There is an ensemble qubitwhich contain a large number of particles that together act as a single qubit and there is what one typically thinks of as a qubit, which is a single particle or material.
Possible qubits include single photons, trapped atomic ions, neutral atoms, nuclear spins, quantum dots, impurities in silicon and diamond, etc...
DEGREES
QUANTUM COMPUTING PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITY
Other universities and colleges are starting to offer courses in quantum computers, but as of 2017, the Institute for Quantum Computing is really your only choice if you want advanced certification in actual quantum computers.
The Undergraduate School on Experimental Quantum Information Processing (USEQIP) is a 2-week course on the theoretical and experimental study of quantum-information. It is aimed primarily at university-students who are one year away from completing their undergraduate studies. The lectures/experiments are geared toward students in engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, quantum-computers and computer-science, although all interested students are welcome to apply.
The Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students (QCSYS) is an 8-day enrichment program for computer-science students that is hosted by the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. The school offers a unique blend of lectures, hands-on lab-experiments and individual/group work focused on quantum-cryptography.
Quantum Innovators is a workshop at the IQC that showcases the latest in quantum computing via lectures from experts in the field.
QUANTUM COMPUTING DEGREES
So, you want to study Quantum Computing in university and actually build quantum computers?
If you want a degree in quantum computing, there’s really only one choice out there for you. Sure, you could go to MIT or any other school with a great Computer Science program, but if you want to study actual quantum computers, your only choice is the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada!
They are the only major university program out there that offers a graduate degree is Quantum Computers. So, if you want a quantum computing phd or any other advanced degree, they are pretty much your only choice.
If you want to get an idea of what the course-load is like at the IQC (Institute for Quantum Computing), below you’ll find a couple of lecture videos from the school’s YouTube account: