Quantum technology master’s: a shortcut to the quantum industry?

Abstract

In this article, we investigate a growing trend in the worldwide Quantum Technology (QT) education landscape, that of the development of master’s programs, intended to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to take a job in the quantum industry, while serving a much shorter timeline than a doctoral degree. Through a global survey, we identified 86 master’s programs, with substantial growth since 2021. Over time master’s have become increasingly interdisciplinary, organised by multiple faculties or through joint degree programs, and offer more hands-on experiences such as internships in companies. Information from program organisers and websites suggests that the intended career destinations of their graduates are a diverse range of industries, and therefore master’s programs may be a boon to the industrialisation of quantum technologies. Finally, we identify a range of national efforts to grow the quantum workforce of many countries, “quantum program enhancements”, which augment the content of existing study programs with quantum content. This may further contribute to the growth and viability of master’s programs as a route to the quantum industry.