Policy areas
Focus areas of research and analysis
Education, skills and workforce development
Universities worldwide are expanding quantum-related degree programmes and research opportunities
Quantum master’s courses: Mapping the future of quantum technology talent
Quantum-specific master’s courses
This interactive map displays global universities with quantum-specific courses (i.e. “quantum” in the programme title). Map pins show the geographic centre of each city, rather than the exact location of the universities.
| Continent | Number of quantum-specific courses |
|---|---|
| Europe | 79 |
| North America | 20 |
| Asia | 4 |
| Oceania | 4 |
| Africa | 0 |
| South America | 0 |
| Total | 107 |
Quantum-related master’s courses
This interactive map shows global universities with quantum-related courses (i.e. “quantum” in the description). Map pins show the geographic centre of each city, rather than the exact location of the universities.
| Continent | Number of quantum-related courses |
|---|---|
| Europe | 295 |
| North America | 225 |
| Asia | 76 |
| Oceania | 20 |
| Africa | 8 |
| South America | 0 |
| Online | 1 |
| Total | 625 |
The power of a diverse quantum technology skills ecosystem
One of the most crucial and often overlooked factors in building a quantum-ready world is the rich diversity of skills required for a thriving quantum ecosystem. Quantum science and technology are not the preserve of physicists alone. Our interactions with a range of stakeholders in the wider quantum landscape highlight a growing recognition that traditional degree models must evolve. The question is no longer just “How do we train quantum physicists?” but “How do we ensure quantum understanding is embedded across disciplines?”
For example, engineering education is being reimagined. Traditionally, fluid dynamics modules might focus on combustion engines as a classic case study. But today, policymakers and educators are asking: Should we adapt the use case to a more modern example, like the cryogenic vacuum pumps essential for operating many quantum systems? This kind of question signals the need to rethink established curricula, so that future engineers are prepared to work within the quantum domain.
In business and economics, the trend is similar. Programmes are starting to offer opportunities for students to explore technology applications in their fields. For future business leaders, investors and policymakers, a robust grasp of quantum technology’s potential and risks is becoming ever more important. Investors, for instance, may shy away from quantum ventures if they lack a clear understanding of the underlying capabilities and uncertainties – enabling quantum literacy in non-technical programmes is vital for unlocking innovation and capital.
The data mapped here illustrates a broader truth: the quantum future will be shaped not only by specialists, but by a broad coalition of skilled professionals across science, engineering, business, humanities and beyond. Only by weaving quantum thinking into a wide spectrum of educational pathways can we equip the workforce and leadership needed to realise the promise of quantum technologies.
Spotted a master’s course that is missing? Get in touch with us at qtops@randeurope.org.
How did we chart the quantum education landscape?
Understanding where tomorrow’s quantum leaders will emerge starts with the data. To deliver a global picture, we sourced information using the search term “quantum” from two leading international education platforms, Study.EU and Masterportal.com. We then broadened our insights with direct input from university websites, official academic announcements, and trusted regional education directories. Each identified master’s course was then tagged as either quantum-specific (if “quantum” appeared in its title) or quantum-related (if “quantum” was mentioned in its course description). This blended approach ensures a comprehensive scan of quantum-related postgraduate pathways worldwide.
Every course entry was then manually checked. Here’s how we built a robust, reliable resource:
- Every course was verified for its quantum relevance and accuracy.
- Duplicates were removed so that every listing is unique.
- Only master’s level qualifications were included, with all other types of training programmes excluded from the dataset.
- Scraping errors were corrected by our analyst team, ensuring integrity in detail.
- Location structure and programme categories were standardised across the dataset.
While this analysis uses quantum-specific and quantum-related master’s programmes as a key indicator of emerging quantum technology skills, we recognise this is only part of the picture. As noted in our analysis, many countries are investing in vocational training, apprenticeships and hands-on industry pathways, all of which play a vital role in cultivating quantum expertise beyond traditional academic routes.
To create the interactive maps of quantum master’s courses, we used OpenStreetMap as the base map. For city locations, we relied on the Natural Earth “Populated Places” dataset (ne_110m_populated_places.shp), which provides geospatial data on major cities and towns worldwide, including their coordinates and population figures. Country borders were defined using the European Commission’s dataset (CNTR_RG_10M_2020_4326.geojson), available from Eurostat’s GISCO portal. This dataset offers a standardised, high-quality geospatial representation of national boundaries across Europe and neighbouring regions, formatted as GeoJSON for seamless integration with mapping tools. All course providers are pinned on the map at the centroid of the city in which they are located, ensuring a consistent and accurate geographic display.
Click here to head back to the Education, skills and workforce development overview page.