• Welcome to the Education Site for SciNet, the High Performance Computing Consortium at the University of Toronto. Here you will find the course materials for all the classes and courses taught by SciNet. 

    Our training covers many topics in Research Computing and Data Science, in a variety of forms, such as webinars, workshops, and multi-week courses. Some events are online, while others are in-person, but many of the latter are also broadcast and recorded.  

    A full catalogue of past and present courses is available here. Access to slides and recordings is open to anyone, but to register for courses and to work towards a SciNet certificate, login is required.  Apart from the University of Toronto graduate courses in the list, all training events are free of charge.


Available courses

PHY1610 Scientific Computing for Physicists (Winter 2026)

This course is aimed at reducing your struggle in getting started with computational projects, and make you a more efficient computational scientist. Topics include well-established best practices for developing software as it applies to scientific computations, common numerical techniques and packages, and aspects of high performance computing. While we will introduce the C++ language, in one language or another, students should already have some programming experience. Despite the title, this course is suitable for many physical scientists (chemists, astronomers, ...).

This is a graduate course that can be taken for graduate credit by UofT PhD and MSc students. Students that wish to do so, should enrol using ACORN/ROSI.

This is an in-person course.

Teacher: Ramses van Zon
Start date: 1 Jan. 2026
End date: 1 May 2026
Scientific Computing Credits: 28
High Performance Computing Credits: 8

Compute Ontario Colloquium (14 May 2025)

This week's colloquium: "What is Compute Ontario Summer School and how do I attend?" by Ann Allan from Compute Ontario. 

The Compute Ontario Colloquia are weekly Zoom presentations on Advanced Research Computing, High Performance Computing, Research Data Management, and Research Software topics, delivered by staff from three Compute Ontario consortia (CAC, SciNet, SHARCNET) and guest speakers.  The colloquia are one hour long and include time for questions. No enrollment or registration is required. Most presentations are recorded and uploaded to the hosting consortium video channel.

Teacher: Ann Allan
Date: Wed., 14 May 2025 - 12:00 pm

SCMP231 Relational Database Basics (May 2025)

Principles and uses of relational databases.

Prerequisites: Some Linux command line experience. 

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Marco Saldarriaga
Date: Mon., 5 May 2025 - 1:00 pm
Data Science Credits: 3

Compute Ontario Summer School (Jun 2025)

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2025 Compute Ontario Summer School! Taking place from June 2 to June 20, the Compute Ontario Summer School offers a comprehensive curriculum packed with over 40 courses. Delivered by experts in the field, these sessions cover a wide range of topics including Advanced Research Computing (ARC), High Performance Computing (HPC), Research Data Management (RDM), and Research Software (RS). With presentations and workshops available at introductory to intermediate levels, there is something for everyone.
 
Highlights of the Summer School:
  • It’s free!
  • All courses delivered online
  • Pick-and-choose the course(s) you want to attend
  • Many courses include hands-on components
  • Courses range in length from 1.5 hours to three days
  • Course levels range from beginner to advanced
  • Topics covered include:  AI, machine learning, bioinformatics, GPU programming,  advanced research computing basics, high-performance computing tools, programming languages, neuroanalytics, visualization, research data management, and more.
 
COSS 2025 is presented by ACENET, CAC, Compute Ontario, SciNet, and SHARCNET, in partnership with Bioinformatics.ca, Digital Research Alliance of Canada, HPC4Health, Ontario Brain Institute, OICR, RDM Network of Experts, and Scholars Portal.
 
Please note that space is limited, so we encourage you to register for your desired course(s) as soon as possible in order to avoid missing out.
 
Registration opened on May 8, 2025
 
Teachers: CAC Team, SciNet Team, Sharcnet Team
Start date: 2 May 2025
End date: 20 May 2025

HPC245 Parallel Debugging with DDT (Apr 2025)

Debugging is an important step in developing a new code, or porting an old one to a new machine. In this session, we will discuss the debugging of frequently encountered bugs in serial code and debugging of parallel (MPI and threaded) codes using DDT.

Teacher: James Willis
Date: Mon., 28 Apr. 2025 - 1:00 pm
High Performance Computing Credits: 3

HPC111 Python and High Performance Computing (Apr 2025)

Parallel programming in Python. We will cover subprocess, numexpr, multiprocessing, MPI, and other parallel-enabling python packages.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Ramses van Zon
Date: Tue., 22 Apr. 2025 - 1:00 pm
High Performance Computing Credits: 3

DAT112 Neural Network Programming (Apr 2025)

This six-week class will introduce neural network programming concepts, theory and techniques. The class material will begin at an introductory level, intended for those with no experience with neural networks, eventually covering intermediate-to-advanced concepts.

