EPSRC CDT in Quantum Information Science and Technologies
Source: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/phd-funding/view/1700-4-year-PhDs-at-the-EPSRC-Centre-for-Doctoral-Training-in-Quantum-Information-Science-and-Technologies Parent: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/phd-funding/browse
4 year PhDs at the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Information Science and Technologies (2026)
The University of Sussex, in partnership with the University of Bristol, has launched the new EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Information Science and Technologies (QIST) funded via the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This programme provides unique cross-disciplinary training in experimental and theoretical quantum information and quantum technologies, and specialised training in entrepreneurship, project management, collaborative working, responsible research and innovation (RRI), science policy, and communication skills.
What you get
We offer 4-year fully funded PhD studentships which includes tuition fees, stipends (tax free) and a generous research budget. Stipend rates will differ for home and international students, with international students receiving the standard UKRI rate (for the 2025/26 academic year, this is currently £21,780). Home students starting their studies in September 2026 will receive the standard UKRI rate, plus the UK Government’s TechExpert Pilot funding, expected to be an additional £10,000 per year. The pilot is only expected to run for one intake of students and more details will be confirmed in December.
Type of award
4 year PhD scholarship
PhD project
Whether you're an engineer with an interest in quantum computing, a physicist with a passion for practical technologies or a mathematician with an aptitude for experimental work, this programme is the next step to a successful career in quantum technologies.
Our EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Information Science and Technologies (QIST)welcomes candidates with backgrounds in mathematics, engineering, computer science, chemistry or the physical sciences.
This programme is the next step to a successful career in quantum technologies, whether you are:
- a computer scientist with interest in developing quantum algorithms
- a chemist intrigued by the modelling power of quantum simulators
- a mathematician with a passion for quantum computing
- a physicist excited to implement practical technologies
- an engineer inspired to deploy a quantum-enabled communications network
Our programme:Our four-year programme has been designed by leading academics and industry partners and includes a broad range of taught modules at Sussex and at Bristol in year one leading to a three year research project phase. Postgraduate researchers at Sussex and Bristol will benefit from:
- Guided and self-inspired learning with a broad range of PhD research projects available
- Experience of practical application as well as a sound theoretical understanding of quantum physics
- Developing complementary skills – such as commercialisation and science communication – necessary for academic and industrial excellence
- Access to an international network of world-class academic and industrial collaborators
- Industry trip to USA to visit companies and research labs working in the quantum field
- Financial support for academic and industrial secondments
- Opportunity and funding to attend international and national conferences
- A cohort approach to learning, enabling students to learn from each other in a rapidly evolving field
- Access to a broad technology base and state-of-the-art facilities at Sussex and Bristol
Our Master Class:
We will offer a Microwave Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing Master Class at the University of Sussex. The masterclass will be led by a software engineer formerly working at Google (Joe Swainston) and two talented quantum computing researchers (one with focus on quantum gates (Chris Knapp) and the other focussing on electronics engineering for quantum computing (Pedro Taylor Burdett)).
The Master class will be open for our doctoral students based at Sussex. Students will receive training in critical skills for microwave trapped-ion quantum computing and the control of quantum technology experiments using ArtiQ, all during the first year of the CDT. This will give students authentic and hands-on training towards the development of practical quantum computers and other quantum technologies based on trapped ions.
Eligibility
Applicants should have at least an upper-second class undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as Physics, Mathematics or Engineering (or equivalent qualification).
Scholarships are available for both UK and International candidates. Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section - English language requirements
Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with protected characteristics – e.g., from Black and other ethnic minorities and individuals with disabilities who are under-represented in postgraduate research at our institution. Please do draw our attention to any of the above in your application.
Number of scholarships available
Up to 10 per year
Deadline
4 May 2026 9:00
How to apply
Please follow the guidelines below on how to apply to our new four-year QIST PhD programme:
Apply on our Postgraduate Admissions system here
- Start a new application and choose QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGIES (PhD) start date September 2026
- In the “Finances/Funding” field write “ EPSRC QIST PhD”
- Upload all required documents (CV, personal statement, degree certificates and transcripts)
- Please also ensure you complete an additional form which is COMPULSORYfor your application.
Contact us
we will be holding an OPEN DAY here at the University of Sussex on Friday the 16th of January. Please register here if you are interested in attending.
For further information about the programme at Sussex contact Prof Winfried Hensinger
For questions about the application form please contact FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk \
Timetable
Deadline for applications: 04 May 2026
Availability
At level(s):\ PG (research)
Application deadline:\ 4 May 2026 9:00 (GMT)
Countries
The award is available to people from these specific countries:
Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia-Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British National (Overseas) Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Channel Islands not otherwise specified Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus (European Union) Cyprus (Non-European Union) Cyprus not otherwise specified Czech Republic Czechoslovakia not otherwise specified Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Europe not otherwise specified Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guam (USA) Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) [Hong Kong] Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Northern Ireland Northern Mariana Islands Norway Not Known Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Island Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda S. Georgia and S. Sandwich Isls. Saint Barthelemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Anguilla Saint Lucia Saint Martin (French Part) Saint Tome (Sao Tome) and Principe Saint Vincent and Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Scotland Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten (Dutch Part) Slovak Republic Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Stateless Sudan Suriname Swaziland (Eswatini) Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics not otherwise specified United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Kingdom, not otherwise specified United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City (Holy See) Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Wales Western Sahara Yemen Yugoslavia not otherwise specified Zambia Zimbabwe