Analogue and Digital Integrated Circuit Design
Gain experience in the practical issues of device-level design and system-level performance requirements.
Gain experience in the practical issues of device-level design and system-level performance requirements
Get industry recognition with an accredited degree, awarded on behalf of the Engineering Council
Carry out an individual research project in an area of your interest
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£18,500 Home
£42,900 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
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First-Class Honours (minimum of 75% overall) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related subject with a substantial Electrical/Electronic Engineering component
Course overview
Aimed at future integrated circuit (IC) designers, this course takes a balanced approach to both analogue and digital IC design.
Through a blend of lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory sessions, you'll develop your knowledge of analogue, mixed signal, and digital circuits.
You'll consider the practical issues of device-level design and system-level performance requirements, as well as examine low power circuits and embedded systems.
An individual research project forms the major component of this course, where you'll apply your skills to a practical problem in a research area of your interest.
This work gives you the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to become an integrated circuit designer within a range of industries, or go onto further research.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of the following modules.
Core modules
Understand analogue-integrated circuits and systems in CMOS and Bipolar technologies.
Advance your knowledge of CMOS Technology, the industry mainstream for circuits.
Learn how to design, implement, analyse and optimise advanced digital systems.
Discover the analogue signal processing techniques that can be used to perform computation.
Develop advanced skills in utilising industry-strength electronic design automation tools for microelectronic design.
You’ll choose four optional modules.
Optional modules
Develop a thorough understanding of high-performance and energy-efficient computer architecture.
Gain a thorough grounding in the design of digital filters and in multirate signal processing techniques.
Explore the techniques used to verify software and hardware, including formal verification tools, interactive theorem-provers and automatic software verification tools.
Examine the design and implementation of high performance, analogue-integrated circuits and systems.
Unravel electrical measurement theory and practice, especially at GHz frequencies, and understand measurement capabilities and limitations.
Discover the underlying physical principles, methods of fabrication and applications of a broad range of micro- and nano-scale devices and systems.
Deepen your knowledge of the fundamental principles and applications of microwave technology.
Analyse the structure, operating principles and underlying physical concepts of optical communication systems.
Gain an insight into the wide variety of modern optoelectronic devices, particularly those used in optical communications systems.
Broaden your understanding of the terminology, concepts and basic methods of radio frequency design.
You'll also carry out an individual research project in an area of your interest.
The project is assessed by a written report and poster presentation.
You’ll have an academic mentor to support you throughout the project.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to fully meet the CEng registration educational requirements.
Our accreditation agreement with the Institution of Engineering and Technology is renewed every 5 years, and the current agreement runs between 2019 and 2025.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures and lab work
- Independent study
- Research project
- 20% Lectures and lab work
- 36% Independent study
- 44% Research project
Teaching and learning methods
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Virtual learning environment
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Lectures
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Seminars
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Computer-based work
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Guided readings
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Quizzes
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Software development exercises
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Independent study
Balance of assessment
Key
- Coursework
- Examinations
- Practical
- 50% Coursework
- 40% Examinations
- 10% Practical
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Examinations
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Practical
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Individual research project
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Applications open on Friday 27 September 2024
- Applications close on Thursday 16 January 2025
- Decision by Thursday 6 March 2025
Round 2
- Applications open on Friday 17 January 2025
- Applications close on Thursday 27 March 2025
- Decision by Thursday 1 May 2025
Round 3
- Applications open on Friday 28 March 2025
- Applications close on Thursday 15 May 2025
- Decision by Thursday 17 July 2025
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£18,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£42,900
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for an integrated circuit designer career.
Gain an in depth knowledge of analogue, mixed signal and digital circuits.
Build a variety of practical and transferable skills for future career advancement, including communication, IT, and management expertise.
Electrical and electronic engineering graduates at Imperial are highly sought after in a wide range of sectors.
These include sustainable energy, research and development, oil and gas, water, and technology.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 3123
- Email: eee.pgadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Christos Papavassiliou
Visit the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering website.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications