MSc in Advanced Microelectronic Systems Engineering

The Bristol region has traditionally played host to a world-leading semiconductor design industry which continues to thrive today. Internationally, there is a shortfall in graduates with the qualifications and skills expected from professional semiconductor design engineers. This MSc has been designed to meet the needs of the UK strength in this area. The programme benefits from continual input from the national semiconductor industry.

Special emphasis is put on providing you not only with theoretical knowledge but also with a range of contemporary design flow skills. Lectures are supplemented by lab exercises run on state-of-the-art industrial-standard EDA software to give you experience working in a professional environment.

During the introductory week, you will take a programming proficiency test and will be placed in either an 'experienced' pathway or a 'foundation' pathway. Students satisfying the criteria for the 'experienced' pathway may elect to undertake an 'intermediate' pathway, details of which are available on the School's website.

Foundation Pathway

Students on this pathway will complete the following units:

• Advanced DSP and FPGA Implementation
• Analogue Integrated Circuit Design
• Design Verification
• Integrated Circuit Electronics
• Overview of Computer Architecture
• Programming in C
• Embedded System Integration
• VLSI Design
• Research Skills

Experienced Pathway

Students on this pathway will complete the following units:

• Advanced Computer Architecture
• Advanced DSP and FPGA Implementation
• Analogue Integrated Circuit Design
• Design Verification
• Device Interconnect - Principles and Practice
• Embedded and Real-Time Systems
• Fault Tolerant Computing and VLSI Design
• Integrated Circuit Electronics
• Research Skills
• Embedded System Integration
• VLSI Design

Project

You complete a final project which comprises researching, planning and implementing a major piece of work. The project must have a significant scientific or technical component and may involve on-site collaboration with an industrial partner.