Admissions and Enrollment

A: The early decision deadline is January 15, 2025. The regular decision deadline is March 1, 2025. We will not be accepting applications after the March 1st deadline. Applicants may check their status through the UCLA Application Portal for Graduate Admission.

Please refrain from contacting our office regarding admission decisions (while we may send a courtesy email with a recommendation of admission, only official notification from the dean of the UCLA Graduate Division constitutes approval of admission).

A: An applicant submits the online Application for Graduate Admission with a nonrefundable application fee. The applicant uploads transcripts, supplemental information, department-specific material (such as a portfolio), statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. The applicant’s information then becomes available online to the graduate program. View General FAQs from the Graduate Division.

A: The program is open to all qualified applicants, including early career professionals. Please check the admissions requirements for details. Prior work experience in quantum science and/or technology is not mandatory.

A: Successful applicants will have had the equivalent of at least one semester or quarter of upper division college-level coursework in quantum mechanics. This requirement will be satisfied by any course of study including material comparable to that taught in UCLA Physics 115A and ideally the first half of 115B. Click here for detailed course descriptions.

A: Successful applicants will have had the equivalent of at least one semester or quarter of upper division college-level coursework in electricity & magnetism. This requirement will be satisfied by any course of study including material comparable to that taught in UCLA Physics 110A. Click here for a detailed course description.

A: Yes, this is a recurring program and we will provide updates on application timelines for each year on our website. Current juniors are encouraged to explore admissions criteria if they intend to apply during their senior year.

A: The degree is meant to be completed in one calendar year (fall, winter, spring and summer), and will begin on campus in Fall 2025. Because the program curriculum is sequential and structured around a cohort-based model, all entering students must begin in the fall quarter. There is no option to start the program in any other quarter.

A: Attendance in the program is meant to be full time, on campus, for one calendar year. The curriculum is very rigorous and time-intensive. As such, it is not possible to hold any full-time employment. Please consult your employer if you intend to continue working while enrolled in the program.

A: The program’s tuition for 2024-2025 is $51,000, plus quarterly fees charged by the campus for all students. As campus fees vary by academic quarter and degree, please visit the Registrar’s Office for more information. Limited financial support for need-based, underrepresented students will be considered after April 15 on a case-by-case basis.

A: It depends on when you drop the course in a given academic quarter. You have until the end of Week 5 to receive a 100% refund on all course units dropped. If you drop the course by the end of Week 7, you will receive a 50% refund on all course units dropped. After Week 7, no refunds will be given on any course units dropped.

A: The MQST program offers a limited number of fellowships to qualified applicants. Students in self-supporting programs such as MQST are limited in their eligibility for certain types of fellowships and financial aid such as Graduate Division or University Foundation funding, and state-funded fellowships/scholarships. However you CAN apply for extramural funding awarded directly to you and federally subsidized and un-subsidized loans subject to your eligibility. The Graduate division maintains this list of extramural funding opportunities.

A: Students in the MQST program are eligible to find work as teaching assistants (TAs) in any department at UCLA. Work as a TA provides both salary and partial fee remissions toward the program tuition. You would need to directly contact the departments student services offices regarding the availability of TA positions.


Coursework and degree requirements

A: The program consists of three academic quarters and a summer quarter capstone project. In each academic quarter the student will take one core theory class providing a deep graduate level foundation in quantum information science, one specialization class surveying the current state of the art in algorithms, applications, physical realizations of quantum technology, and a laboratory class providing hands on practical experience with experimental techniques and tools of quantum science and technology.

A: Students must successfully complete 36 quarter units of graduate courses as described in the program requirements and a capstone project (four units).

A: Students may choose to take an alternative elective outside of the approved list. The course must be (1) related to quantum science and technology, (2) at the upper-division level (course is numbered 100-199) or graduate level (course is numbered 200 or higher), and (3) approved by the Program Director. Students should consult with the Program Director prior to enrolling in the alternative elective.

A: There is no requirement for a thesis, but students are expected to successfully complete a capstone project. This will entail the student completing a 9-week internship with an approved quantum-related company or academic research laboratory, turning in a project report, and giving a successful oral presentation describing their work.

A: This will be a letter-grade only program.


International Students

A: Yes, international students are welcome to apply. By the time you finish the program, you will have remained on the UCLA campus for three consecutive quarters, thus meeting the criteria for OPT. More information can be obtained on the Dashew Center website.

A: There is no quota for international students.


General Interest

A: The MQST program is structured around a cohort model, emphasizing collaborative learning and hands-on lab experience. As such, unfortunately we do not offer any online courses nor is there a virtual/remote option available. Students must attend the program in person.

A: Your diploma will show a “Master of Quantum Science and Technology” degree awarded by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the UCLA Division of Physical Sciences.

A: The faculty will all be Professors from the UCLA College's Division of Physical Sciences or the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. Each have active research groups in one or another area of Quantum Information Science.

A: The Master of Quantum Science of Technology is a terminal professional degree program. It is distinct from many Master of Science degrees in that it is not thesis based, rather it involves a full year of intense theory and lab-based coursework together with a capstone project. The degree program is designed to prepare students for employment in the rapidly growing quantum science field in private industry, national labs, and government.

A: Our program is designed to prepare students to be productive on day-one in a new job in industry, and provide them with a deep and broad understanding of the field. It is also designed to provide students the opportunity to learn about and particpate in the varied areas of quantum science and technology, making them far better candidates for the workforce upon completion of the program.