception, design and implementation of innovative and original solutions;
• master mathematical modelling, calculation and experimental design in the technological and engineering centers of companies, especially in research and innovation in computer science and data science.

The HPC Engineer is a profile that best combines transversal professional skills ranging from computer modeling and design, to mathematical modeling and statistical learning from data to manage high-complexity problems and systems.

 

Job opportunities

The HPC Engineer can find employment, in addition to computer engineering, automation and robotics industries, also in companies or industries in different sectors such as:

• computational fluid dynamics;
• Aerospace;
• energy sustainability;
• computational mechanics and biomechanics;
• chemistry, biology, medicine and pharmacology
• finance.

6. Enrolment

6.1 Access requirements

First cycle degree (level 6 EQF) or comparable qualification.

Admission is subject to the verification that the minimal requirements are satisfied, as stated by the Council of the Study Programme (Consiglio di Corso di Studio). The evaluation process, carried on by an appointed Admission Committee, complies with the existing regulation (D.M. 22/10/2004 n. 270 art. 6 comma 2 e D.M. del 16/3/2007, art.6 comma 1) and is based on the verification of the fulfilment of curricular requirements and the possess of an adequate personal preparation.

Admission to the Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) will be approved in an unquestionable form by a dedicated Committee set up for this purpose by the Study Programme Council, based on the analysis of the academic career – in the absence of proven documentation that highlights real elements of exceptionality and therefore justifies failure to comply with the criteria indicated here, demonstrating the adequacy of the preparation acquired. Any documentation certifying the real elements of exceptionality must be attached to the application for admission.

An integral part of the verification of personal preparation is the adequate knowledge of the English language that must be certified, during the application for admission, through the achievement of minimum levels of score in the English proficiency tests recognized by the University.

First cycle degree (level 6 EQF) or comparable qualification

6.2 Requested knowledge

To be admitted to the Study Course in High-Performance Computing Engineering, candidates need to have a bachelor in the following Degree Classes: L7 (Civil and Environmental Engineering), L8 (Computing Systems Engineering), L9 (Industrial Engineering), L31 (Computer Science).

More generally, it is necessary to have a degree of at least three years' duration, or obtained through the acquisition of at least 180 credits, of which:

• at least 20 credits related to the disciplinary-scientific sectors INF/01 or ING-INF/05;
• at least 20 credits related to the disciplinary-scientific sectors ranging from MAT/01 to MAT/09, and SECS-S/01;
• at least 10 credits related to disciplinary-scientific sectors ranging from FIS/01 to FIS/08.

The same criteria also apply to those applicants who have a university-level qualification obtained abroad, judged suitable by the Council of the Study Programme, for which it is possible to identify the scientific-disciplinary sectors and the number of credits obtained in each sector. If such identification is not possible, the academic career will be evaluated by the Admission Committee of the Study Programme.

Admission to the Study Course in High-Performance Computing Engineering is also subject to the verification of personal preparation, which will be standardized to evaluation criteria for the previous curriculum and the adequacy of the knowledge considered essential to face the course of study profitably, with particular reference to the final grade.

The Admission Committee operates according to the evaluation criteria reported below.

Automatic admission for students of Politecnico di Milano graduated from one of the continuity Laurea Triennale programmes (Computer Engineering, Mathematical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Automation Engineering, Physical Engineering), having obtained at least 105 credits with an average weighted score of >= 24/30 (by the Autumn examination session of the second year of study, and obtaining the degree after four years of study after first enrolment).

All students who are not automatically admitted, as well as candidates from other bachelor’s degrees of Politecnico di Milano or from other Universities, will be subjected to the evaluation of the Admission Committee appointed for the HPC Engineering Study Course, which will decide for admission based on the candidate's previous studies, the profit and adequacy of the knowledge and skills considered essential to face the disciplines covered in the master's degree. Candidates need to show appropriate mastery of general scientific methods and contents in the disciplines that are considered preparatory for the Master’s Degree. In particular, the degree final score the number of years to obtain the degree and the scores in the courses related to relevant subjects for the degree classes L7, L8, L9 e L31.

In any case, admission may be subject to curricular integrations and/or constraints in curricular choices. Integrations are exams that are required to pass before enrolling in the Study Course (the corresponding credits do not fall within the 120 credits of the Master degree course and their grade does not contribute to the formation of the final graduation mark). The constraints in the curricular choices are instead obligations or prohibitions on the individual study plan in the HPC Engineering Study Course.

In case of admission, both the integrations and the constraints will be indicated at the same time as the results of the admission, such as to provide the information necessary for a transparent choice of the study plan.