Classes will be held, April 22 - May 29, 2025, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Erik Spence
Start date: 22 Apr. 2025
End date: 29 May 2025
Data Science Credits: 16

HPC105 Introduction to SciNet, Niagara and Mist (Self-guided v2)

This is a newly updated version of the self-guided course as of April 2025.

At your own pace, learn how to use the SciNet systems Niagara and Mist, from securely logging in to running computations on the supercomputer. Experienced users may still pick up some valuable pointers.

Date: Thu., 17 Apr. 2025 - 12:00 pm
High Performance Computing Credits: 2

SCMP201 Linux Shell Scripting (Apr 2025)

Learn how to write bash scripts, use environment variables, how to control process, and much more. Requires some Linux basic command line experience.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Marco Saldarriaga
Date: Mon., 14 Apr. 2025 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3

SCMP101 - Intro to Linux Command Line (Mar 2025)

Working with many of the HPC systems (like those at SciNet) involves using the Linux/UNIX command line. This provides a very powerful interface, but it can be quite daunting for the uninitiated. In this half-day session, you can become initiated with this course which will cover basic commands. It could be a great boon for your productivity.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Marco Saldarriaga
Date: Mon., 3 Mar. 2025 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3

SCMP281 Bash command line with common idioms (Feb 2025)

This workshop explores various concise and useful constructs for working with bash shell. The goal is to improve your shell skills. Attending this class requires some basic GNU/Linux command line experience.

Format: Virtual

Time:  1:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

Teacher: Ching-Hsing Yu
Date: Mon., 3 Feb. 2025 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3

SCMP201 Linux Shell Scripting (Jan 2025)

Learn how to write bash scripts, use environment variables, how to control process, and much more. Requires some Linux basic command line experience.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Marco Saldarriaga
Date: Mon., 20 Jan. 2025 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3

EES1137 Quantitative Applications for Data Analysis (Winter 2025)

In this course data analysis techniques utilizing the Python and R languages will be introduced, as well as the basics of programming and scientific computing. The goal of this course is to prepare graduate students for performing scientific data analysis. Successful students will learn how to use statistical inference tools to gain insight into large and small data sets, as well as be exposed to cutting-edge techniques and best practises to store, manage and analyze (large) data.  Topics include: Python and R programming, version control, automation, modular programming and scientific visualization.

Students willing to take the course as part of their graduate program must enrol through Acorn/ROSI.

Teachers: Alexey Fedoseev, Erik Spence
Start date: 7 Jan. 2025
End date: 3 Apr. 2025
Scientific Computing Credits: 8
Data Science Credits: 28

PHY1610 Scientific Computing for Physicists (Winter 2025)

This course is aimed at reducing your struggle in getting started with computational projects, and make you a more efficient computational scientist. Topics include well-established best practices for developing software as it applies to scientific computations, common numerical techniques and packages, and aspects of high performance computing. While we will introduce the C++ language, in one language or another, students should already have some programming experience. Despite the title, this course is suitable for many physical scientists (chemists, astronomers, ...).

This is a graduate course that can be taken for graduate credit by UofT PhD and MSc students. Students that wish to do so, should enrol using ACORN/ROSI.

This is an in-person course.

Teacher: Ramses van Zon
Start date: 7 Jan. 2025
End date: 1 May 2025
Scientific Computing Credits: 28
High Performance Computing Credits: 8

Compute Ontario Colloquium (11 Dec 2024)

This week's colloquium: ""Interactive Computing with Open Ondemand" by James Willis from SciNet.

The Compute Ontario Colloquia are weekly Zoom presentations on Advanced Research Computing, High Performance Computing, Research Data Management, and Research Software topics, delivered by staff from three Compute Ontario consortia (CAC, SciNet, SHARCNET) and guest speakers.  The colloquia are one hour long and include time for questions. No registration is required. Most presentations are recorded and uploaded to the hosting consortium video channel.

Teacher: James Willis
Date: Wed., 11 Dec. 2024 - 12:00 pm

ARC Training for EDIA Champions (Nov 2024)

In this session for the Alliance EDIA Champions, we will give an introduction to basic concepts of working on a national advanced research computing ("ARC") facility.  We will explain what resources are available and what benefits they may offer to you.  We'll then delve into how to get access and how to run computations on these supercomputers.
//
Dans cette session, nous donnerons une introduction aux concepts de base liés à l'utilisation d'une installation nationale de calcul informatique de pointe (CIP). Nous expliquerons quelles ressources sont disponibles et quels avantages elles peuvent vous offrir. Nous aborderons ensuite comment y accéder et comment exécuter des calculs sur ces superordinateurs.

