Microelectronics and Chip Design

Microchips play a crucial role in almost all future technologies, in driving economic growth, and in shaping strategic industrial policies. The English-taught Master’s program in Microelectronics and Chip Design (M.Sc.), offered in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark, Tampere University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Institut Mines-Télécom, equips students with the expertise to develop and implement highly innovative chip designs.

The program is based on the latest research and is also strongly practice-oriented. Students dive deeply into the mathematical methods, physical principles, and electronic fundamentals of circuit design and chip development. They acquire all the necessary skills to model and partition complex systems – as they are used, e.g., for artificial intelligence, information security, energy-saving systems, robotics, or medical technology – for circuit development algorithmically or mathematically and to convert the modeling into a form suitable for hardware development. By specializing in either analog/mixed-signal or digital design, students can develop individual profiles according to their interests and professional goals. They apply their skills in a practical project, working cooperatively, innovatively, and effectively in interdisciplinary and international teams to design their own chips.

Graduates of the program are highly qualified, innovative, and interdisciplinary engineers. They are capable of taking on tasks across the entire circuit design process to develop and implement specialized, high-quality chip designs that meet specific requirements. This makes them excellently qualified for responsible roles in industry – for example, as system designers, test engineers, or development engineers for digital front-end design, digital back-end design, or analog and mixed-signal design – as well as for continuing their academic work within the framework of a doctorate.

For a comprehensive description of the program, please refer to the degree program documentation:

• Degree program documentation for the Master’s program Microelectronics and Chip Design (PDF, German)

The M.Sc. Microelectronics and Chip Design program is a four-semester course. One semester is dedicated to working on the Master's thesis, while the other three semesters are focused on coursework. Each academic year consists of two semesters.

Different from other microelectronics programs in Europe, our program ensures that all students are involved in every step of the chip design process. The main part of the program is a chip design project, which students will work on throughout the entire course.

The first semester focuses on foundational skills in digital and analog design. The second semester includes more advance topics related in particular to the front-end design. In the third semester, it offers further specialized courses and courses related to the back-end design. The overall program consists of a more theoretical part with lectures from the domain of chip design and a practical part in which students will do a tape-out. A Master thesis will conclude the study program in the fourth semester, which can also be conducted in collaboration with industry.

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient English language skills if you wish to apply for this program. Evidence of your language proficiency has to be submitted before the end of the application deadline. Learn more about recognized certificates and other ways to prove your English language skills.

This evidence of your language proficiency confirms that you comply with the minimum language requirements for admission to the program. Depending on the program and your individual background, it may be necessary for you to keep working on your language skills during your studies. Be sure to take a look at the services of our Language Center.  

Language of instruction:

The language of instruction for this program is English.

• Information on exams
• Information on studying abroad

The tuition fees for international students from third countries for this degree program are 6,000 euros per semester.

Many international students can have their fees waived or receive scholarships to finance them. You can find all information on waivers and scholarships here.

Please note: The semester fee as a contribution to the student union must be paid additionally. It varies depending on where you are studying. You can find all information on the semester fee here.

Minimum requirements to apply for a Master’s program at TUM are a recognized undergraduate degree (e.g. a Bachelor’s) and the successful completion of the aptitude assessment procedure. The aptitude assessment allows the TUM school to which you are applying to evaluate your individual talents and motivation for study.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents.

Here you will find detailed information on the requirements for the documents you need to upload for application and admission to TUM.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a Bachelor’s) obtained outside of Germany must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist (Preliminary Documentation).

In detail:

• Applying for a Master’s program: Application, admission requirements and more
• Information of the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology on application and admission

• Degree Certificate and Diploma or Subject and Grade Transcript of Studies to Date
• Statement of purpose (Letter of Motivation)
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Transcript of Records
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a Bachelor’s) was obtained outside Germany)
• Curricular Analysis

We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents.

• Most Current Photo (as for ID)
• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Degree Certificate and Diploma (authentic document)
• Digital notification of your health insurance status from a German public health insurance provider (requested by applicant)
• Transcript of Records (authentic document)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin.

Application period for winter semester: 01.02. – 31.05.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents. Please be aware that we can only process your application if you upload all required documents within the application period.

We will review your application as soon as it is complete. Please check your TUMonline account regularly, to see if we have any queries to your documents or if you have to amend one or more documents.

After receiving admission, you will see in TUMonline which documents you have to submit for enrollment, and in which form.

We recommend that you submit the documents for enrollment as soon as possible after receiving admission. If individual documents are not available by then, you can submit them up to 5 weeks after the start of the lecture period. You will, however, only be enrolled once we have received all documents.

You can check the status of your application at any time in your TUMonline account

Selection takes place through an aptitude assessment procedure. The aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its Master’s degree program.

In the initial stages, the grades you obtained during your Bachelor’s program, as well as your written documents, will be evaluated using a point system. Depending on the amount of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected, or invited to an admissions interview.

In detail:

• Aptitude Assessment for Master
• Description of the Aptitude Assessment (appendix 2, PDF German) (PDF 167 KB)