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B. Tech. Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware
Program Details
The B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) program at UPES School of Advanced Engineering builds a foundation in microelectronics, semiconductor technologies and integrated circuit design. The program connects VLSI design principles with the requirements of AI hardware, with attention to performance, power consumption and memory efficiency.
Students explore Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design, Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, and approaches to chip design, simulation and synthesis. Laboratory work and practical projects help students understand the relationship between circuit design, semiconductor fabrication processes and implementation requirements.
The program prepares students to explore career pathways and further study in semiconductor engineering, VLSI design and AI hardware. These areas support applications across computing, telecommunications, healthcare and other sectors that rely on efficient electronic systems.
Program Highlights
- The B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) program at UPES develops knowledge in microelectronics, semiconductor devices and circuit design, providing a foundation for students interested in chip design and manufacturing.
- Practical learning introduces electronic design automation (EDA) tools and FPGA development platforms used for circuit design, simulation and implementation.
- Internships, industrial visits and industry engagement provide opportunities to connect classroom concepts with semiconductor and electronics applications.
- The curriculum spans circuit design, semiconductor fabrication concepts, testing and System-on-Chip (SoC) integration, alongside learning relevant to AI hardware.
- Students explore applications in connectivity, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and low-power embedded systems.
- Laboratory work and projects develop skills in circuit design, layout and simulation, alongside analytical thinking and problem-solving.
- Collaborative learning strengthens communication, teamwork and leadership skills relevant to engineering practice.
- The program builds knowledge relevant to semiconductor development, chip design and electronics manufacturing in India and internationally.
Future Scope / Industry Trends
The B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) program at UPES School of Advanced Engineering prepares students to explore applications in semiconductor devices, integrated circuit design, embedded systems and computing hardware. Learning in microelectronics, circuit design, simulation and chip implementation provides a foundation for engineering careers and further study in semiconductor technologies, VLSI and AI hardware.
Potential career pathways include VLSI Design Engineer, Design Verification Engineer, Physical Design Engineer, FPGA Engineer, Semiconductor Test Engineer and Embedded Hardware Engineer. Students interested in AI hardware can explore processor design and hardware acceleration, with some specialist roles requiring additional training, qualifications or experience.
Relevant industries and application areas include:
- Semiconductor and integrated circuit design
- Semiconductor fabrication, packaging and testing
- AI accelerators and computing hardware
- Embedded systems and electronics
- Telecommunications and connected devices
- Automotive electronics
- Electronic design automation and engineering software
Emerging areas for further learning and research include:
- Nanoscale semiconductor devices and transistor design
- Three-dimensional integrated circuits, chiplets and chip stacking
- Low-power and energy-efficient VLSI design
- AI accelerators and specialised computing architectures
- Custom chips for intelligent embedded systems
- Automotive chips and hardware for autonomous systems
- Communication and Internet of Things (IoT) device hardware
- Photonic integrated circuits
- Quantum computing hardware
Career Opportunities
The B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) program at UPES prepares students to explore career pathways in semiconductor technologies, integrated circuit design, verification, testing and computing hardware. Potential roles include:
- Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Engineer
- Design Verification Engineer
- Physical Design Engineer
- Semiconductor Applications Engineer
- Electronic Design Automation (EDA) or CAD Engineer
- Analog Design Engineer
- Design for Testability (DFT) Engineer
- Radio Frequency (RF) Design Engineer
- FPGA Design Engineer
- Semiconductor Product Engineer
- Register Transfer Level (RTL) Design Engineer
- Memory Design Engineer
- Semiconductor Fabrication or Process Engineer
- Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Design Engineer
- System-on-Chip (SoC) Design Engineer
- IC Layout Designer
- Semiconductor Test Engineer
- AI Hardware or Accelerator Design Engineer
- Embedded Hardware Engineer
- Engineering Software Developer
Eligibility for individual roles depends on technical skills, project experience and employer requirements. Some specialised positions may require further study or training.
