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M-TECH in Vlsi Design Embedded Systems at SCT Institute of Technology
Bengaluru, Karnataka
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About the Specialization
What is VLSI Design & Embedded Systems at SCT Institute of Technology Bengaluru?
This M.Tech VLSI Design & Embedded Systems program at SCT Institute of Technology focuses on equipping students with advanced knowledge and practical skills in designing very large-scale integrated circuits and complex embedded systems. It addresses the growing demand in the Indian semiconductor and electronics industry for skilled professionals capable of working on cutting-edge technologies crucial for IoT, AI/ML at the edge, and automotive electronics. The program emphasizes a blend of theoretical foundations and hands-on experience.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for engineering graduates with a Bachelor''''s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science, who possess a strong aptitude for digital design, microcontrollers, and system architecture. It also caters to working professionals in the electronics domain aiming to upskill for roles in VLSI design, embedded software development, or hardware-software co-design within India''''s dynamic tech landscape.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect to pursue rewarding career paths in core semiconductor companies, design houses, and R&D divisions of MNCs and Indian startups. Roles include VLSI Design Engineer, Embedded Software Engineer, Verification Engineer, Application Engineer, or Architect. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 6-10 LPA, with experienced professionals earning upwards of INR 15 LPA, especially in Bengaluru''''s tech ecosystem. The program prepares students for professional certifications and advanced research.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Fundamental Concepts- (Semester 1-2)
Dedicate significant time to thoroughly understand digital logic, CMOS circuit theory, embedded C programming, and basic operating system concepts. Utilize online resources like NPTEL courses, Coursera, and edX for supplementary learning, and ensure strong conceptual clarity before moving to advanced topics.
Tools & Resources
NPTEL courses, Coursera, edX, GeeksforGeeks, Textbooks
Career Connection
A solid foundation is critical for clearing technical interviews for core VLSI and embedded roles and performing effectively in initial job assignments.
Hands-on Lab & Simulation Proficiency- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage in all laboratory sessions, gaining proficiency with industry-standard VLSI design tools (e.g., Cadence Virtuoso, Synopsys Design Compiler) and embedded development environments (e.g., Keil uVision, Arduino/Raspberry Pi IDEs). Document all experiments meticulously and troubleshoot independently.
Tools & Resources
Cadence Virtuoso, Synopsys tools, Xilinx Vivado, ARM development boards, FPGA kits, Keil uVision
Career Connection
Practical tool expertise is highly valued by recruiters and enables faster integration into design and development teams.
Cultivate Problem-Solving and Peer Learning- (Semester 1-2)
Regularly participate in coding challenges, circuit design competitions, and collaborative study groups. Work on small, self-initiated projects to apply theoretical knowledge, and engage in peer-to-peer learning to clarify doubts and explore alternative solutions.
Tools & Resources
CodeChef, HackerRank, Project Euler, College study groups, Open-source embedded projects
Career Connection
Develops critical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication skills, all essential for complex engineering problem-solving in a professional setting.
Intermediate Stage
Pursue Mini-Projects and Internships- (Semester 2-3)
Undertake multiple mini-projects, potentially involving hardware-software co-design or specific VLSI block implementations, aligning with current industry trends like IoT or AI at the Edge. Actively seek internships at semiconductor companies or embedded startups in Bengaluru to gain real-world exposure and build a professional network.
Tools & Resources
Industry internship portals, LinkedIn, College placement cell, GitHub for project showcasing
Career Connection
Provides practical industry experience, enhances resume, and often leads to pre-placement offers or strong professional references.
Specialize and Deepen Skill Set- (Semester 2-3)
Choose electives strategically based on career interests (e.g., verification, analog design, RTOS, automotive embedded). Enroll in advanced certifications in specialized areas, attend industry workshops, and contribute to relevant open-source projects to deepen expertise in your chosen niche.
Tools & Resources
Specialized online courses (e.g., from Udemy, edX), Industry certification programs, IEEE conferences/workshops
Career Connection
Develops a unique skill set that makes you a highly sought-after candidate for specialized roles in the competitive market.
Participate in Technical Competitions & Hackathons- (Semester 2-3)
Actively participate in national-level technical competitions, hackathons focusing on embedded systems, IoT, or VLSI design. These platforms offer opportunities to test skills under pressure, innovate, and network with industry experts and potential employers.
Tools & Resources
Smart India Hackathon, IEEE competitions, Company-sponsored hackathons, Makerspace facilities
Career Connection
Showcases problem-solving abilities, innovation, and teamwork to potential employers, making your profile stand out during placements.
