Introduction to Quantum Computing (Qubit by Qubit)

Qubit by Qubit is a program from The Coding School, a nonprofit founded to expand access to quantum computing education. In partnership with Google Quantum AI, the program has trained over 18,000 students in foundational quantum computing across two full semesters of live instruction.

The course is free for students at partner schools that provide academic credit for the program. Individual students can apply for scholarships covering full tuition. This makes it one of the most accessible structured long-format quantum computing programs available.

What you’ll learn

Semester 1 builds foundational knowledge:

• Linear algebra for quantum computing: vectors, matrices, inner products, and tensor products
• Quantum mechanics essentials: superposition, measurement, and the Born rule
• Qubits and quantum gates: single-qubit and multi-qubit gates, circuit diagrams
• Fundamental quantum algorithms: Deutsch-Jozsa, Bernstein-Vazirani, and Grover’s search
• Hands-on programming: writing quantum code in Cirq, the open-source framework from Google Quantum AI, and running it on a real quantum computer

Semester 2 explores near-term and advanced applications:

• Near-term quantum computing and the NISQ era
• Quantum hardware: superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and photonic systems
• Quantum networking and communication protocols
• Quantum sensing and metrology
• Quantum machine learning: classifiers and hybrid algorithms
• Career paths and research frontiers in quantum computing

Course structure

Weekly live lectures taught by instructors with graduate quantum computing backgrounds, accompanied by lab sections and homework assignments. Students attend sessions online from anywhere in the world. The program runs from September through April each year.

Participants program in Cirq and run code on a real quantum computer as part of the lab sections, giving genuine hands-on experience rather than simulation only.

Who is this for?

• High school students interested in quantum computing and STEM careers
• Undergraduates looking for a structured year-long introduction alongside their studies
• Schools wanting to offer quantum computing as a course credit
• Anyone wanting a broad, mentor-supported introduction covering theory through application

Prerequisites

Algebra I is the only formal prerequisite. The course teaches the required linear algebra and quantum mechanics from scratch, making it accessible to students who have not yet studied physics or advanced mathematics.

Why take this course?

The two-semester structure gives depth that short courses cannot match. Students finish with a broad understanding spanning hardware, software, algorithms, and applications, having run code on real quantum computers throughout.

Google Quantum AI is a partner on the curriculum. The Coding School is a nonprofit: partner schools can enroll students free, and there are scholarships for students who need them.