Course Information

Date of next cohort: 2nd October - 27th November (break 30th Oct) 2026

Application deadline: Applications will open in August 2026. If you would like to be included in the mailing list for the next cohort, please email Christina Taylor

Cost: The fee for the course is £750

Duration: 8 weeks

Time commitment: 8 x 3-hour sessions

Location: South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London

Who should apply? This course is for civil servants of any grade with responsibilities or interests in the development and regulation of quantum technologies. No prior quantum, physics/maths or engineering training required. 

About the programme

The Quantum Fundamentals is designed for UK policymakers to understand the basic principles of quantum science, the main types of quantum technologies and the challenges associated with the development and deployment quantum hardware. We will focus on key areas related to the National Quantum Strategy, Quantum Missions and consider important policy implications, including: 

  • identifying potential applications and challenges for quantum technologies in public services 
  • identifying the ethical, legal and social implications of quantum technologies 
  • assessing the national and sectoral strategic importance of quantum technologies for the UK economy, national security and wider society 
  • discussing the development informed policy recommendations for quantum technologies 

The programme will consist of eight training sessions targeted specifically at policymakers. There will be a one-hour lecture style workshop delivered by one of Imperial’s academics followed by an interactive two-hour session, taking the form of a workshop, Q&A or lab/facility tour that will help policymakers get a clearer idea of the topics and applications discussed.  The time commitment requested from participants is one half-day per week over the course of an eight-week period.  

“A fantastic crash course to quantum - I would highly recommend to any civil servants looking to upskill in this critical technology!” - Civil Servant, Government Office for Science 

Benefits

  1. Understanding of Quantum Technologies and the science that underpins them: Gain a solid foundation in the basic principles of quantum science, key quantum technologies (e.g., computing, sensing, communication), and their potential societal and economic impact.
  2. Policy Insights for Public Services: Identify the practical applications and challenges of quantum technologies in public services and develop informed policy recommendations for their deployment.
  1. World-Class Expertise: Learn from Imperial College London's globally renowned faculty, leaders in quantum research and application across engineering, medicine, and science. 
  2. Strategic Impact on National Security and Economy: Assess the national and sectoral strategic importance of quantum technologies, especially regarding the UK's economy, national security, and wider society.
  3. Interactive Learning with Experts: Participate in dynamic sessions that combine lectures from Imperial academics with hands-on workshops, Q&A, and lab/facility tours to deepen understanding.
  4. Informed Decision-Making for Policymakers: Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to contribute to the development of national strategies and informed decisions on the regulation, investment, and innovation of quantum technologies.
  5. Networking You will meet civil servants with quantum interests from different UK government departments and national regulators, providing a valuable opportunity to make new contacts and to spend time discussing issues of mutual interest across government.

Programme outline

Week 1: From the classical to the quantum

Course introduction, including the UK's National Quantum Strategy and the Office for Quantum, including 2030/2035 delivery milestones for UK quantum computing, networks, sensing and navigation; overview of the UK quantum ecosystem across research, training, infrastructure and spinouts; how quantum computing and physics differ from classical approaches. Initial lecture focuses on a brief history of the development of classical and quantum physics, and the unique properties of quantum materials that underpins these new technologies. 

Seminar: Quantum lab tours. 

Week 2: Quantum Computing: Capabilities and Applications

What quantum computing is and what it's realistically useful for – materials/chemistry simulation, optimisation, machine learning, cryptography; UK strengths and weaknesses in hardware, supply chains, infrastructure and skills; the National Quantum Computing Centre's role in scaling UK hardware; an industry view on what quantum hardware companies need to scale.  

Seminar: Quantum computing to kickstart economic growth.

Week 3: Quantum Communications and Cryptography

Quantum networks, future telecoms and 'Quantum Internet'; distributed quantum computing; post Quantum Cryptography and policy implications.

Seminar: Quantum security is national security 

Week 4: Quantum Sensing, Timing and Imaging

Operating principles, current state-of-the-art; applications of quantum sensors (e.g. medical imaging and diagnostics, environmental monitoring, detection of underground resources etc.); transformative potential, current technology and market readiness.

Seminar: Creating an NHS fit for the future 

Week 5: Quantum Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT)

Cold-atom quantum sensing for PNT, atomic clocks and inertial/gravity sensors, deployment trials with the Royal Navy and DSTL; timing resilience for telecoms and infrastructure when GNSS is lost or jammed; barriers to UK scale-up, phototonic modular scaling.  

Seminar: Time, transport and logistics. 

Week 6: Quantum Materials and Engineering

Materials underpinning UK Quantum Missions and NPL's role in characterisation and metrology; supply chain vulnerabilities in critical materials; national and international quantum infrastructure (e.g. Royal Academy of Engineering Infrastructure Review); NPL's atomic clock work and ‘time’ as a critical underpinning infrastructure.  

Seminar: Quantum infrastructure and the supply chain. 

Week 7: Global quantum landscape: technology readiness levels, investments, and international

Technology Readiness Levels and the role of standards in scaling quantum technologies; alignment with the UK's semiconductor and frontier technology strategy; UK Quantum's perspective on financing, talent, supply chains and regulation.  

Seminar: The quantum ecosystem, finance and commerce 

Week 8: Industry and policy panel discussion, with cohort Q&A

The economics of quantum advantage and the race for fault-tolerant quantum computing; comparing quantum hardware platforms; geopolitics of quantum talent and supply chains; policy recommendations for the UK.  

Seminar: Quantum technologies – hype or opportunity?

“Having access to some of the best minds in Quantum was a privilege. The breadth and depth of the course is exceptional, covering everything from hardware, software, supply chains and a high number of industry use cases.” - Civil Servant, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 

Faculty

  • Dr Jessica Wade

    Personal details

    Dr Jessica Wade Programme Lead

    Bio

    Jess is a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Lecturer in Functional Materials at Imperial College London. Broadly speaking, her research considers new materials for optoelectronic, spintronic and quantum devices, with a focus on chiral molecular materials.

    She was previously an Imperial College Research Fellow in SPIN-Lab at Imperial, which is led by Professor Sandrine Heutz. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Fuchter and Campbell groups at Imperial College London, where she optimised these chiral systems such that can absorb/emit circularly polarised (CP) light for CP OLEDs and OPDs. For her PhD Jess concentrated on organic photovoltaics and the development of advanced characterisation techniques to better understand molecular packing under the supervision of Dr Ji-Seon Kim.

    Outside of the lab, Jess is involved with several science communication and outreach initiatives. She is committed to improving diversity in science, both online and offline, and since the start of 2018 has written the Wikipedia biographies of women and people of colour scientists every single day.