Master of Engineering (ME) in VLSI Design is a 2-year postgraduate degree. VLSI stands for Very-Large-Scale-Integration Design, which usually focuses on the preparation of microchips that are used in our mobile phones. The course focuses on designing and creating integrated circuits (ICs) by integrating millions of transistors on a single chip.
Those who hold a BE/ B.Tech degree with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks are eligible to apply for the course. The admission into the ME in VLSI Design course is based on the entrance exams like GATE, TANCET/ CEETA-PG etc. The course is usually offered by state government engineering colleges or by private universities. The total course fees range between INR 96K - 4.72 Lakhs.
The VLSI Design graduates can work as Analog Design Engineer, Application Field Engineer, ASIC Design Engineer, CAD Engineer, Digital Design Engineer, Firmware Verification Engineer, Graphics Hardware Engineer, Physical Design Engineer, etc. The average salary they can expect is around INR 1.84 - 10 LPA.
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ME VLSI Design Highlights
The key details about the Master of Engineering in VLSI Design are mentioned below:
What is ME VLSI Design?
Master of Engineering in VLSI Design that provides knowledge and skills required to work in Electronics Design Automation (EDA) and VLSI Design Industries. Students will learn to use industry-standard EDA tools to design, verify, and test efficient integrated circuits. Some of the EDA tools that the students will learn include Cadence, XILINX, MENTOR GRAPHICS, and Altera.
Students will also learn to design and develop both digital and analog ICs. They will be introduced to data structures, efficient algorithms, and various CAD methods in the development and enhancement of EDA tools.
Why Study ME VLSI Design?
A master's course in VLSI Design is a specialized field. Some of the benefits of choosing this course of study are as follows:
- Industry Demand - All modern electronics like smartphones, computers, automobiles, medical devices, and IoT devices all require complex integrated circuits (ICs) to function. VLSI design graduates are skilled in developing ICs, and thus, these skills are highly in demand.
- Job Opportunities - VLSI Design graduates are employed by some of the top companies like Intel, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, AMD, Samsung, Nvidia, Broadcom, TSMC, Wipro, Cadence, Synopsys, etc.
Who Should Pursue ME VLSI Design?
ME in VLSI Design should be pursued by those who are interested in electronics and semiconductors. Pursue this course if you have any of the following:
- The candidate who have graduated in Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE), Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE), or Electronics and Instrumentation, can pursue a specialization in VLSI Design.
- Those who are interested in working with microchips or are interested in integrated circuits (ICs)
- Those who want to work for semiconductor companies and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) firms.
ME VLSI Design Eligibility
The candidates applying for ME VLSI Design admission should fulfill the basic requirements of the course. Here are the eligibility criteria that one needs to fulfill:
- Should have a BE/ BTech in Electronics and Communication, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Instrumentation, Instrumentation and Control, Computer Science and Engineering, and Information Technology, or equivalent.
- Should have a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.
- Should have a valid GATE score.
ME VLSI Design Entrance Exam
ME admissions in India are usually based on entrance examinations like GATE. Here is the list of entrance exams that are considered for admission into ME in VLSI Design:
ME VLSI Design Colleges in India
ME courses are usually offered by state government engineering colleges and some private colleges. Here is a list of colleges that offer ME VLSI Design courses, along with the course fees and exam intake:
ME VLSI Design Admission Process
The admission to ME in VLSI Design is based on national or state-level entrance exams like GATE or CEETA-PG, followed by counseling. Here is the admission process of ME VLSI Design at Anna University.
- Registration - Anna University conducts a Common Engineering Admission Procedure (CEAP) as a single window for admission into ME courses in all the Tamil Nadu government colleges. The candidates will have to register for CEAP.
- Exams - The candidates will have to choose in the application form whether they want to apply through GATE/ CEETA-PG. Those who have appeared for CEETA-PG may not have to apply for CEAP. The eligible candidates will receive notification for CEAP in the month of May.
- Merit List - The candidates will be evaluated based on the exam scores, and the institutes will release their separate merit lists.
- Seat Allocation - The candidates who are in the merit list will have to confirm their seat by paying the admission fee.
- Admission - The candidates who have confirmed their admission will have to personally appear at the institute and complete their admission formalities and get their documents verified.
ME VLSI Design Syllabus
ME VLSI Design is a 2-year course divided into 4 semesters. The course includes a mix of core subjects and electives in each semester, and there is project work in the 2nd year. Here is the syllabus of ME in VLSI Design offered by Anna University:
Here is the list of electives from which the students can choose for their semester electives:
ME VLSI Design Job Opportunities
The VLSI Design graduates can work in the semiconductor industry, consumer electronics, automotive electronics, networking & telecommunications, aerospace, industrial automation, and more. Some of the job roles that ME VLSI Design graduates can find are mentioned below, along with the average salary as per PayScale:
ME VLSI Design FAQs
What are the core topics that are covered in ME in VLSI Design?
The ME in VLSI design will cover subjects like digital and analog circuit design, HDL programming (Verilog/VHDL), ASIC/FPGA design, semiconductor devices, and EDA tools like Cadence and Synopsys.
What are the tools that the students will learn during their ME in VLSI Design course?
The students will be exposed to tools like HDLs (Verilog, VHDL, SystemVerilog), EDA Tools (Cadence, Synopsys, Mentor Graphics), and Simulation/Testing Tools (ModelSim, Xilinx Vivado).
What are the higher study options after completion of ME VLSI Design?
The ME VLSI Deign graduates can pursue PhD in VLSI or PhD in Microelectronics, Nanoelectronics, or Semiconductor Physics. They can also go for R&D roles in industries focusing on chip innovation, AI hardware, and next-gen computing.
