International IMAPP students celebrate their graduation in Bologna
On 29 September 2026, the fourth cohort of the international Master’s program “Advanced Methods in Particle Physics” (IMAPP) celebrated the successful completion of their studies. After two years of learning and research across Europe, 25 graduates from 18 countries received their Master’s degrees.
The graduation ceremony was held in the prestigious Sala Bolognini at the Convent of San Domenico in Bologna. Representatives of the participating universities and departments congratulated the graduates, who received their certificates in traditional academic robes. The ceremony also provided an opportunity for students to reflect on their academic journey, share their future plans, and discuss the role of young researchers in particle physics. A celebratory toast in the convent’s cloister concluded the event.
IMAPP is a joint program offered by the University of Bologna in Italy, the University of Clermont Auvergne in France, and TU Dortmund University in Germany. It combines advanced education in particle physics with training in key methods and technologies, including machine learning, high-performance computing, and instrumentation. A key feature of IMAPP is that students study in several European countries, gaining international experience and building a network in particle physics. Students begin the program in Clermont-Ferrand before continuing their studies for one semester each in Dortmund and Bologna. In the fourth semester, they complete an individual research project at one of the program’s partner institutions around the world.
Since 2022, IMAPP has been supported by the European Commission as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s program. This support includes full scholarships for students and helps to increase the program’s international visibility. Further funding, particularly through mobility grants, is provided by the Franco-German University and the French-Italian University.
The program is in full swing and continues to grow: the current cohort has recently moved from Dortmund to Bologna to begin its third semester, while a new group of students started the program in Clermont-Ferrand at the beginning of September. To date, around 150 students from 38 countries have chosen IMAPP for their Master’s studies.
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