Which countries offer the best courses in quantum physics?

The USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and Japan offer excellent programs in quantum physics.

What is the scope of a degree in quantum physics?

The area of quantum science is witnessing its second revolution as a result of technological advancements. This implies that job seekers in the field of quantum physics will have plenty of job opportunities in the future.

Is a Ph.D. required to pursue a career in quantum physics?

Since quantum physics is a research field that involves the study of subatomic particles, many employers prefer candidates with a Ph.D. degree. But candidates with a bachelor’s and master’s degree can easily get employed for technician and assistant positions in quantum physics.

Best Global Universities for Quantum Physics in 2022-2023

Best Universities and Programs for Quantum Physics in the World

About Quantum Physics

Quantum physics is a branch of physics that studies matter and energy at atomic and sub-atomic levels. It aims to uncover the properties and behaviors of the very fundamental building blocks of nature. Quantum physicists are experts who research the behavior of atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, and everything in the molecular and sub-molecular states. Classical physics can be used to establish an object’s position at a certain time, but its laws fail to describe the properties and behavior of atomic particles, making quantum physics valuable in their study.

Candidates with a fundamental understanding of physics, mathematics, statistics, and computer science and the willingness to spend years learning and experimenting are most suited for a career in quantum physics. The purpose of this article is to describe the duties and career options available in the field of quantum physics. It also considers the best universities for quantum physics and the most popular courses they provide.

Duties of Quantum Physicists

Instead of studying matter as a continuous solid object, quantum physicists study the invisible and indivisible quantum particles of matter, such as electrons, photons, protons, etc., which are held together by invisible forces acting across empty space. They typically work full-time in research laboratories studying the behavior and properties of these sub-atomic particles. The following are some of the duties performed by a quantum physicist.

Study interactions between matter and energy to learn more about the subatomic particles
Solve scientific problems using the laws of quantum physics
Design computer software and programs to analyze and interpret data
Collaborate with other researchers to share their knowledge of quantum physics
Publish their research in papers and journals
Stay updated on the latest research in the field of quantum physics

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Quantum Physics

An individual who wants to work as a quantum physicist should start with a bachelor’s degree in physics or a relevant field, followed by a master’s degree specialization in quantum physics, and lastly, complete a doctoral degree in the field. Since quantum physics involves a lot of research and is a constantly evolving field, a bachelor’s degree won’t take a student beyond entry-level and assistant jobs. A master’s degree is mandatory for professional growth. Some employers, such as research organizations and universities, even demand doctoral and post-doctoral studies in quantum physics. Top universities often provide master’s degrees in quantum physics, frequently combined with physics programs as dual-degree programs, which are cost-effective as well as time-saving options.

Best bachelor’s programs in Quantum Physics

Bachelor of Science in Physics
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics
Bachelor of Science in Quantum Physics
Bachelor of Science in Theoretical Physics

Best master’s programs in Quantum Physics

Master of Science in Physics
Master of Science in Quantum Physics
Master of Science in Mathematics
Master of Science in Experimental Physics
Master of Science in Theoretical Physics
Master of Science in Mathematics and Quantum Physics
Master of Science in Applied Physics
Master of Science in Astronomy
Master of Science in Astrophysics

Best doctoral programs in Quantum Physics

Ph.D. in Quantum Physics
Ph.D. in Applied Physics
Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics
Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics
Ph.D. in Astronomy
Ph.D. in Experimental Physics
Ph.D. in Astrophysics

Specializations in Quantum Physics

Quantum field studies the fundamental forces that interact with matter, such as electromagnetism, which describes how atoms hold together; the strong nuclear force, which explains the stability of the nucleus in an atom; and the weak nuclear force, which discusses the radioactive decay of certain atoms. The field of quantum physics is divided into the following sub-fields:

Quantum electrodynamics
Quantum field theory
Quantum mechanics
Quantum statistics

Duration of programs in Quantum Physics

In the USA and Canada, a bachelor’s degree in quantum physics takes four years, whereas it takes three or four years in Europe and the rest of the world. A master’s degree in quantum physics and related specialties might take one to two years to complete. Some universities offer quantum physics dual-degree programs that run for a total of five years. A full-time Ph.D. in quantum physics can take anything from three to six years, and part-time can take even longer.