Teacher: Ramses van Zon
Date: Thu., 5 Dec. 2024 - 11:30 am

HPC163 Intro to Parallel Programming (Dec 2024)

An introduction to concepts and techniques in parallel computing with compiled languages, e.g., C, C++ or Fortran. Both OpenMP and MPI will be introduced.

Format: Virtual

Teachers: Alexey Fedoseev, Bruno Mundim
Start date: 2 Dec. 2024
End date: 6 Dec. 2024
High Performance Computing Credits: 4

SCMP161 Intro to Apptainer (Nov 2024)

Container computing is gradually changing the way researchers are developing, sharing, and running software applications. Apptainer (formerly called Singularity) is gaining popularity in HPC for its performance, ease of use, portability,  and security. In this course, we will explore: what is a container, why use a container, and how to use and create one.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Ching-Hsing Yu
Date: Fri., 29 Nov. 2024 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3

SCMP101 - Intro to Linux Command Line (Nov 2024)

Working with many of the HPC systems (like those at SciNet) involves using the Linux/UNIX command line. This provides a very powerful interface, but it can be quite daunting for the uninitiated. In this half-day session, you can become initiated with this course which will cover basic commands. It could be a great boon for your productivity.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Marco Saldarriaga
Date: Mon., 25 Nov. 2024 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3

Compute Ontario Colloquium (13 Nov 2024)

This week's colloquium: "Setting Up Compute Infrastructure for Sensitive Data" by Yohai Meiron and Shawn Winnington-Ball from SciNet. 

The Compute Ontario Colloquia are weekly Zoom presentations on Advanced Research Computing, High Performance Computing, Research Data Management, and Research Software topics, delivered by staff from three Compute Ontario consortia (CAC, SciNet, SHARCNET) and guest speakers.  The colloquia are one hour long and include time for questions. No enrollment or registration is required. Most presentations are recorded and uploaded to the hosting consortium video channel.

Teachers: Yohai Meiron, Shawn Winnington-Ball
Date: Wed., 13 Nov. 2024 - 12:00 pm

DAT161 GIT Version Control (Nov 2024)

Using version control for your scripts, codes, documents, papers, and even data, allows you to track changes, keep backups, and facilitate collaboration.  In this workshop, you will learn the basics of version control with the popular distributed version control software GIT. This workshop assumes that students have an understanding of basic Linux shell commands.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: James Willis
Date: Wed., 6 Nov. 2024 - 1:00 pm
Data Science Credits: 3

SCMP142 Intro to Programming with Python (Nov 2024)

New to programming? Learn the basics of programming using python in eight one-hour sessions over the course of four weeks. Sessions will consist of a mix of lectures and hands-on exercises.

Format: In-person. Sessions will be recorded.

Teacher: Ramses van Zon
Start date: 5 Nov. 2024
End date: 5 Dec. 2024
Scientific Computing Credits: 8

Compute Ontario Colloquium (30 Oct 2024)

This week's colloquium: "Delivering Code-Heavy Presentations with Markdown" by Ramses van Zon from SciNet. 

The Compute Ontario Colloquia are weekly Zoom presentations on Advanced Research Computing, High Performance Computing, Research Data Management, and Research Software topics, delivered by staff from three Compute Ontario consortia (CAC, SciNet, SHARCNET) and guest speakers.  The colloquia are one hour long and include time for questions. No enrollment or registration is required. Most presentations are recorded and uploaded to the hosting consortium video channel.

Teacher: Ramses van Zon
Date: Wed., 30 Oct. 2024 - 12:00 pm

HPC205 Scaling Up: Mastering HPC (Oct 2024)

Learn how to fully utilize the power of HPC. Discover proven strategies and tools to efficiently scale up from serial jobs to parallel runs across many compute nodes on Niagara.

Teachers: Jaime Pinto, James Willis
Date: Mon., 28 Oct. 2024 - 1:00 pm
High Performance Computing Credits: 3

SCMP201 Linux Shell Scripting (Oct 2024)

Learn how to write bash scripts, use environment variables, how to control process, and much more. Requires some Linux basic command line experience.

Format: Virtual

Teacher: Marco Saldarriaga
Date: Fri., 25 Oct. 2024 - 1:00 pm
Scientific Computing Credits: 3
All courses