Politecnico di Torino offers a Post-Graduate Master in Optical Communications and Photonic Technologies (a "Master Specialistico" in the new Italian University Degree System)

It is specifically tailored for those who are either interested in acquiring an edge in the competitive job market in the sector or want to refine their cultural background with the possibility of later entering a PhD program.

The Master starts at the beginning of October each year and ends 12 months later.

All Master courses are taught in English. The Master has a greatly diversified international attendance with Italian students amounting to 15 to 20% only. The total number of students does not exceed 20 in order to maintain a high standard of interaction between teachers and students.

To Learn more about the Master, you can read a comprehensive paper that provides a detailed description of the course syllabus, the requirements to apply for it, the state-of-the-art training labs, the highly successful internship system and many other details.

Four out of the ten Master courses are taught by OptCom Group staff members. The Master Coordinator is Prof. Pierluigi Poggiolini, Coordinator of the OptCom Group as well.

Grants are available from several sources. Currently four programs are active addressing the following world regions:

• Italy: contact master.universitari@polito.it

• South  America: http://www2.polito.it/didattica/alpip/

• Mediterranean and Middle East: http://www2.polito.it/didattica/topmed/

• Far East: http://www.didattica.polito.it/master/asian.html

• India: http://international.polito.it/en/aid/financial_aid_india.html

• China: http://international.polito.it/en/aid/financial_aid_zhong_guo.html

To find out about the sponsors of the master and how to apply, go to the official Master site:

Master in Optical Communications and Photonic Technologies

Here is a testimonial from a former student from South America

ENGLISH

Everything starts in September. It is important to arrive before the beginning of the lessons to be able to have time to fix all the documents and lodging. To find a place where to live is not very easy, but with a little bit of patience and a few calls you can finally find good sites. Turin is a small, calm and cosy city... there are buses to be transported. Three restaurants in the city are available for students. You can eat well and cheap there: " Primero, secondo, contorno, bibita, dolce... ". With respect to the academic part I can say that the subjects are very well chosen and organized... in the end you can have a clear and complete vision of what it is an optical fiber system with all its components. The theory is always well complemented with simulations in the computer and laboratories. The teachers are excellent... they not only know the theory very well but they also know about new technologies and investigations. They teach you much more than what you can find in a simple book... After finishing the lessons there comes an internship in a communication's company, and it is with this excellent experience that the masters ends. It is a quite demanding and interesting program, but you can always take your time for a trip not only inside but outside Italy... this thanks to the fact that Turin is almost in the center of Europe. It was really a great experience and I will recommend it to everyone who wants to grow as much in the professional field as in the personal.

ESPAÑOL

La mayoría llegamos a mediados de Septiembre. Era importante hacerlo antes de comenzar los estudios para poder tener tiempo de arreglar todo lo referente a papeles y alojamiento. Encontrar un lugar donde vivir no es fácil, pero con un poco de paciencia y unas cuantas llamadas finalmente se encuentran buenos sitios. Turín es una ciudad pequeña, tranquila, acogedora... transportarse es fácil y económico. Hay tres comedores en la ciudad donde los estudiantes podemos comer bien y barato: "Primero, secondo, contorno, bibita, dolce..." En cuanto a la parte académica puedo decir que los temas de las materias están muy bien escogidos y organizados... al final se tiene una visión clara y completa de lo que significa un sistema de fibra óptica con todos sus componentes. La teoría está siempre bien complementada con simulaciones en el computador y laboratorios. Los profesores son excelentes... no solo conocen muy bien la teoría sino que saben bastante sobre lo que se está haciendo hoy en día a en cuanto a investigación. Aportan mucho más de lo que puede encontrar en un libro... Luego de terminar las materias se hace una práctica en una empresa de comunicaciones y es con esta excelente experiencia que se finaliza la maestría. Es un programa bastante exigente e interesante, pero no hay que asustarse porque siempre se puede sacar tiempo para pasear no sólo dentro sino fuera de Italia... esto gracias a que Turín queda casi en el centro de Europa. Realmente valió la pena esta gran experiencia y yo la recomendaría a todo aquel que quiera crecer tanto en el campo profesional como en el personal.