Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry - Quantum Information

The program information below was valid for the fall 2023 term (September 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Program type 
    • Collaborative
    • Doctoral
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • A Master of Science (MSc) degree (or equivalent) in Science with at least a minimum overall standing of 75% in the last 2 years (domestic students only).
    • Direct admission to the PhD program from a Bachelor of Science (BSc) program is also possible for outstanding students who graduated with an overall 89% standing at the undergraduate level. Course requirements are reduced by one course for students admitted directly to the PhD program from a BSc.
  • Application materials 
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      academic
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete the following graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight):
      • QIC 710 Quantum Information Processing
      • QIC 750 Quantum Information Processing Devices
      • 1 QIC elective course
      • 1 QIC elective course
      • 1 CHEM elective course (note: not required if a QIC course is taught by an instructor from the Department of Chemistry)
      • 1 CHEM elective course (note: not required if a QIC course is taught by an instructor from the Department of Chemistry)
    • Students who have completed their Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Quantum Information at the University of Waterloo (or an equivalent degree at another institution) cannot take QIC 710 or QIC 750; rather, they are required to complete 2 other QIC graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight).
    • Students admitted with an appropriate Honours Bachelor’s degree who enter directly into the PhD program or students who transfer directly from a Master’s program to the PhD program (after one year of Masters study) must complete the following graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight):
      • QIC 710 Quantum Information Processing
      • QIC 750 Quantum Information Processing Devices
      • CHEM 784 Foundations ofLiterature Review
      • CHEM 794 Master's Seminar
      • 1 QIC elective course
      • 1 QIC elective course
      • 1 CHEM elective course (note: not required if a QIC course is taught by an instructor from the Department of Chemistry)
      • 1 CHEM elective course (note: not required if a QIC course is taught by an instructor from the Department of Chemistry)
  • Link(s) to courses
  • PhD Quantum Information Seminar
    • Students must successfully complete a seminar milestone consisting of one seminar held at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), and one seminar on a Quantum Information (QI) topic aimed at members of the home department.
  • PhD Seminar
    • Students must also fulfill the PhD Seminar milestone. This can be fulfilled simultaneously with the QI requirement for one seminar on a QI topic aimed at members of the home department.
  • PhD Comprehensive Examination
    • Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC).
    • In addition to the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements, students in the PhD in Chemistry - Quantum Information program are also required to meet the following requirements:
      • PhD students admitted with a Master’s degree must complete the examination during their 2nd term. Students admitted directly from a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree must complete the examination during their 5th term.
      • The Examining Committee will consist of two Chemistry graduate faculty members and one member from the opposite campus (where applicable, from Guelph or Waterloo).
      • The examination will be chaired by the GWC2 (Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry) Director, or designate. The supervisor will not attend the examination.
      • If the first attempt is unsuccessful, the student will be granted a 2nd attempt to take place not less than 2 and not more than 4 months from the date of the 1st attempt.
  • PhD Thesis
    • Students must submit and defend an acceptable PhD Thesis in Quantum Information.
Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisors (ADDS) list
Department of Chemistry website
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry - Quantum Information future students program page