M. Tech. in VLSI Design

• PEO1: Attain mastery in applying VLSI concepts to Engineering problems so as to meet the need of the industry, teaching, higher education or research.
• PEO2: Creation of expertise in the microelectronics domain to deal with design, development, analysis, testing and evaluation of the critical aspects of integrated circuits and its core concepts.
• PEO3: To exhibit professional competence and leadership qualities with harmonious blend of ethics leading to an integrated personality development.

Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) Circuit Design is the process of designing a large computer chip (more specifically, an integrated circuit, or IC), using computer-aided design (CAD) tools on a workstation or a personal computer (PC). The course demands learning the principles of VLSI design, designing and fabricating state of-the-art VLSI chips, understanding the complete design flow and expertise to design CMOS chips for industrial requirements. The curriculum focuses on employing hierarchical design methods and understanding the design issues at the various levels of hierarchy. Students are exposed to various design softwares in this programme. Also, they learn to design, simulate, implement and test complex digital systems using FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays). The main objectives of this course are to analyze the electrical and design characteristics of transistors and gates and to study the issues and methodologies involved in the integration of these devices into complex high-performance systems.

With the recent and rapid upsurge in the areas like hardware software co-design, architectures for machine intelligence, network on chip etc. the programme is designed to cater to the needs in producing engineers trained in both hardware and software areas, bridging the gap between academia and industry. Students will be trained in several topics that cut across different domains, starting from the lowermost level of physical devices to the top level of application development.

• PO1: An ability to independently carry out research/investigation and development work to solve practical problems
• PO2: An ability to write and present a substantial technical report/document
• PO3: Students should be able to demonstrate a degree of mastery over the area as per the specialization of the program. The mastery should be at a level higher than the requirements in the appropriate bachelor program.
• PO4: An ability to work in a team to take up the challenges in the fields of Analog VLSI design, VLSI architecture, VLSI Testing, and CMOS IC design, giving due consideration to societal, environmental, economic and financial factors.
• PO5: An ability to maintain lifelong learning and research by way of participating in various professional activities with a higher level of commitment.

There are many options for research since VLSI design is a vast and diverse filed with front end and back end design, analog and digital domains etc. A researcher can pick and choose a specific research topic and do research in that topic. Since VLSI devices are all pervasive and ubiquitous the developments are very rapid in terms of technologies and design and there is unlimited scope for advanced research in several areas. Understanding the design flow, tools and technologies will help in choosing the right research topic. Doing a thorough literature survey on that topic will help in identifying the research gap to be filled in to solve a research problem.

With a large number of VLSI design houses in India and especially in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi etc. both as part of big global corporates (Intel, Broadcom, Qualcomm, NXP, TI, ARM, AMD, Maxim, Synopsys, Cadence, mentor Graphics, Xilinx etc.) and Indian design teams (Wipro, Waferspace, Vayuvyalabs, Mistral,Mindtree, Tessolveand many others), there is a wide scope for VLSI engineers getting placed through internships and also directly after post-graduation

Possible International Collaborations (International Universities to Pursue Dual Degree/Higher Education)

Since VLSI design is a very dynamic domain with advances happening continuously and it is the research which drives the advancements, universities are at the forefront of VLSI research. Many of the students do research leading to PhD in international universities with which collaborations are established by Amrita centre for International programmes (ACIP).

Thrust Areas in Research

• VLSI front end
• Timing analysis
• Testing and Verification
• Architecture using High level Synthesis
• Solid State Device Modelling

Related Thrust Area Groups

• Computing Hardware Systems and Architecture
• VLSI Design and Security Research Group
• VLSI Testing and Optimization.

Oppotunities for M.Tech VLSI Students

• Placement opportunities.
• Scholarship for high performance students.
• Internship in core companies.
• Academic PhD opportunities in all domains of VLSI.
• Focus on Academics and Research.

