Master of Technology in Microelectronics and Semiconductors

The global semiconductor industry is growing rapidly, driven by advancements in nanoscale IC fabrication/process technologies and the increasing demand for System-on-Chip (SoC) and Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chips. This demand is fuelled by research in emerging application areas like Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), Automation, Edge Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning. With over 100,000 VLSI design engineers, India accounts for approximately 20 percent of the world's semiconductor design workforce.

Reports from the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) indicate that India is home to around 70 VLSI design service companies and 180 embedded software companies, presenting significant opportunities. The semiconductor ecosystem across India is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.1 percent, as the ESSCI estimates, and is expected to employ around 300,000 people within the next few years.

Gujarat itself hosts several prominent VLSI design service companies, including Eximius Design (a subsidiary of Wipro), eInfochips (a subsidiary of Fortune 500 company Arrow Electronics USA), PerfectVIPs, Pronesis Technologies, and Eteros Technologies. Over the past two decades, India has emerged as a hub for fabless VLSI design, and numerous semiconductor industries are planning to establish fabrication units in the Smart Industrial City of Dholera, Gujarat, further expanding design centers in the region. Consequently, the demand for VLSI design and semiconductor device engineers will continue to rise.

The SEMICON® India conferences, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), have highlighted the progress in Indian semiconductor design and manufacturing, reflecting the vision to cultivate a thriving domestic ecosystem and position India as a key player in the global semiconductor value chain.

Gujarat is emerging as the semiconductor hub of India, with the approval of large-scale semiconductor projects in Gujarat, including those by Micron and the Tata consortium. This will spearhead semiconductor design and fabrication within Ahmedabad and its vicinity, creating new talent opportunities in these upcoming projects.

Deloitte estimates that the global semiconductor workforce, which exceeded 2 million direct employees in 2021, will need to expand by more than 1 million by 2030, requiring the addition of over 100,000 workers annually.

Ahmedabad University's new MTech in Microelectronics and Semiconductors programme addresses this demand for world-class engineers in India and globally, equipping them to shape the semiconductor industry's future.

Programme Features

The programme covers a broad range of topics under the subdomains: VLSI design, semiconductor-based devices, and the fabrication/process technology for Integrated Circuits (ICs).
Exposure to industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for VLSI design.
Learn various levels of VLSI design abstractions (layout, schematic/circuit, gate, module/RTL, system), design flows (semi-custom and custom), design techniques (analog and digital), and pre-silicon verification.
Focused on the design of high-performance digital VLSI sub-systems and the design of general-purpose RISC and application-specific processor architectures.
Offers specialised knowledge of the modelling, designing (fabrication/process technology steps), and simulation (characterisation) of micro and nano-scaled semiconductor-based IC devices using industry-standard TCAD tools.
Focused on application-specific semiconductor devices, such as optical, flexible electronic, memory, and their device-specific process technology steps.
Elective courses under two tracks: (a) VLSI Design and Test and (b) Application-Specific Semiconductor Devices.
This programme aligns with the vision of the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy, Government of Gujarat, and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), Government of India (GoI), for creating a domestic semiconductor-based Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem.
Aligns with semiconductor industry requirements and skills.

Career Pathways

The programme lays the foundation for career opportunities in the VLSI design, semiconductor devices, and process technology sectors of the semiconductor industry and research labs. Graduates of this programme will be prepared for professional roles such as:

Semiconductor Device Engineer
RTL Design Engineer
Analog Design Engineer
Design Verification Engineer
FPGA Design Engineer
SoC Design Engineer
Physical Design Engineer
ASIC Verification Engineer

This programme prepares students for both PhD studies and entrepreneurial ventures. The Semiconductor and VLSI Design industry presents opportunities for entrepreneurship, particularly in fabless design. The University's Venture Studio supports this by incubating and promoting student-led startups.

Programme Must Knows

Minimum Programme Credits: 80

Curriculum Structure

The Curriculum Structure of Master of Technology in Microelectronics and Semiconductors is as under:

Semester 1	Fundamentals of Integrated Circuit Devices Foundations in Physical Sciences for Semiconductor Fabrication Digital CMOS VLSI Design Digital RTL and Microprocessor Design using Verilog HDL Two electives
Semester 2	Introduction to IC Fabrication Technology Technical Communication VLSI Sub-system Design Analog VLSI Design Two electives
Summer	Major Project Proposal Preparation
Semester 3	Major Project - I (One year off-campus industry project OR one year on-campus thesis) Graduate Research Seminar I
Semester 4	Major Project - II (One year off-campus industry project OR one year on-campus thesis) Graduate Research Seminar II

Eligibility

A graduate with a BE or BTech (Electronics/ Electrical/ Electronics and Communication/ Information Technology / Information and Communication Technology, Instrumentation and Control, Computer Science and Engineering) degree can join this MTech programme. Candidates need a valid GATE Score in CSE/ECE OR take Ahmedabad University conducted entrance examination. They must appear for the interviews as a part of the selection process.

Admissions Procedure

Eligible candidates must apply through the online application form with payment of a non-refundable application fee of INR 1200 (inclusive of GST). Upon online registration, candidates will receive a unique login ID, which they must use for subsequent admission process correspondence.
Applicants with a valid GATE score are short-listed for a Personal Interview (PI).
Applicants without a GATE score undergo a written entrance test followed by a PI.

Faculty

Faculty from School of Engineering and Applied Science, Ahmedabad University will teach along with highly experienced professionals from related industries.

Faculty