Advanced Stage
Execute an Industry-Relevant Major Project- (Semester 3-4)
Select a challenging and industry-relevant final year project, ideally in collaboration with a company or research lab. Focus on delivering a functional prototype, thorough documentation, and a strong technical presentation. Emphasize innovative solutions and tangible outcomes.
Tools & Resources
Project guides (faculty/industry mentors), Advanced simulation/fabrication tools, Research papers
Career Connection
A strong major project is a key differentiator in placements, demonstrating your ability to tackle complex problems and contribute to real-world applications.
Intensive Placement Preparation- (Semester 4)
Engage in rigorous preparation for placements, including mock interviews (technical and HR), aptitude tests, and resume building workshops. Focus on revising core concepts, solving previous year''''s interview questions from target companies, and practicing explaining project details confidently.
Tools & Resources
College placement cell resources, Online interview platforms (e.g., LeetCode for problem-solving), Company-specific interview prep guides
Career Connection
Maximizes chances of securing placements in top companies by ensuring readiness for all stages of the recruitment process.
Network and Career Planning- (Semester 4)
Continuously expand your professional network by attending industry events, tech talks, and connecting with alumni and industry veterans on platforms like LinkedIn. Develop a clear career plan, whether it''''s pursuing a PhD, joining a startup, or targeting a specific MNC, and tailor your final efforts accordingly.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, Professional conferences (e.g., IEEE TENCON), Alumni network, Career counseling services
Career Connection
Leverages professional connections for job opportunities, mentorship, and insights into career growth, facilitating informed career decisions and opening doors to new ventures.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology (e.g., ECE, EEE, CSE, ISE) from VTU or any other recognized university with 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/Category-I candidates) and a valid GATE or PGCET score.
Duration: 4 semesters / 2 years
Credits: 76 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 50%, External: 50%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22MVE11 | Digital CMOS VLSI Design | Core | 4 | MOS Transistor Theory, CMOS Inverter Characteristics, Combinational MOS Logic Circuits, Sequential MOS Logic Circuits, Dynamic Logic Circuits, Semiconductor Memories |
| 22MVE12 | Advanced Embedded System | Core | 4 | Embedded System Introduction, ARM Processors Architecture, Memory Systems for Embedded, Input/Output Systems, Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Concepts, Embedded System Design Examples |
| 22MVE13 | DSP Processors and Architectures | Core | 4 | DSP System Overview, Digital Filter Design, DSP Processors Features, Fixed-Point and Floating-Point DSPs, Blackfin Processor Architecture, Peripheral Interfacing |
| 22MVE141 | Program Elective - I: Reconfigurable Computing Systems | Elective | 3 | FPGA Architectures, Interconnection Networks, Configurable Logic Blocks, Technology Mapping, Hardware/Software Co-design, Application Development on FPGAs |
| 22MVE142 | Program Elective - I: Advanced Computer Architecture | Elective | 3 | Pipelining Principles, Instruction-Level Parallelism, Multiprocessor Architectures, Memory Hierarchy Design, Cache Coherence Protocols, SIMD and Vector Processors |
| 22MVE143 | Program Elective - I: Digital System Design using HDL | Elective | 3 | VHDL/Verilog Fundamentals, Behavioral Modeling, Dataflow Modeling, Structural Modeling, Test Benches Development, Synthesis and Optimization |
| 22MVE144 | Program Elective - I: Sensors and Actuators for IoT | Elective | 3 | Sensor Principles, Transducers and Measurement, Actuator Technologies, IoT System Architecture, Communication Protocols, Data Acquisition and Processing |
| 22MVE15 | Research Methodology and IPR | Mandatory Non-Credit | 0 | Research Problem Formulation, Literature Review Techniques, Research Design, Data Collection and Analysis, Report Writing, Intellectual Property Rights Basics |
| 22MVE16 | Advanced Embedded System and VLSI Design Lab | Lab | 2 | FPGA Design using HDL, ARM Microcontroller Programming, RTOS Implementation, Peripheral Interfacing, VLSI Simulation Tools, Hardware-Software Co-simulation |
| 22MVE17 | Technical Seminar - 1 | Seminar | 1 | Technical Presentation Skills, Literature Survey, Report Writing, Current Trends in VLSI, Embedded Systems Innovations, Academic Research Ethics |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22MVE21 | Low Power VLSI Design | Core | 4 | Power Dissipation in CMOS, Static and Dynamic Power Reduction, Voltage Scaling Techniques, Adiabatic Logic Circuits, Clock Gating, Software Power Optimization |
