Quantum Programming Foundations

This course is delivered online. The course runs for 1x semester (12 weeks) and is delivered via synchronous and asynchronous directed activities, using state of the art technologies and teaching techniques to support the virtual classroom.

The total weekly workload is 9.25-hours per week, with 5.25-contact hours.

• Recorded lectures will be scheduled for 1 hour per week.
• There will be a 2 hour live tutorial session per week with open class discussion based on lecture content and tutorial worksheet provided, and there will be an additional 2 hour asynchronous lab session where students individually complete exercises with near realtime support during business hours provided by ICHEC tutors.
• Lecturer supervised learning (contact and non-contact) for continuous assessment is 27 hours per semester. There are 2 hours of non- scheduled self paced directed e-Learning with materials and resources provided. Students are encouraged to engage with this content each week before their live class to build an understanding and to prompt questions.

Topic 1: Demystifying Quantum Computing

• This topic introduces the era of high-performance computing and its impact, followed by positioning where quantum computing fits, and explains how the quantum computing ecosystem looks.

Topic 2: Integrating High-Performance and Quantum Computing

• This topic covers the fundamental and technical reasons for integrating classical & quantum computing and the road ahead in the approaches and activities integrating classical & quantum computing.

Topic 3: From Bits to Qubits

• This topic recaps classical bits and uses it to introduce quantum bits. The introduction of quantum bits addresses qubits, quantum measurement, quantum gates, and other features of quantum computing.

Topic 4: Realising Quantum Computing Systems

• This topic covers different types of quantum computing hardware, the physical components involved in building quantum computing systems, the engineering challenges in building quantum computing systems, and roadmaps of hardware companies that are building these systems.

Topic 5: Accessing Quantum Computing Systems

• This topic covers how to execute quantum programs, followed by introducing quantum computing software simulators, different approaches to accessing quantum systems, tightly-integrated quantum stacks vs. heterogenous quantum stacks, and publicly-funded systems at national and European levels.

Topic 6: Software and Tools for Quantum Programming

• This topic introduces a map of components in the quantum computing software layers (high level quantum languages / SDK / Tools, and low level quantum languages and libraries). It covers quantum programming stacks, quantum orchestrators, and specialised quantum software projects and bespoke quantum programming stacks.

Topic 7: Landscape of Quantum Algorithms

• This topic introduces what a quantum algorithm is, covering early quantum algorithms (Grover’s algorithm, Shor’s algorithm) and NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) algorithms. Different types of quantum algorithms and their applications for simulation of physics and chemistry systems, search and optimisation, and machine learning are also covered.

Our course empowers technical professionals like you with in-depth insights into quantum computing, enabling you to make informed strategic decisions and lead with confidence. 

Ideal candidates for this course are:

• Technical managers leading teams in IT-related departments
• Scientists (computational, AI, data) aiming to leverage quantum computing for advanced analytics
• Engineers interested in exploring the practical applications of quantum computing
• Innovation leaders driving research and development efforts in technology-focused industries
• Entrepreneurs looking to integrate quantum technologies into their ventures
• Business analysts seeking to understand the strategic implications of quantum technologies
• Project managers overseeing technology-driven initiatives
• CTOs and CIOs responsible for shaping the technology roadmap of their organisations

The Quantum Programming Foundations course will introduce you to core practical skills, equipping you to assess the evolution and use-cases for quantum computing, towards creating a roadmap for your technical and skills development activities required for your organisation to adopt quantum computing.

You will be able to:

• Understand the value chain and value proposition of quantum computing alongside classical high-performance computing.
• Evaluate the capabilities, limitations and potential areas for applying quantum computing, by identifying key high-level tipping points to reach practical quantum computing.
• Analyse the features of bits and qubits from phenomenological perspective, comparing their similarities and differences.
• Differentiate between types of quantum computing hardware, their physical components, and engineering challenges in building them.
• Experiment with access to different types of quantum hardware and software emulators from public and commercial quantum computing systems.
• Compare and contrast different components in the quantum computing software layers, along with different ways of using or building quantum programming stacks.
• Examine different types of quantum algorithms and their application in different problem areas, along with the potential advantage of each quantum algorithmic type.
• Evaluate the requirements for the practical application of quantum algorithms.

Academic Eligibility 

There are no prerequisites for applications.

Fees

Full Course fee – €2,000
Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet grant – €501
Student Cost – €1,499*

Part-funded fees are only available to eligible* applicants.

*Funding Eligibility

Applicants must be working in a private or commercial semi-state organisation registered in the Republic of Ireland (Business, Consultant, Freelancer) to avail of the grant-aided fees. As a government-funded training network, we can only support those meeting these criteria.

Applicants who do not meet our funding criteria may in some cases be able to apply directly with Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) and pay the full fee of €2,000 if there are available places, by registering directly with ICHEC by clicking on this link.

The Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC)

The Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) at the University of Galway is Ireland’s national centre for High-Performance Computing (HPC) providing e-infrastructure, services and expertise to academia, industry and the public sector supported by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills and the Higher Education Authority. Established in 2005, ICHEC is also the National HPC Competence Centre in Ireland under the EuroHPC Competence Centre (EuroCC) initiative.

University of Galway

University of Galway is an award-winning university in the heart of Galway city. Ranked among the top 2% of universities in the world, courses include business, law, medicine, arts, science, engineering, and more, all built on a thriving campus centred around a strong community. University of Galway has grown massively in size and reputation over the past 175 years, with a student population today of over 18,000.