 

Important notes:

• all candidates (coming from Politecnico di Milano or from other academic institution) must in any case apply according to the specified procedures and deadlines;
• thresholds mentioned above could be increased in the next academic years;
• to be admitted all candidates must obey the rules regarding the knowledge of a foreign language, as required by Politecnico di Milano for admission to the second level degree courses (Master Courses - Corsi di Laurea Magistrale).

6.3 Deadlines for admission and number of places available

Further detailed information concerning admission procedures, deadlines, and enrolment are available on the Politecnico di Milano web site, in the section for student applications. More information on how to become a student at Politecnico di Milano is available at: https://www.polimi.it/en/international-prospective-students/

6.4 Tutoring and students support

The tutoring service has been established by Law n. 341 of 1990 (Reform of the university studies) as an activity that aims to "direct and assist the students along their entire Study Course, to support their participation to the educational process, to remove obstacles to a fruitful attendance of the courses, by means of suitable initiatives related to the attitudes and needs of the individual students".

The School of Industrial and Information Engineering provides a wide spectrum of activities directed at making the academic studies more effective and productive, through the support of teaching and student tutors (the latter are selected by means of specific annual calls by Politecnico di Milano).

Further detailed information concerning tutoring activities are available on the School of Industrial and Information Engineering web site, in the section on tutoring services or on the Polinternational website.

7. Contents of the study Program

7.1 Programme requirements

The Master’s Degree requires acquisition of 120 credits (CFU) specified in the present Study Course programme. Specifically, students must earn at least 45 credits from computer science and engineering courses, at least 30 credits from complementary subjects, while at most 20 credits can be freely selected by the student.

20 credits are devoted to the preparation of the Master Thesis and to the final examination, one of which is reserved for improving the knowledge of the English language.

The degree requires acquisition of 120 credits (CFU) specified in the present Course programme. Specifically, students must select at least 45 CFU from computer science and engineering courses, at least 30 CFU from complementary subjects, and at most 20 CFU can be freely selected by the student.
20 credits are devoted to the preparation of the Master Thesis and of the final examination, one of which is reserved for improving the knowledge of the English language.

According to Law No. 33 of April 12, 2022, simultaneous enrollment in two programs is allowed. Enrollment in two programs is possible only if they are of different degree classes (classi di laurea) and differ in at least two-thirds of their educational activities regarding academic credits. 

Consistent with what is defined by Law No. 33, at the student's instance, the maximum number of CFUs already taken in the other program and validatable is 40 CFUs for MSc programmes.

Please note that courses belonging to programs of a different level or type from the program you are enrolled in cannot be validated.

Full details on when to apply for validation and the administrative fees to be paid are available on the Polimi website: https://www.polimi.it/contemporanea-iscrizione

7.2 Mode of study

The Study Course requires full-time attendance and involves classroom and laboratory activities. Classroom attendance is not strictly mandatory, but strongly suggested.

The course requires full time attendance and involves classroom and laboratory activities.

7.3 Detailed learning objectives

Pre-approved study plans

There is one pre-approved study plan for the Study Course in HPC Engineering.

 

First year courses

The first year is dedicated to the consolidation of the typical skills for the class of Computing Systems Engineering with a specific focus on the parallel processor architectures, supercomputing systems and parallel computing, as well as mathematical skills.

1 Year courses - Track: HPC - High performance computing engineering

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
058577	B,C	ING-INF/05 MAT/08	PARALLEL COMPUTING AND ADVANCED METHODS FOR SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING			1	10,0	25,0
058165	B	ING-INF/05	PARALLEL COMPUTING			1	5,0 [1,0]
058166	C	MAT/08	ADVANCED METHODS FOR SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING			1	5,0
058578	C	MAT/08	NUMERICAL LINEAR ALGEBRA AND NUMERICAL METHODS FOR PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS			1	10,0
058167	C	MAT/08	NUMERICAL LINEAR ALGEBRA			1	5,0
058168	C	MAT/08	NUMERICAL METHODS FOR PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS			1	5,0
058169	C	FIS/01	QUANTUM PHYSICS			1	5,0
059432	B	ING-INF/05	QUANTUM COMPUTING			2	5,0	25,0
058170	B	ING-INF/05	SOFTWARE ENGINEERING FOR HPC			2	5,0
088949	B	ING-INF/05	ADVANCED COMPUTER ARCHITECTURES			2	5,0
095898	B	ING-INF/05	COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURES			2	5,0
062102	C	SECS-S/01	APPLIED STATISTICS			2	5,0
--	--	--	Courses to be chosen from Group MATH-PHYS-TLC		--	--	--	10,0

