Since the early seventies CERN has organized  the CERN Schools of Computing (CSCs), usually held in August/September. They are open to postgraduate students and research workers, working at CERN or at external institutes, with a few years of experience in elementary particle physics, in computing or in related fields.

The participants come mainly from the CERN Member States or from laboratories in countries associated with CERN. However, a fraction of the students come from outside the particle physics community, generally attracted by the advanced topics that are taught. Attendance ranges from 60 to 80 students, typically of 15 to 30 different nationalities.

The schools last two weeks, and are generally organized on the campus of a university or in a hotel with close networking connections to a university or laboratory.