Ph.D. Program and Area of Focus:

• VLSI front end
• Timing analysis
• Testing and Verification
• Architecture using High level Synthesis
• Solid State Device Modelling

Research Conducted at the Department

• The project work spread over three semesters allows students to train and develop their research ability., improve the presentation skills through seminars, and report preparation
• Enables the student to organize, coordinate and focus and improve their creativity in developing research problems and their analysis and approaching the solutions.
• Enables the students to Improve the general awareness on publication, awareness on indexing of publications, quality evaluation, Able to prepare; documents, journal papers, selection of journal, conferences and presentation through seminars

Apart from papers in scopus journals and conferences our top publications include IEEE Transactions in VLSI Society, Elsevier and springer

The following students joined Amrita for PhD

• Anjana N [2010-2012]
• Swathy S Panicker [2017-2019]
• Greeshma. M G[2018-2020]
• Govindan Nishi Nampoothiri [2009-2011]
• Sreekanth M M [2015-2017]
• Devika K N [2015-2017]
• Sreehari K N [2008-2010]
• Remya Ajai A S[2008-2010]
• Mr Diego James [2009-2011]
• Chinmayi R[2008-2010]
• Nevin Alex[2009-2011]
• Vineeth Sarma [2010-2012]

• Scaling Effects in Analog and Mixed VLSI Circuits
• Introduction to Digital VLSI Design
• Semiconductor Devices and Fabrication

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is one of the top private universities in India offering a 2-year M.Tech in VLSI Design at its Amritapuri, Bengaluru, and Coimbatore campuses. 

This multi-campus, prestigious academic institution offers multi-disciplinary, research-intensive courses across Engineering, Management, and Medical Sciences, including Ayurveda, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Agriculture Sciences, Arts & Humanities, and Social & Behavioural Sciences. 

Amrita has emerged as the seventh-best university in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2023 and is accredited with the highest possible ‘A++’ grade by NAAC.

With more than 250 UG, PG, and Ph.D. courses, Amrita campuses imbibe value-based education to a vibrant student population of over 24,000, helmed by 1700+ strong faculty.

One of the top institutions for higher learning, Amrita has established 180+ collaborations with the top 500 world-ranked universities and is the first choice for corporate conglomerates in India and abroad for campus recruitment. 

M.Tech graduates in VLSI design typically pursue roles such as VLSI Design Engineer, ASIC Design Engineer, FPGA Engineer, Verification Engineer, Physical Design Engineer, and System-on-Chip (SoC) Engineer. These roles involve designing, testing, and implementing integrated circuits, chips, and semiconductor devices for various applications in electronics, telecommunications, automotive, and healthcare.

The salary for VLSI engineers tends to be competitive and often higher than that of average engineering disciplines due to the specialized nature of the field and the demand for skilled professionals. On average, VLSI engineers can expect starting salaries ranging from 15 Lakhs to 24 Lakhs per annum, with opportunities for significant growth with experience and expertise.

Success in VLSI design requires a combination of technical and soft skills. Technical skills include proficiency in digital design, Verilog/VHDL programming, ASIC/FPGA design flow, and familiarity with EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools. Soft skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and project management are crucial for collaborating with cross-functional teams and efficiently delivering projects.

Yes, several industries and sectors are experiencing high demand for VLSI engineers. These include the VLSI and semiconductor industry, embedded systems, automobiles, cybersecurity, telecommunications, consumer electronics, healthcare, and aerospace. Industries undergoing rapid technological advancements and relying on electronic systems for innovation and efficiency offer promising career opportunities for VLSI engineers.

Pursuing a Ph.D. after M.Tech in VLSI design can significantly enhance career prospects by providing more profound knowledge, research experience, and specialization in specific areas of VLSI design. A Ph.D. opens doors to advanced research positions in academia, research institutions, and industry R&D divisions. It also qualifies individuals for leadership roles, consulting opportunities, and entrepreneurship ventures, contributing to personal growth and advancements in the field.