2 Year courses - Track: HPC - High performance computing engineering

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
054307	B	ING-INF/05	ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS AND DEEP LEARNING			1	5,0	10,0
056901	B	ING-INF/05	SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BIG AND UNSTRUCTURED DATA			1	5,0
--	--	--	Courses to be chosen from Group ICT		--	--	--	10,0
--	--	--	Courses to be chosen from Group MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS		--	--	--	20,0
056077	--	--	THESIS AND FINAL EXAM			1	20,0	20,0

Courses of the Group ICT

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title	Language	Sem	CFU
085887	B	ING-INF/05	BASI DI DATI 1		1	5,0
089194	B	ING-INF/04	COMPLESSITÀ NEI SISTEMI E NELLE RETI		1	5,0
090950	B	ING-INF/05	DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS		1	5,0
056899	B	ING-INF/05	EMBEDDED SYSTEMS		1	5,0
061723	B	ING-INF/05	NETWORKED SOFTWARE FOR DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS		1	5,0 [5,0]
056897	B	ING-INF/05	PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND APPLICATIONS		1	5,0
056895	B	ING-INF/05	STREAMING DATA ANALYTICS G		1	5,0
054420	B	ING-INF/04	SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION AND PREDICTION		1	5,0
090957	B	ING-INF/05	CODE TRANSFORMATION AND OPTIMIZATION		2	5,0
055633	B	ING-INF/05	COMPUTER SECURITY - UIC 587		2	5,0
097683	B	ING-INF/05	MACHINE LEARNING		2	5,0
056935	B	ING-INF/05	MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND METHODS FOR IMAGE PROCESSING		2	5,0

Courses of the Group MATH-PHYS-TLC

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title	Language	Sem	CFU
052499	C	MAT/06 SECS-S/01	BAYESIAN STATISTICS		1	10,0 [2,0]
055701	C	MAT/08 SECS-S/01	COMPUTATIONAL STATISTICS		1	5,0
083220	C	MAT/09	FONDAMENTI DI RICERCA OPERATIVA		1	5,0
088983	C	MAT/09	FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH		1	5,0
055703	C	SECS-S/01	NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS		1	5,0
055697	C	MAT/08	NUMERICAL ANALYSIS FOR MACHINE LEARNING		1	10,0 [2,0]
058171	C	ING-INF/01	QUANTUM CIRCUITS AND DEVICES		1	5,0
055283	C	MAT/06	BAYESIAN LEARNING AND MONTECARLO SIMULATION		2	5,0
058172	C	ING-INF/03	NETWORK COMPUTING		2	5,0
062131	--	ING-INF/02	PHOTONIC COMPUTING		2	5,0
052470	C	ING-INF/03	QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS		2	5,0
054862	C	FIS/01	QUANTUM OPTICS AND INFORMATION		2	5,0
058173	C	MAT/08	SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING TOOLS FOR ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL MODELLING		2	5,0

Courses of the Group MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title	Language	Sem	CFU
052381	--	ING-IND/34	BIOMOLECULAR MODELLING LABORATORY(a)		1	5,0 [1,0]
059100	--	ING-IND/10	CFD FOR ENERGY ENGINEERING		1	5,0
052375	--	ING-IND/34	COMPUTATIONAL BIOMECHANICS LABORATORY(b)		1	5,0 [1,0]
059435	--	ING-IND/04 ING-IND/06	HIGH PERFORMANCE SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING IN AEROSPACE		1	10,0
059441	--	ING-IND/13 ING-IND/14	HIGH PERFORMANCE SIMULATION LAB FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING		1	10,0
059438	--	ICAR/01 ING-IND/10	HPC APPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE USE OF SUBSURFACE ENERGY RESOURCES		1	10,0
055893	--	SECS-S/06	ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL MODELS IN FINANCE		2	5,0
052375	--	ING-IND/34	COMPUTATIONAL BIOMECHANICS LABORATORY(c)		2	5,0 [1,0]
059442	--	SECS-S/06	FINTECH		2	5,0
057983	--	ING-IND/24	MOLECULAR MODELING IN PROCESS ENGINEERING		2	5,0 [3,0]
057901	--	ING-IND/22	MOLECULAR MODELING OF MATERIALS		2	5,0

^(a) Closed number subject
^(b) Closed number subject
^(c) Closed number subject

In compiling their study plan, the students must comply with the requirements included in their admission decree.

 

Student choice in composing an autonomous study plan

Autonomous study plans, differing from the pre-approved one, will only be considered in exceptional cases, such as participation in international exchange programmes or double degree programmes. In any case, the approval of an autonomous study plan is subject to verification of compatibility with the constraints of the current regulation and with the learning objectives of the Study Course. The student wishing to present an autonomous study plan is invited to make prior contact with the Study Plans Commission for the Study Course in High Performance Computing Engineering.

