Structure and contents

The Master in Computational Science programme consists of four semesters across two years of full-time study (120 ECTS). It offers courses in numerical mathematics and computer science and a wide range of more application-oriented courses. It finishes with a master’s thesis in the form of a half–year project worth 30 ECTS, which can be carried out in an industrial or research setting.

Designed to align with student's unique interests and career goals, the programme offers three specialised tracks for a targeted educational experience:

• High-Performance Computing (HPC)
• Data Science
• Simulations

Each track features a tailored study plan to ensure an enriching educational experience. Under the guidance of the MCS study coordinator, students are encouraged to formulate individualised study plans that incorporate relevant elective courses.

With the guidance of the Master Director, students will be encouraged to set up an individual study plan that includes appropriate elective courses. The Master Director will advise and accompany students through the entire two-year course of study.

For students who require special provisions, modifications to the track curriculum can be arranged following discussions with MCS Study Coordination and program director(s).

Course Requirements:

1. Students at USI enrolled in the Double-Degree MCS, or EUMaster4HPC MCS programmes are required to complete a first-year curriculum at USI. After the first year, students may choose a curriculum that best aligns with their overall study plan, subject to approval from both universities.
2. Students transferring to USI in their second year from other universities—either through the EUMaster4HPC or Double-Degree programmes—may choose a curriculum that best aligns with their overall course of study, subject to approval from both universities.

The Faculty of Informatics encourages and promotes the talent of its Bachelor and Master students by offering them summer internships in academic research within the programme Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program - UROP.

Internships are extracurricular, and access is on a competitive basis. Students work one-on-one with an advisor to develop a deeper understanding of both the concepts taught during the semester and the research topic. Students considering continuing in academia should seriously consider applying for a UROP position.

All research opportunities for this year are listed here.

See all the job and internship opportunities in the USI Job Bank.

Teaching at the Faculty of Informatics emphasizes close contact between students and staff. Professors are pursuing research on a variety of topics and are active participants in Swiss and international research projects and networks. The Institute of Computing at the Faculty of Informatics aims to train students that are interdisciplinary in approach, with abstract mathematical skills, a sound knowledge in numerical methods, computing and data science, as well as project management and teamwork abilities.

Academic Directors: Prof. Olaf Schenk and Prof. Ernst Wit

Admission to the A.Y. 2024/25

Admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English. Non-native English speakers applying to the Master’s or whose previous degree was obtained in another language are required to provide an internationally acknowledged language certificate equal to the B2+ level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning (CEFR) or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).

The B2+ level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:

Important:

• The language certificate must be included in the application package: candidates whose Bachelor's was entirely taught in English must upload an official document mentioning the tuition language (e.g., official transcript, diploma supplement, or any other official certificate issued by the university) in the application form.
• We only accept the above English qualifications (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, TOEIC).
• The certificate must still be valid at the point of the application. We generally cannot accept language test results older than three years as of September 1st.
• Certificates obtained by passing the IELTS Academic Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests may also be submitted for admission to the programme.

Italian

As Lugano is located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, students might be interested in acquiring the basics in Italian.
The Università della Svizzera italiana offers a free of charge Italian language course: further information can be found here.