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Graduate courses

Take graduate courses at one of the world's pre-eminent centres for theoretical physics research. Perimeter Institute offers PSI courses with the University of Waterloo, as well as graduate credit courses to students enrolled at regional universities, non-credit mini-courses on current topics, and free online learning modules for independent study.

Most lectures are recorded and available to watch for free on PIRSA.

PSI Courses

All PSI courses are listed with the University of Waterloo. They are taught during intensive 5-week blocks in a format that includes lectures and tutorials, and all are evaluated as Credit / No Credit – numerical grades are not provided. 

Core courses cover foundational subjects and evaluation is made through contributions to tutorials, homework assignments and short interviews. The 6 courses running from September – December carry a 0.5 weight (full course) and the 2 courses running in January-February are 0.25 weight (half course). Due to scheduling restrictions, sessions may be scheduled during the fall reading week. In-person participation is required; it is not possible to join the courses remotely.

Elective courses introduce students to modern topics and cover cutting-edge research topics from various specialized subfields. Each is a 0.25 weight (half course). They are offered in blocks from January – May and, due to this non-standard schedule, all are listed as Spring term courses. Evaluation is made through contributions to tutorials and homework assignments. In-person participation is preferred; students attending neighbouring universities may request to join the courses remotely. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and approval is not guaranteed.

Instructor permission is required to enroll in any Core or Elective PSI course. Prospective students should review the schedule and contact [email protected] for next steps. In your email, clearly indicate your name, level of study (undergrad, masters, PhD), faculty supervisor, university and department affiliation as well as your current role at Perimeter (if applicable).

Graduate Courses (for credit)

Graduate Courses offered for credit at Perimeter Institute will be cross-listed with at least one regional university. Prospective students should review the current and future courses offered. Courses are not offered in every term; the link above will be updated as soon as courses are announced. The flexibility to attend online or in-person may vary by course and will be noted in the course description at the above link.

Students at the cross-listed university will be able to enroll through their usual university system. Qualified students at any Ontario university may enroll with the permission of the instructor and their departmental graduate advisor; they must ask their graduate advisor to contact the host university department coordinator to make the necessary arrangements. It is best to begin this process at least one term in advance of the start date.

Mini-courses (various levels)

Mini-courses are short-term courses offered outside of the usual term structure and are not for credit. They may be a few weeks or a few days in duration. Mini-courses are not offered in every term; they will be listed when they are announced. The flexibility to attend online or in-person may vary by mini-course and will be noted in the description at the above link.

Online Courses / Learning Modules

Free online learning modules enable motivated students and physics enthusiasts to study graduate-level theoretical physics independently at their own pace. Each learning module contains a series of exercises and lecture notes designed to supplement recorded videos. Learn more and register.