MSc Quantum technologies

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Heriot Watt University Edinburgh

Program Overview

This one-year master’s brings you right into the heart of one of the UK’s strongest research environments for photonics and quantum science. It’s designed for students who want to understand how quantum systems work and how they’re turned into real technologies — from quantum devices to photonic sensors and advanced materials.

Curriculum Structure

1-Year Full-Time MSc

Across the year, you’ll study the physics and engineering that underpin modern quantum technologies while gaining experience with the tools and techniques used to design and test them. Early modules such as Condensed Matter, Quantum Lab and Programming, and Nanophotonics give you a strong grounding in quantum materials, optical behaviour and hands-on quantum programming.
As you progress, modules like Quantum Devices, Emerging Topics in Quantum Technologies and Research & Professional Practice help you understand how quantum hardware works and where the field is heading. You’ll also choose optional modules — such as Advanced Quantum Mechanics, Photonics Sensors, or Advanced Condensed Matter — allowing you to tailor the degree to your interests.
Your year finishes with a supervised research project, where you explore a real quantum-technology challenge alongside researchers in Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences.

Focus areas: condensed matter physics, quantum devices, nanophotonics, photonic sensors, quantum materials, quantum hardware.

Learning outcomes: deep understanding of quantum materials and optics; hands-on skills in quantum programming and experimentation; ability to analyse, model or test quantum devices; readiness for roles in quantum R&D or high-tech industries.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Delivered through the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences — a major UK centre for quantum and photonics research — giving the qualification strong academic and industry relevance.

Reputation (employability rankings): Heriot-Watt is widely recognised for excellence in photonics and quantum sciences, and students benefit from the university’s strong research environment and industry-facing strengths.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Heriot-Watt, the MSc in Quantum Technologies is built around genuine, hands-on experience. You’re not just learning about quantum science — you’re working directly with the equipment, laboratories and research groups that make the university one of the UK’s strongest centres for photonics and quantum research. From day one, you’ll be engaging with real devices, fabrication tools, and experimental setups that mirror the technologies being developed in today’s quantum-tech industry.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Access to advanced quantum and photonics laboratories through the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS), including cleanrooms and nano-fabrication facilities used to create and test 2D materials, semiconductor structures and photonic devices.
Hands-on use of research-grade equipment, such as single-photon detectors, ultrafast lasers, scanning quantum sensors and low-temperature cryostats with optical or microwave access — the same tools used to study qubits, quantum materials and nanoscale behaviour.
A major supervised MSc research project, where you join an active research group within IPaQS and contribute to real work in areas like quantum communication, quantum devices, quantum sensing or photonics.
Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, bringing together expertise from quantum science, materials engineering, optics and computational modelling — reflecting the way quantum-tech development works in real industry settings.
Training with practical quantum-tech workflows, including device fabrication techniques, optical alignment, quantum measurement methods and modelling or simulation tools used across quantum labs.
Full access to Heriot-Watt’s research facilities and libraries, supporting both your experimental work and your theoretical learning throughout the programme.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from Heriot-Watt’s MSc Quantum Technologies step into a field that’s growing incredibly quickly. Many move into roles such as quantum hardware engineer, quantum software developer, research physicist or product engineer in emerging tech sectors. The combination of advanced theory, hands-on lab experience and research training prepares you for both industry-focused positions and long-term research careers.

Here’s how Heriot-Watt supports your future success:

Dedicated career support: The university’s Careers and Employability Service offers tailored guidance for science and engineering students, including one-to-one career advice, CV and interview coaching, and employer engagement events.
Strong employability record: Heriot-Watt is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK for graduate employability, with over 80% of graduates entering skilled work or further study shortly after finishing their degree.
Close links to industry and research: The programme is delivered through the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS), which collaborates with industry partners and participates in national quantum-technology initiatives — giving you exposure to real research problems and technology development.
Long-term credibility of the degree: Because the MSc draws directly on one of the UK’s most respected photonics and quantum research environments, your qualification carries strong academic and professional weight, whether you move into industry or pursue research.
Wide-ranging graduate destinations: Alumni from Heriot-Watt’s quantum and photonics programmes have progressed into quantum-tech companies, research laboratories, engineering roles and doctoral studies, showing just how versatile this MSc can be.

Further Academic Progression:
Many students use this MSc as a pathway into PhD or EngD training, often within Heriot-Watt’s own Centres for Doctoral Training in areas such as quantum technologies, photonics, sensing or quantum informatics. This route is ideal if you want to build a long-term research career in academia or in advanced quantum-tech industries.