| 22MVE22 | Real Time Operating System | Core | 4 | RTOS Fundamentals, Task Management, Scheduling Algorithms, Inter-Process Communication, Memory Management, RTOS Examples (VxWorks/RT-Linux) |
| 22MVE23 | Design of Analog and Mixed Mode VLSI | Core | 4 | Analog IC Design Principles, MOS Amplifiers, Operational Amplifiers (OP-AMPs), Data Converters (ADC/DAC), Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs), Mixed-Signal Circuit Design |
| 22MVE241 | Program Elective - II: Hardware and Software Co-design | Elective | 3 | Co-design Issues and Challenges, Prototyping and Emulation, Partitioning Algorithms, Hardware/Software Co-simulation, Design Methodologies, Real-Time System Co-design |
| 22MVE242 | Program Elective - II: Advanced Digital System Design | Elective | 3 | ASIC Design Flow, FPGA Design Flow, VHDL/Verilog for Complex Systems, Finite State Machines (FSM), Design for Testability (DFT), Fault Detection and Diagnosis |
| 22MVE243 | Program Elective - II: Cryptographic Engineering | Elective | 3 | Cryptography Basics, Symmetric Key Algorithms, Asymmetric Key Algorithms, Hardware Implementations, Side-Channel Attacks, Security Protocols |
| 22MVE244 | Program Elective - II: System Verilog for VLSI Design | Elective | 3 | System Verilog Data Types, Procedural Blocks, Assertions-Based Verification, Functional Coverage, Object-Oriented Programming in SV, Verification Methodologies |
| 22MVE25 | Technical Seminar - 2 | Seminar | 1 | Advanced Technical Topics, Research Paper Analysis, Critical Evaluation, Presentation Skills, Emerging Technologies, Innovation in VLSI/Embedded |
| 22MVE26 | Industrial Training/Internship | Internship | 2 | Practical Industry Exposure, Project Implementation, Company Workflows, Report Preparation, Professional Skills, Industry Best Practices |
| 22MVE27 | Intellectual Property Rights and Cyber Law | Mandatory Non-Credit | 0 | IPR Protection, Patent and Copyright Laws, Trademark and Industrial Design, Cybercrime, Information Technology Act, Digital Rights Management |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22MVE31 | Project Work (Phase 1) | Project | 10 | Problem Identification, Extensive Literature Survey, System Design and Architecture, Simulation and Prototyping, Preliminary Results Analysis, Project Report Preparation |
| 22MVE321 | Program Elective - III: Advanced Microcontrollers | Elective | 3 | PIC and AVR Microcontrollers, ARM Cortex-M Architecture, Advanced Peripheral Interfacing, RTOS Integration, Embedded Networking, IoT Applications Development |
| 22MVE322 | Program Elective - III: VLSI Testing and Testability | Elective | 3 | Fault Models, Test Pattern Generation (ATG), Design for Testability (DFT), Scan Chain Techniques, Built-In Self-Test (BIST), Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) |
| 22MVE323 | Program Elective - III: Embedded Automotive Systems | Elective | 3 | Automotive Architectures, CAN, LIN, FlexRay Protocols, ECU Design, In-Vehicle Networking, Automotive Safety (ISO 26262), Diagnostics and OTA Updates |
| 22MVE324 | Program Elective - III: Machine Learning for Embedded Systems | Elective | 3 | Machine Learning Basics, TinyML Frameworks, Edge AI Concepts, On-device Inference, Hardware Accelerators, Power-Efficient ML Algorithms |
| 22MVE331 | Program Elective - IV: Advanced DSP | Elective | 3 | Adaptive Filters, Wavelet Transforms, Multirate Digital Signal Processing, Speech Processing Algorithms, Image Processing Techniques, VLSI Architectures for DSP |
| 22MVE332 | Program Elective - IV: Design of Analog & Mixed Mode VLSI Lab | Lab | 2 | OP-AMP Design and Layout, ADC/DAC Circuit Implementation, PLL Design and Simulation, Mixed-Signal Circuit Simulation, CMOS Analog Building Blocks, Post-Layout Verification |
| 22MVE333 | Program Elective - IV: Deep Learning and its applications | Elective | 3 | Neural Network Architectures, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Deep Learning Frameworks, Applications in Vision/NLP |
| 22MVE34 | Technical Seminar - 3 | Seminar | 1 | Advanced Research Topic, Detailed Paper Review, Critical Analysis, Innovative Solution Presentation, Scientific Writing, Peer Discussion |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22MVE41 | Project Work (Phase 2) | Project | 20 | System Implementation, Extensive Testing and Validation, Performance Analysis, Results Interpretation, Thesis Writing, Project Defense |
| 22MVE42 | Technical Seminar - 4 | Seminar | 1 | Project Progress Presentation, Technical Discussion, Research Findings, Future Scope, Problem-Solving Strategies, Refined Communication |
