Advanced Microelectronics

About the course

Modules are studied over a period of 14 weeks starting in February, June or October each year. As all the study material is available over the internet, the course is particularly suitable for part-time study by practising engineers.

There are no formal written examinations. Modules are assessed by written assignments, often incorporating practical elements involving CAD packages hosted at the University. Tutors provide feedback for assessed work. You can check your progress through self-assessment questions (SAQs) and practical problems for which worked solutions are available. You will be encouraged to discuss any difficulties with the module tutor.

What you will learn

The shrinking size of electronics within products such as mobile telephones, computers, PDAs, cars and aircraft now requires the majority of a design to be implemented as a single integrated circuit. This MSc covers the techniques to prepare you with the engineering skills to support this level of design.

The first two modules provide a review of the current range of microelectronic technologies and related business issues. Following modules then follow the design process for digital, analogue and mixed signal ASICs. Design skills are built up over a sequence of modules by walkthroughs and practical exercises using the industry-standard design suite from Cadence. You will also explore business and management issues particularly relevant to designers working in microelectronics.

What you will study

The MSc involves studying seven modules and completing a substantial project.

A wide range of optional modules on applications and technologies provides a choice of specialisms which may be explored further in the project element of the MSc.

The MSc project provides pulls together the themes of investigation, project management and technological advances developed through the taught modules. The project element of the MSc can extend into a PhD.

The award of postgraduate certificate is made when 60 credits have been gained. The postgraduate diploma (PgDip) follows at 120 credits. Finally the work of the MSc Project takes the total to 180 credits and the MSc is awarded.

Special features

• The development of all the modules has been strongly influenced by people working in the industry. Consequently the modules tend to focus on the needs of the professional working engineer.

• A unique programme feature is the practical experience it gives in design and analysis. You use powerful industry standard software remotely from home, just as if they were working in an industrial design lab. This technique gives full and unlimited access to the specialist EDA tools, complete with libraries. Guidance on how to use the software is provided by means of worked examples where each step is described, interspersed by pictures taken from the screen.

• Distance learning over the internet supports flexible study regimes and is especially suitable for people who are in full time employment and likely to travel. Modules can be studied without disrupting everyday work commitments.

• Distance learning over the internet is also especially suitable for people for whom mobility is a problem and people who are temporarily out of work, or who are employed on a contract basis.

Careers and professional development

Bolton's graduates and postgraduates are in great demand worldwide due to their practical experience and relevant professional skills.

Completing a postgraduate course is often a life-changing experience. Some of the benefits of this particular course include the high demand for well trained electronic design engineers, interesting and well paid jobs worldwide, and the addition of academic and research potential to your career possibilities.

Professional recognition

The course is intended to enable graduates with a BEng (Hons) degree to complete the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. The course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Requirements

Entry requirements(typical offer)

Normally, you should have an honours degree in electronics or a related subject.

You are also encouraged to apply if you have relevant industrial experience coupled with an alternative qualification (such as an HND) and can demonstrate you have the appropriate knowledge and skills to succeed on this course.

There are no formal academic requirements for those taking individual modules from this course as professional development but a level of prior knowledge and understanding equivalent to a honours degree will be required.

You will need to use your own PC or equivalent. It should be efficient in rendering modern web documents with multimedia and flash components and capable of supporting at least three applications concurrently in a stable and efficient manner. A 56k modem internet connection is adequate but if something faster is available then clearly it will be beneficial.

Mode of attendance: Part-time: this course is only available by online distance learning.