Curriculum
Semester I
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life Skills | Managing Self | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Life Skills | Environment Sustainability & Climate Change | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Major | Advanced Engineering Mathematics - I | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Major | Physics | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Major | Programming for Engineers | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | Major | Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Semester II
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signature Course | Time & Priority Management | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Life Skills | Environment Sustainability & Climate Change (Living Lab) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Major | Analog Electronics I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Major | Advanced Engineering Mathematics II | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Major | Workshop Practices | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Major | Engineering Graphics | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | Major | Digital Logic and Computer Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Major | Chemistry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Major | Design and Build Lab | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Semester III
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exploratory | Exploratory 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Life Skill | Leading Conversations | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Major | Data Structure | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Major | Signals and Systems | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Major | Network Analysis and Synthesis | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Major | Digital System Design | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Life Skill | Probability and Statistics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Core | EDGE Aptitude Fundamentals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Internship | SRIJAN Social Internship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Semester IV
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signature Course | Writing with Impact | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Exploratory | Exploratory 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Major | Analog Electronics II | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Major | Communication System | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Major | Introduction to Microfabrication | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Major | Machine Learning with Python | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | Programming courses | EDGE Aptitude Basic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Core | EDGE Basic Employability Skills | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Semester V
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life Skills | Technologies of the Future | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Life Skills | Leadership and Team Building | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Exploratory | Exploratory 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Major | Semiconductor Device Modelling | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Major | Microprocessors and Microcontrollers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Major | RTL Design and Verification | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | Major | Digital VLSI Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Cap-Interdisc | Capstone I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Core | EDGE Aptitude Intermediate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Core | EDGE Intermediate Employability Skills with Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Internship | SAMARTH Internship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Semester VI
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signature Course | Deepening Self | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Exploratory | Exploratory 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Major | Embedded Systems and IoT | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Major | Control System Engineering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | PE | EDGE Aptitude Advance Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | PE | EDGE Advance Employability Skills | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Cap-Interdisc | Program Elective I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Major | Program Elective II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Elective | CAD for VLSI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Elective | VLSI Verification and Testing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Semester VII
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exploratory | Exploratory 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Major | Digital Signal Processing | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Major | Analog VLSI Design | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | PE | Major Project I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | PE | Industrial Internship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Major | Program Elective III | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Major | Program Elective IV | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Elective | ASIC System Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Elective | Mixed Signal Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Elective | VLSI Interconnects | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Elective | RF IC Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | Elective | Low Power VLSI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Elective | High Speed Interfacing Circuits | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Elective | VLSI for Advanced Communication | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Elective | AI Driven Chip Design and Automation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 16 | Elective | Power Management IC Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Semester VIII
| # | Category | Course | L | T | P | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exploratory | Exploratory 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Major | IC Packaging and Testing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Major | VLSI Physical Design | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Major | Major Project II | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Major | E-Waste Management and Recycling | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Major | Program Elective V | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Elective | Organic Electronics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Elective | Quantum Computing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Elective | Additive Manufacturing Electronics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Elective | Bio-Medical Electronics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Elective | MEMS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Fee Structure
Click here for detailed Fee Structure.
Eligibility
Applicants to the B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) program at UPES must meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- A minimum of 50% marks in both Class X and Class XII.
- A minimum aggregate of 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) in Class XII.
Selection Criteria
Selection for the B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) program at UPES is based on performance through the applicable admission route: UPESEAT, JEE Main, Board Merit, SAT or CUET.
Further Information
Enquiry Form
Frequently Asked Questions
Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware Engineering focuses on semiconductor devices, integrated circuits and hardware used in computing and artificial intelligence. VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) involves integrating millions to billions of transistors on a single chip. The field includes digital and analog circuit design, chip fabrication, verification and testing, alongside specialised hardware such as AI accelerators.
A B.Tech. in a relevant discipline, such as Electronics, Electrical Engineering or Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware, can provide a foundation for entering the field. Important skills include digital electronics, semiconductor fundamentals, circuit design and hardware description languages such as Verilog and VHDL. Python and Tcl are also useful for scripting and automation. Projects, internships and practical experience can support pathways into chip design, verification, testing and fabrication.
At UPES, selection for B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware) is through the applicable admission route: UPESEAT, JEE Main, Board Merit, SAT or CUET. Applicants must meet the academic eligibility requirements; minimum marks alone do not guarantee admission.
Salaries vary by role, experience, technical skills, location and employer. Entry-level opportunities include chip design, verification, physical design and testing, with progression into specialist and leadership positions. Skills in ASIC/FPGA design, RTL coding using Verilog or VHDL, design verification and semiconductor technologies can strengthen career prospects. A degree or specialisation does not guarantee a particular salary package.
The right VLSI field depends on your interests and strengths. Key areas include:
- Digital and RTL design: Developing logic circuits and hardware architectures.
- Physical design: Converting a circuit design into a chip layout while addressing timing, power and area requirements.
- Design verification: Checking functionality using simulation, formal methods and techniques such as SystemVerilog and UVM.
- FPGA design: Developing and testing reconfigurable hardware.
- Semiconductor fabrication: Working on manufacturing processes and device technologies.
- AI hardware design: Developing specialised computing architectures and accelerators for AI applications.
Projects and internships can help you identify a suitable pathway. Career prospects and salaries vary by technical expertise, experience and employer requirements.
Yes. Online courses, textbooks and practical projects can help you learn digital electronics, semiconductor fundamentals, RTL design using Verilog or VHDL, simulation and verification. Open-source tools also provide opportunities to practise parts of the chip design workflow.
Laboratory learning, internships and access to industry-standard electronic design automation (EDA) tools can deepen your understanding of complex design, verification and physical implementation tasks. Formal study, such as B.Tech (Semiconductor, VLSI and AI Hardware), provides a structured pathway for developing these skills.
Yes. VLSI uses hardware description languages such as Verilog and VHDL to describe and simulate digital circuits. SystemVerilog is also used for hardware design and verification, while scripting languages such as Python, Tcl and Perl support automation and testing. Coding requirements vary by role, with particular relevance to RTL design, verification and physical design automation.
Yes. Mathematics supports circuit design, analysis and optimisation. Boolean algebra is fundamental to digital logic, while calculus helps with circuit analysis and transistor modelling. Linear algebra supports signal processing and computing applications, and probability and statistics are useful for testing, reliability and manufacturing yield analysis. Optimisation methods help engineers balance power, performance and area (PPA) in chip designs. The depth required varies by specialisation and role.
VLSI can suit students interested in electronics, semiconductor devices, circuit design and computing hardware. Career pathways include chip design, verification, physical design, testing, embedded systems and AI hardware. The field offers opportunities to develop specialised expertise and explore roles in India and internationally. Career growth and earnings depend on technical skills, practical experience, employer requirements and industry conditions.