Country	Bachelor’s Degree	Master’s Degree	Doctoral Degree
USA and Canada	4 years	2 years	4-6 years
UK	3-4 years	1-2 years	3-6 years
Australia	3-4 years	1-2 years	3-6 years
Others	3-4 years	1-2 years	3-6 years

Career opportunities in Quantum Physics

Quantum physics is booming as a result of technological advancements, and there are plenty of new and intriguing opportunities for quantum physicists to occupy. Because quantum principles are used in everything from lasers and semiconductors to magnetic-resonance imagers and fiber-optic cables, quantum physicists will have plenty of work prospects in the future years too. The following are some of the job paths available in quantum physics.

Quantum Physicist
Quantum Research Scientist
Quantum Device Modeling Engineer
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Quantum Engineer
Computational Scientist
Quantum Laboratory Experimentalist
Assistant/Associate Professor

Average salaries for Quantum Physicists

Although quantum physics entry-level salaries are low, prospective students should consider concentrating on specializations to boost their earning potential. In both government and non-profit organizations, master’s and doctoral degrees are highly demanded. The following is a list of typical quantum physics salaries.

Country	*Average salary in USD/year**
Canada	101,955 (Glassdoor)
Australia	102,000 (Glassdoor)
UK	75,222 (Glassdoor)
USA	104,647 (Glassdoor)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top 50 universities in the world for Quantum Physics based on subject rankings

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
1	4	5	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
2	7	1	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	4	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
3	3	5	University of Cambridge	UK	Click Here	Click Here
5	1	2	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
6	9	2	California Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
7	25	12	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
7	25	12	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
8	17	18	University College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
8	21	15	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich	Switzerland	Click Here	Click Here
10	10	10	University of Chicago	USA	Click Here	Click Here
14	11	9	Yale University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
16	38	30	University of Edinburgh	UK	Click Here	Click Here
20	6	7	Princeton University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
21	12	22	Cornell University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
23	24	35	University of Tokyo	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
27	35	50	University of Manchester	UK	Click Here	Click Here
27	76	54	Australian National University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
32	5	8	University of California – Berkeley	USA	Click Here	Click Here
33	37	61	Kyoto University	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
35	47	35	King’s College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
37	33	33	University of Melbourne	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
38	69	58	University of Sydney	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
43	65	70	University of New South Wales	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
46	42	37	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
47	51	54	University of Queensland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
48	18	34	University of California-San Diego	USA	Click Here	Click Here
50	52	38	Technical University of Munich	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
63	57	42	Heidelberg University	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
67	41	47	University of Texas at Austin	USA	Click Here	Click Here
77	151-200	124	University of Southampton	UK	Click Here	Click Here
78	97	158	Moscow State University	Russia	Click Here	Click Here
82	55	48	University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign	USA	Click Here	Click Here
82	301-400	162	Durham University	UK	Click Here	Click Here
85	19	29	University of Washington – Seattle	USA	Click Here	Click Here
85	201-300	137	University of Auckland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
108	101-150	111	University of Adelaide	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
111	101-150	88	University of Montreal	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
126	101-150	125	University of Alberta	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
130	38	301-350	Normal Superior School	France	Click Here	Click Here
136	201-300	180	Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
140	92	80	McMaster University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
146	57	68	University of California – Santa Barbara	USA	Click Here	Click Here
149	151-200	201-250	University of Waterloo	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
158	56	93	University of Maryland – College Park	USA	Click Here	Click Here
186	40	86	University of Minnesota – Twin Cities	USA	Click Here	Click Here
240	201-300	251-300	Queen’s University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
264	NA	190	Rutgers University – New Brunswick	USA	Click Here	Click Here
290	201-300	201-250	Griffith University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
298	301-400	201-250	Simon Fraser University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in the USA for Quantum Physics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for physicists, including quantum physicists, are expected to grow by 7% over the next decade (2019-2029), making this a promising field to study in the USA. Students can start their careers with a bachelor’s degree in quantum physics, followed by a master’s degree and a doctoral degree. Many top universities in the USA, including those listed in the table below, offer specialized master’s degrees in quantum physics.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
1	4	5	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	4	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
5	1	2	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
6	9	2	California Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
10	10	10	University of Chicago	USA	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in the UK for Quantum Physics

