POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) DESIGN

The Program aims to equips graduate engineers with essential skill-set to join the local and globally high in-demand Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and Verification industry having excellent future prospects.(Morning Program)

Fall 2025 Admissions
FULL Tuition Fee Waiver & 25,000 Per Month Stipend and Hostel Allowance

ADMISSIONS OPEN

Application Deadline 20th July 2025

Tuition Fee Sponsored by: GS Microelectronics. (https://gsme.com)

10 Months Program (2 Semesters) with 3 Modules

Salient Features

First dedicated Integrated Circuits (IC) design program in Pakistan, supported and funded by the industrial partners. First time in Pakistan an academic opportunity for IC designing on Licensed Cadence Tool Suite. Established collaboration with public and private industrial partners. 4 batches have been successfully graduated in MS IC Design from 2020-2024 each completing hands-on tapeout projects as part of their training, offering hands-on design experience on TSMC officially provided 65nm, 130nm and 150nm CMOS process development kits (PDKs). Fully developed ICD lab with four full-time faculty members and 15 design engineers with degrees in IC design and cumulative experience of over a dozen IC tapeouts. Provides a unique opportunity to fabricate the designed ICs by offering “IC Tapeout”. The IC Tapeout offers the opportunity of Testing/Verification of the designed IC in real world. A comprehensive experience from project conception to the working silicon microchip. A bridge between the industry‐and‐academia to pave the way to FAB‐less innovations resulting in commercialization IC design houses. Bright prospect of placement in public and private organizations after MS completion To establish the VLSI Design and Training Centre at FAST‐NU, Islamabad in cooperation with our Industrial Partners.

Program Objectives

This program is tailored to train human resource for globally 500 Billion US$ semiconductor industry. The goal is to equip youth with comprehensive integrated circuit (IC) design and verification expertise including, theoretical in-depth knowledge, hands-on IC design tools skills, and end-to-end IC design and verification training. Each student in this program will design the real world IC's from project conception to the working silicon microchip under the guidance of faculty supervisor from university and industry experts.

Eligibility

Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline (Electrical, Electronics, Telecommunications, or Computer engineering, etc.), recognized by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). Minimum CGPA of 2.0, Preferably 2.5 (on a scale of 4.0) or at least 60% marks.

Scholarships:

Full fee waiver for selected candidates

Tentative Study Plan: