The University of Waterloo, in collaboration with the Institute for Quantum Computing, offers graduate students unique opportunities to learn about and engage in world-leading research in quantum information through a wide range of advanced research projects and advanced courses on the foundations, applications and implementation of quantum information processing.

In particular, we offer a new interdisciplinary graduate program in Quantum Information that leads to MMath, MSc, MASc, and PhD degrees. The program is offered in collaboration with:

• The Faculty of Mathematics' Department of Applied Mathematics, Department of Combinatorics and Optimization, and David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
• The Faculty of Science's Department of Chemistry, and Department of Physics and Astronomy
• The Faculty of Engineering's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Students are required to complete the requirements of both their home unit and the specific requirements of the quantum information (QI) program to achieve the special QI designation. (E.g., MMath in Computer Science (Quantum Information), PhD in Chemistry (Quantum Information), MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Quantum Information)).

MMath, MSc, and MASc students will receive a strong and broad foundation in quantum information science, coupled with knowledge and expertise from their home program. This will prepare them for the workforce or further graduate studies and research leading towards a PhD.

PhD students will be prepared for careers as scholars and researchers, with advanced expertise in quantum information science, along with the focus of their home program. The new program is designed to provide knowledge of quantum information, including theory and implementations, their home program discipline, and also developed advanced expertise in their particular research area within quantum information.

• Quantum Algorithms and Complexity
• Quantum Information and Communication
• Quantum Cryptography
• Quantum Error Correction and Fault-tolerance
• Spin-based implementations
• Quantum Optics-based implementations
• Nanoelectronics-based implementations.

In line with the expansion goals of the Institute for Quantum Computing, a new, state-of-the-art building for the Institute is on the way, as part of the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC). The building will contain a new fabrication and metrology facility, and a suite of laboratories for research in areas including quantum optics, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR), quantum dots, superconducting qubits, coherent spintronics and quantum cryptography. The building will host IQC researchers from all three faculties (starting in 2011), and will have formal and informal meeting spaces designed to facilitate interaction and interdisciplinary research.

See more at http://www.iqc.ca/institute/expansion.php

• Applied Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Combinatorics & Optimization
• David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Physics and Astronomy

Students who are not applying to the collaborative quantum information program at this time, but would still like to study quantum information and be a member of IQC, are encouraged to apply for IQC membership, in addition to applying to a regular program in one of the aforementioned home units.

Note: All units are still accepting applications for Fall 2010 entry.

Students must fulfill the minimum requirements of their home unit, as well as the specific requirements of the quantum information program. It is possible that some students may need to take more courses than are prescribed by the home program requirements in order to fulfill the degree requirements of the collaborative quantum information program. The quantum information requirements are summarized below.

Students in all three faculties will be required to take two core quantum information courses (and must also meet the course requirements of their home program). These interdisciplinary courses provide a strong foundation in quantum information science.

• QIC 710: Quantum Information Processing
• QIC 750: Implementation of Quantum Information Processing

In addition to the two cores courses, students will be able to take a wide range of advanced courses within quantum information, offered by leading researchers in the field. PhD students are required to take two of these additional courses in quantum information. A list of past, present and future course offerings in quantum information can be found here.

PhD students must fulfill a lecturing requirement consisting of one IQC seminar, and one lecture on a quantum information topic aimed at members of the home unit. One or both of these lectures may simultaneously count towards the lecturing requirement of the home program.

For PhD students, the examination of relevant material in quantum information will be part of the home program comprehensive exam.

Students are required to write a thesis in quantum information. The thesis must satisfy all the requirements of the home program.

Students enrolled in the quantum information graduate program will be eligible for IQC scholarships. More information can be found on our Graduate Student Funding page.

For more information, please contact grad@iqc.ca