An apparatus for parallel hot pressing includes a die assembly that defines multiple pockets, as well as a load transferring mechanism selectively providing a respective uniaxial compressive load at each of the pockets. Multiple heating mechanisms are arranged so that each of the pockets is aligned with a different respective one of the heating mechanisms, the load transferring mechanism and the heating mechanisms thereby providing both compressive loading and heating of multiple material samples in parallel when material samples are placed in the pockets. A method of hot pressing in parallel is also provided.