Frequently Asked Questions

The CDT is primarily funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), one of the research councils operating under the umbrella of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

While all students are governed by the same EPSRC/UKRI terms and conditions, some are funded directly by EPSRC, while others are funded (in part or wholly) by our five partner institutions or our industry partners. The source of your PhD funding will not affect your experience within the CDT.

A PhD with integrated study combines a taught programme in the first year with a full PhD research project in the following years. The taught element provides specialist knowledge and skills, ensuring students are well prepared before starting their doctoral research. The CDT’s PhD programme spans four years, divided into two stages:

Stage 1 (First Year)
Students build a strong interdisciplinary foundation through bespoke taught courses (totaling 180 credits of core and elective courses) and practical experiences, all undertaken at the University of Edinburgh. Core modules include an Introduction to Quantum Computing, covering key topics like circuits, algorithms, and machine learning, and Topics in Quantum Informatics, which introduces specialist areas and industry challenges. Students also choose up to five elective courses tailored to their backgrounds, covering areas from quantum theory to advanced computing. The year emphasises research skills, teamwork, and interdisciplinary learning, supported by personal development training. Two mini-projects, one group-based and one individual, help students explore different research areas and supervisors. The year includes a residency programme at NQCC, where students collaborate on industrial use cases using quantum hardware and engage with Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).

During this year, PhD projects are agreed and allocated, ultimately deciding where students will undertake Stage 2 of the programme, i.e., once you know your project and supervisory team, you will move to your Primary Supervisor’s institution (host institution) for the remainder of your studies.

Stage 2 (Second to Fourth Year)
Students undertake their PhD research projects at their host institution, while enhancing their expertise through advanced courses, peer-led seminars, and annual symposia that foster cross-cohort collaboration and address broader topics like well-being and responsible research. A key feature is a tailored RRI course involving leaders from Oxford University, and the University of Edinburgh. In Year 2, students also help to organise the CDT’s annual Spring School, open to the wider PhD community. In Years 3 and 4, students are encouraged to undertake industry placements or international research visits, engage in entrepreneurship training through programs like Edinburgh Innovations’ Venture Builder Incubator or UCL’s ConceptionX, and attend academic conferences to present their work and expand their professional networks.

For further information on the core and elective course options, please see the Degree Programme Table on the University of Edinburgh’s website here. 

The CDT is a consortium of five partner institutions:

1. University of Edinburgh
2. Heriot-Watt University
3. University College London
4. University of Oxford
5. University of Strathclyde

In Stage 1 (First Year) of the PhD programme, you will be collocated with your cohort at the University of Edinburgh for the full taught year. During this time, you will be allocated a project and, consequently, your supervisory team. The institutional affiliation of your Primary Supervisor will determine your host institution for Stage 2 (Second to Fourth Year).

As the CDT is a consortium of five institutions, the awarding body for your PhD will depend on your final host institution:

• University of Edinburgh: Your PhD will be awarded solely by the University of Edinburgh.

• Heriot-Watt University: Your PhD will be jointly awarded by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh.

• University College London: Your PhD will be awarded solely by University College London.

• University of Oxford: Your PhD will be awarded solely by the University of Oxford.

• University of Strathclyde: Your PhD will be jointly awarded by the University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh.

As a minimum, applicants must have or expect to obtain a UK first-class or upper second-class (2:1) honours undergraduate degree, or an equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject. For the full QI CDT-specific entry requirements, please click here, including for international degree equivalent qualifications.

We welcome applicants from diverse disciplinary backgrounds who have a strong motivation and aptitude for Quantum Informatics. A formal background in quantum computing is not required, as we recognise that not all universities offer courses in this area and some candidates may come from nontraditional career paths. However, you should be able to demonstrate why you believe you would be well-suited to Quantum Informatics.

You do not need to be an expert programmer to be considered. In Stage 1 (First Year), you will have the opportunity to take elective courses to develop the necessary programming skills. Nevertheless, you should demonstrate why you believe you will be able to succeed in acquiring these skills.

It depends. In most cases, students are not permitted to be registered on more than one university degree programme at the same time. However, if the timings are slightly misaligned, this can sometimes be accommodated. Please check with the CDT Team if this is a concern for you.

A CDT studentship is a funded position awarded to a student to undertake our PhD programme. It covers tuition fees, provides a stipend to support living costs, and includes a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) to help cover research-related expenses. Each year, the CDT aims to admit 16 fully funded students. 

A maximum of 30% of EPSRC-funded students can be international, with the remainder being home students. By including additional studentships funded by our partner universities and industry, we aim for the overall proportion of international students to be closer to 40%.

Fully funded studentships are available to both home and international applicants. A maximum of 30% of EPSRC-funded students can be international, with the remainder being home students. By including additional studentships funded by our partner universities and industry, we aim for the overall proportion of international students to be closer to 40%.

To be eligible for a fully funded UK home studentship you must:

• Be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and

• Have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and

• Have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/ EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years.

If you do not meet the above criteria, you are an international student.

The PhD programme offered by the CDT is a PhD with integrated study, divided into two stages; Stage 1 (First Year) is a taught first year (180 credits of core and elective courses), while Stage 2 (Years Two to Four) focuses on the research project.

Towards the end of your first year, the CDT will ask all students to identify Quantum Informatics topics they find interesting. These topics will be shared with the CDT’s Supervisory Network, who will then propose projects. From this list of proposed projects, you will select three for consideration.

