Partner
Two days on qubits, gates, entanglement, and Shor's algorithm, with real Qiskit code, mentors on hand, and a closing challenge where teams show what they've learned.
Why quantum computing
A classical bit is either off or on, one of two fixed values. A qubit can hold a mix of both at once, a property called superposition, and doesn't settle into a single value until it's measured. Add more qubits and the number of states they can represent together grows exponentially rather than by simple addition, since each new qubit doubles the combinations already in play.
Qubits also behave more like waves than switches. Their states carry a phase that can interfere the way ripples on water do, reinforcing some outcomes and cancelling out others. That interference is what gives a quantum circuit its shape: not just holding many possibilities at once, but steering them toward the ones worth keeping.
Overview
Participants move through qubits and gates, entanglement, phase estimation, and period finding. Each topic is paired with a Qiskit coding session, so the circuits get written, not just described.
Open to university-level students with a science background. No prior quantum computing experience is required, but comfort with basic programming will help. Register individually. Teams of five are randomly assigned.
Agenda
Each track opens with an hour of instruction, then moves straight into a mentor-supported Qiskit coding session where teams build the concept themselves.
Day 1 · Sunday, November 22
Two tracks, morning and afternoon
Single-qubit states, the gates that manipulate them, and how measurement collapses a quantum circuit into a classical result.
Wiring multiple qubits together, generating entangled states, and reading circuits that no longer behave like independent bits.
Day 2 · Monday, November 23
Two more tracks, then the final challenge
How phase information leaks into a circuit, and the transform and estimation techniques that make it useful.
Period finding as the engine behind Shor's algorithm, and why it matters for factoring.
Teams apply what they've covered to a closing problem set, reviewed by a panel of domain experts.
Certificates
Every participant who completes the program receives a verified digital certificate through Credly, an official participation credential that can be added to a resume or LinkedIn profile and checked by anyone. Teams placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd receive a winner certificate instead, marking their result in the final challenge.
Teams are scored on how clearly they can demonstrate their understanding of the material, not on speed. A panel of domain experts reviews each team's work.
SAR 15,000 in total prizes.
Behind the program
Organizes and runs Qiskit Fall Fest 2026, part of the Future Economies Sector.
The program is built on IBM Quantum's code, tools, and technical expertise.
You'll be placed on a randomized team of five. Registration closes November 18, 2026.