The Council of the Study Course reserves the right to approve or reject these autonomous plans based on their consistency with the educational offer and with the overall path proposed by the student.

Derogation from this limitation is given:

• to students whose study plan has become in fact "autonomous" for a simple permutation of courses;
• to students whose study plan has become de facto "autonomous" as a result of the constraints in the curricular choices (obligations and / or prohibitions) set by the Admission Commission.

 

Lesson timetables and exam calls

Given the broad educational offer, the absence of overlaps in the timetable or in the exam sessions cannot be guaranteed, especially in case of classes offered by other Master degree programmes.

7.4 Foreign language

The rules regarding the knowledge of a foreign language, required by Politecnico di Milano for admission to the second level degree courses (Master’s Degree Courses - Corsi di Laurea Magistrale), are described in the document “Guide to the English Language requirements”, which is available on the Politecnico di Milano web site. The candidates should pay great attention to these rules. The minimum level required for admission to the master programme in HPC Engineering is the same as for all the other second level degrees in Engineering at Politecnico di Milano.

7.5 Degree examination

The final exam for the second level degree consists of the discussion of a thesis. 20 CFU are dedicated to the preparation of this thesis, one of which specifically devoted to the acquisition of further linguistic abilities, certified by the writing of an extended summary of the thesis in English. The thesis can be written in Italian or in English; nevertheless, it must include a summary written in English.

Information concerning general rules, timetables, regulation, registration and submssion of the thesis are available at the web page: https://www.polimi.it/en/current-students/didactic-activities-and-degree-examination/degree-examination/

The final exam follows the prescriptions of the “Regolamento della Prova Finale di Laurea e di Laurea Magistrale” of the School of Industrial and Information Engineering (available on the web site of the School) and of the “Regolamento Integrativo della Prova Finale di Laurea e di Laurea Magistrale” of the Study programme in HPC Engineering (available on the web site of the Study programme).

8. Academic calendar

The Degree Course follows the Academic Calendar published on the Politecnico website. 

9. Faculty

Faculty and course syllabi are available on the degree programme since the month of September. The master programme is published every year on the Politecnico di Milano website.

10. Infrastructures and laboratories

Students of the Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) programme will have access to all the facilities of the Politecnico di Milano and all the services to support university life. Several courses include laboratory activities and design activities, which will be carried out in computerized classrooms.

The laboratories and projects aim to integrate the knowledge acquired in the courses and to allow the student to apply them in solving specific problems.

Graduating students can carry out the Master's Degree Thesis in the educational laboratories.

11. International context

Research and teaching activities at Politecnico di Milano benefit from the dense cooperation network with other Italian and foreign universities, with public and private research centers, supercomputing centers, as well as with the industrial world. The quality and impact of the research carried out by the Polytechnic are confirmed, in recent years, by the growth of relations within the international scientific community, and by the increasing number of research projects and programs recently undertaken with the best universities in Europe and other countries, from North America to Southeast Asia.

In 2007, the University departments submitted their research activities to an international evaluation process (peer review). To ensure the impartiality of the evaluation, the coordinators of the evaluation panels were chosen by Rectors of European technical universities (chosen, for the most part, among those that precede the Politecnico in the international rankings) and, in turn, the appointed coordinators decided on the composition of their working groups. In total, the process involved 81 experts (none Italian) from 52 universities and international research centers. The University obtained an overall rating of 3 (good at International level) on a scale from 1 to 4 (excellence). Of the 1270 teachers involved in the peer review process, 39% belong to groups rated "excellent at International level" and 21% to groups evaluated as good at International level.

12. Internationalization

HPC Engineering students can access international study programmes, based on agreements with several foreign institutions. Students selected for a specific mobility programme can enrich their curriculum by spending a period abroad and acquiring credits fully recognized by the Politecnico di Milano.

The opportunities offered are manifold. These include the following:

• double master's degree within the European project EUMaster4HPC of which Politecnico di Milano is a partner;
• internship in foreign companies or university laboratories; 
• thesis abroad.

13. Quantitative data

The Evaluation Nucleus (“Nucleo di Valutazione di Ateneo”) perform periodic analysis on the overall results, by analysing the teaching activities and the follow-up of job placement of graduates.Reports and studies are available on the website of the Politecnico di Milano-

14. Further information

Due to technical reasons, the WebPoliself system is not always able to carry out all the checks with the previous career at the time of saving the study plan. Subsequent checks will then be carried out on the study plans submitted, which can therefore be rejected, even if automatically approved by the system.

15. Errata corrige

Any errors and changes to the manifesto are promptly reported with notices on the School's website.