After selecting three projects of interest, you will meet with the CDT Team to discuss your choices. An appropriate project will then be allocated to you, determining your supervisory team and host institution*. While the CDT will work to ensure student satisfaction, you should be prepared to be based at any of the CDT’s five partner institutions, within reason. 

*Host institutions for Stage 2 are decided by the institutional affiliation of a student’s Primary Supervisor.

You do not need to contact a supervisor before applying, as project allocation takes place towards the end of your first year. You are welcome to reach out if you would like to learn more about a particular academic’s research area or expertise, but we ask that you keep an open mind about potential supervisors until the project allocation process is underway. 

We ask that you keep an open mind about your project and supervisory team throughout your first year until the project allocation process concludes. When you start the programme, you are free to discuss ideas with anyone, including potential supervisors, but we encourage you to keep these discussions general rather than focusing on specific projects.

You will be involved at every stage of the project allocation process and have input into your project choice, but to ensure fairness to all students and supervisors and to meet our commitments to our funders and partners, we ask that you follow the process: first propose topics, then review project proposals, and finally respond to the proposals.

While it may be possible to arrange a secondary supervisor from outside the CDT’s partner universities or industry partners, your primary supervisor will typically be a staff member at one of the CDT’s five partner institutions.

We cannot guarantee that you will be allocated to a particular project or supervisor, but most students receive one of their top choices. If it is not possible to match you with your preferred project, we will work with you to find an alternative project that meets your needs. Our priority is to ensure you thrive in your research and are satisfied with both your supervisor and project.

Projects are proposed by the CDT’s Supervisory Network, based on areas of interest in Quantum Informatics, as advised by our students. Once you have been allocated a project, you will, of course, have the opportunity to shape it, as it will become your PhD project.

Some projects may be proposed directly by external partners and involve extensive collaboration, including periods of study at their research sites. In all cases, you will discuss the proposal with your supervisory team and reach an agreement before starting the project.

For further information on the Stage 1 core course, “Individual Project”, see Training → Individual Project

You will have the opportunity to participate in seminars, workshops, and hackathons, as well as receive training in Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), transferable skills, public engagement, and entrepreneurship programmes. You may also undertake placements or internships with industry partners, or immersive research visits to international partner universities. As part of your studentship, you will receive a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) to support travel, conferences, and research-related expenses.

For further information on the training available via the CDT, see Training

Yes, all three are supported and encouraged by the CDT.

Some students may be funded by an industry partner (in part or in full), in which case the partner usually offers placement opportunities within the company. If you are not directly funded by an industry partner, you are still encouraged to complete an internship and/or research visit*.

The maximum time permitted for internships, placements and research visits is 12 months in total across your PhD.

For further information on the placement and internships opportunities available via the CDT, see Training → Industry Internships, Placements and Research Visits

*For international students on visas, certain restrictions may apply, however the CDT Team has extensive experience supporting students with these regulations.

You will have the opportunity to take on teaching and/or tutorial duties, up to the institutional weekly maximum (typically 6–9 hours per week). These roles are paid, and full training is provided.

During Stage 1 (First Year), we strongly discourage you from taking on such duties, as your workload will already be demanding. From Stage 2 (Second to Forth Year), however, we actively encourage you to do so. Teaching not only deepens your own understanding and develops your communication skills, but also supports your fellow students, assists your supervisors, and can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

UKRI terms and conditions state that both home and international students must be resident in the UK for the majority of their studies, and that any time spent abroad should be for the purpose of fieldwork or a long-term attachment. If you hold a student visa, you must also comply with its conditions; the University of Edinburgh’s Student Immigration Service can provide further advice if required. Students are also entitled to annual leave of approximately eight weeks per academic year, which may be used for non-research-related travel during the studentship.

We offer fully funded positions for international students, with no additional programme fees required. While the exact number may vary each year, we expect to recruit around six international students per cohort. Please note, however, that student visa costs and the immigration health surcharge cannot be covered as part of the studentship.

Fees
All CDT students have their fees paid by their host institution via the CDT. This includes for international students who are not required to pay international top up fees. 

Stipends
CDT students receive an annual stipend to cover living costs, paid monthly over an academic year by their host institution via the CDT. The stipend rate is set by UKRI. For 2025/26, the standard stipend for full-time students is £20,780 (pro-rated for part-time students). 

Home students starting their studies in September 2026 will receive the standard UKRI rate, plus an additional £10,000 per year as part of the UK Government’s TechExpert Pilot. For further information on the TechExpert Pilot, please see the below question, “What is the TechExpert Pilot, and who is eligible for this?”

Following a recent UK Government announcement of a pilot scheme called TechExpert, part of the national Skills Programme TechFirst, the CDT expects to offer an enhanced stipend for home students (as defined by UKRI), who are starting their studies in September 2026. This enhanced stipend will provide an additional £10,000 per year on top of the standard UKRI stipend rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26) for the four years of the studentship.

As part of this pilot, home students receiving the enhanced stipend will be expected to participate in:

• Mandatory additional TechExpert widening participation activities to inspire the next generation
• Virtual and potentially in-person TechExpert cohort networking events
• Broader engagement with the TechFirst programme

Final confirmation of this pilot scheme is expected from the Government in January 2026. For further details, please contact us.