Are there any Universities that have solar energy programs?

How impressive, in the eyes of a PhD admissions committee, is a degree from the Perimeter Scholars International program compared to similar MSc degrees from prestigious universities?

• I want to do an MSc in theoretical physics, and continue to a PhD in theoretical high-energy/particle physics. I'm currently looking mainly at the Perimeter Scholars International (PSI) program at Perimeter Institute and the MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces at Imperial College London. I've been wondering about the PSI program. Their website says that "all course grades are either Credit or No Credit", and "the final grade on the PSI Certificate will be Pass or Fail". I take it to mean that there are no exams. This is great if I will be able to continue to a PhD at Perimeter Institute. However, what if I can't continue at Perimeter, or I want to continue somewhere else? I know that high grades in the MSc degree make it easier to get to PhD programs at prestigious universities (I'm thinking mainly about the UK and Canada, not the US). If I don't have any grades, then in particular I don't have high grades; "pass" can be translated as anything between 50% and 100%. So basically what I'm asking is, is a PSI Certificate with a final grade of "pass" from Perimeter Institute equivalent to an MSc with a high final grade from a prestigious university (such as Imperial College, Cambridge, Oxford etc.), just because Perimeter Institute itself is prestigious and well-known? Also, the actual MSc degree is from the University of Waterloo, which is of course a fine institution but not really prestigious or well-known, particularly in theoretical physics (currently ranked no. 180 in the world). Again, does the PSI Certificate make this degree equivalent to a degree from a prestigious university in the eyes of the PhD admissions committee? I will especially appreciate answers from people who have studied / are currently studying in the PSI program, and from people who are in PhD admissions committees for theoretical physics (if there are any on Quora). PS, This question is also by me:

• Answer:

  Stanford has admitted a few graduates of the program.  It's one of the few programs (the ICTP being the other that comes to mind) where transferring to a top ranked program is a realistic possibility.  The program is known and respected.