The UK is gaining momentum in quantum physics research and there are many national centres in the UK that are involved in quantum field research, such as:

The Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub (By the University of Oxford)
Quantum Metrology Institute-NPL (By National Physical Laboratory)
National Quantum Computing Centre (By UKRI)
UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing and Timing (By the University of Birmingham)
The Quantum Communication Hub (By the University of York)
QuantIC – the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Imaging (By University of Glasgow)

Candidates with PhD and master’s degrees in quantum physics will find good work possibilities at all of these centers. Considering the demand, many UK universities are offering courses in quantum physics. The following is a list of top universities offering master’s and bachelor’s courses in quantum physics to study in the UK.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
2	7	1	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
3	3	5	University of Cambridge	UK	Click Here	Click Here
7	25	12	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
7	25	12	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
8	17	18	University College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in Australia for Quantum Physics

Australia is a popular study destination for overseas students due to its high immigration rate and inexpensive living and tuition costs. Because of the high demand for quantum research in Australia, top Australian universities offer a master’s degree in quantum physics. Furthermore, the Australian government offers a number of career openings in this industry. The table below offers a list of top Australian universities that offer quantum physics master’s and bachelor’s degrees.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
27	76	54	Australian National University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
37	33	33	University of Melbourne	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
38	69	58	University of Sydney	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
43	65	70	University of New South Wales	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
47	51	54	University of Queensland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in Canada for Quantum Physics

Canada is recognized as one of the best destinations to study as it offers permanent citizenship, affordable education, and a variety of job opportunities while studying. top Canadian universities such as the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia, among others, offer doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees in quantum physics. Students pursuing quantum physics bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Canada can also apply for funding and scholarships from many of these universities.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
46	42	37	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
111	101-150	88	University of Montreal	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
126	101-150	125	University of Alberta	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
140	92	80	McMaster University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
149	151-200	201-250	University of Waterloo	Canada	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in Germany for Quantum Physics

Tuition costs are not charged at many German public universities, including overseas students, which is one of the greatest advantages of studying in Germany. Therefore, many international students choose to study medicine, physics, and other related programs. A number of the German public, as well as private universities, offer doctorate, master’s, and bachelor’s degree programs in quantum physics. Here is a list of top public universities in Germany that are well-known for their master’s and bachelor’s courses in quantum physics.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
136	201-300	180	Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
50	52	38	Technical University of Munich	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
63	57	42	Heidelberg University	Germany	Click Here	Click Here

Academic requirements for studying Quantum Physics

Because quantum physics is concerned with the study of subatomic particles, students should be well equipped with high school physics, mathematics, and chemistry. Computer programming and modeling are required to study quantum physics, therefore a solid foundation in computer skills such as data processing and modeling is essential. Students should also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as research, analysis, and problem-solving aptitude. This will surely improve their chances of being accepted. Students can opt for a self-application process, which is lengthy, or choose to apply via Gyanberry to facilitate their admission process. The academic criteria supplied by some of the best quantum physics universities are listed here.

Bachelor’s level

A high school education with a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, including math, physics, and chemistry as core classes
Academic transcripts
Valid passport
SAT/ACT score
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letter
English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

Master’s level

A bachelor’s degree in quantum physics or a physics with a GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale)
Academic transcripts
Valid passport
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letters
GRE score
Work experience
Research publications
English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

Doctoral level

Honours or master’s degree in quantum physics or a relevant field with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
Academic transcripts
Valid passport
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letters
Work experience (highly recommended)
Research publications
Personal interview
English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.