Track 01 / Quantum Computing
Quantum Computing
Qubits, circuits, algorithms and error correction. You start with linear algebra and end with working programs.
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Pace
- Self-paced
- Modules
- 8
- Live sessions
- 8, optional
- Price
- $24.99 founding, $49.99 later
- Seats
- Limited to 25
Starts in December and runs into the first week of January, with a break over the holidays.
Free to join. Nothing to pay now.
01 / The climb
A different cost curve for some problems.
K = 0.73
02 / Who it's for
Who it's for
- 01Software engineers who want to learn quantum programming properly, with the maths included.
- 02Physics, maths and computer science students who know the theory and want to implement it.
- 03Founders and researchers who need to check quantum claims for themselves.
03 / Prerequisites & time
Prerequisites and time
- 01Python, and basic command-line work.
- 02Linear algebra: vectors, matrices, eigenvalues. There is a refresher if yours is rusty.
- 03Basic probability. You do not need any quantum mechanics.
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Pace
- Self-paced
- Note
- Starts in December and runs into the first week of January, with a break over the holidays.
04 / Syllabus
Four weekly blocks
Week 1
M01
Linear algebra and single qubits
Hilbert spaces, unitary and Hermitian operators, tensor products, state vectors, the Born rule and measurement.
Proof of work
A small Python library that builds multi-qubit states and operators, plus a single-qubit simulator that reproduces the predicted measurement statistics over many shots.
M02
Gates and circuits
Universal gate sets, entanglement, Bell states and circuit identities.
Proof of work
A circuit simulator, verified against hand-derived outputs for a set of reference circuits.
Week 2
M03
Early algorithms
Interference as a resource: Deutsch–Jozsa, Bernstein–Vazirani, Simon's problem.
Proof of work
Implementations of each algorithm with a written argument for why the query count improves.
M04
Fourier transform, phase estimation and factoring
The quantum Fourier transform, phase estimation, and the structure of period finding.
Proof of work
A working period-finding routine on small instances, with a resource estimate for larger ones.
Week 3
M05
Search and amplitude amplification
Grover's algorithm, amplitude amplification, and the limits of quadratic speed-ups.
Proof of work
A search circuit with measured success probability against the analytic curve.
M06
Noise and quantum error correction
Decoherence, noise channels, repetition and stabiliser codes, thresholds.
Proof of work
A noisy simulator and a small error-correcting code showing logical error below physical error.
Week 4
M07
Variational and hybrid methods
Parameterised circuits, cost functions, optimisation loops and their known pitfalls.
Proof of work
A variational solver for a small Hamiltonian, with a report on convergence and noise sensitivity.
M08
Capstone: a verified quantum workload
Choose a problem, formulate it, run it on a simulator, and defend the result.
Proof of work
A reproducible repository and written analysis, reviewed with the platform and, if you want, in a live session.
05 / Format
Format
01
Self-paced
Four weeks. Work whenever suits you.
02
Eight optional live sessions
A kickoff session and seven more with a human expert in the field. You can come to all of them, some, or none.
03
Small cohort
Limited to 25 people per course.
06 / Outcomes
Outcomes
- 01Write quantum circuits and algorithms and explain why they work.
- 02A quantum simulator of your own, which you can use to test ideas.
- 03A clear account of what error correction costs and why scaling up is hard.
- 04The ability to read a quantum paper and tell a proven speed-up from a hopeful one.
07 / FAQ
FAQ
Do I need quantum hardware?
No. You write and run your own simulator. We talk about how real devices differ, but you do not need access to one.
Is this a physics course?
No, it is a computing course. It uses only the physics needed to define the model.
Does it cover breaking encryption?
It covers period finding and what factoring would need in qubits and gates. You can then judge the headlines yourself.
When does it start?
The first cohort starts in December and runs into the first week of January, with a break over the holidays. It is limited to 25 people.
01 / Quantum
Reserve your place
Free to join. Nothing to pay now. Founding price $24.99 per course. Later cohorts are $49.99.