Dive into the world of microelectronics – the key technology of our time. In the Microelectronics and IC Design major, you won’t just understand how microchips work – you’ll learn to design, optimize, and bring them to life yourself. From the initial concept through high‑precision simulations to testing the final chip, you’ll experience the entire development process just like a real chip designer. You’ll work with cutting‑edge methods and industry‑leading tools, preparing yourself to create innovations for the technologies of tomorrow. If you want to shape the future, this is your playing field.

The major provides in-depth expertise in the core areas of microelectronics and IC design, including:

• Microelectronics Fundamentals: Semiconductor physics, transistor and diode models, manufacturing processes, and basic IC design flow.
• Analog design: Design, simulation and optimization of analog circuits such as amplifiers, filters and voltage regulators, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, in-depth study of complex analog design techniques and concepts.
• Digital design: Methods for designing combinational and sequential logic, including memory and control structures.
• Analog layout, testing and verification: Creation of layouts taking into account parasitic effects, testability and verification methods.
• Robust IC design: Electromagnetic compatibility, protection against electrostatic discharge and reliability of integrated circuits.
• RF design: Development and analysis of high-frequency circuits for communication applications.

This major optimally prepares you for challenges in microelectronics – ideal for career paths in research, development and industry.

The Institute of Electronics researches the design and reliability of integrated circuits with regard to electromagnetic compatibility and various sources of interference, such as electrostatic discharge or ionising radiation. The Institute of High Frequency Technology investigates antennas and filters for radar and RFID systems. The Institute of Technical Informatics focuses on energy-efficient wireless networks for the Internet of Things and machine learning methods for microcontrollers. The Institute of Electrical Measurement Technology and Sensor Technology deals with the design and implementation of integrated mixed-signal circuits for a wide range of measurement tasks.

The CD Laboratory for EMC-Aware Robust Electronic Systems conducts fundamental research in the field of electromagnetic compatibility, including emissions, immunity and ESD.

The CD Laboratory for Structured Matter-Based Sensing researches structured materials and surfaces as powerful and versatile platforms for sensor and measurement applications.

The Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems Pilot Line project investigates novel methods for characterisation, quality assurance, testing and reliability, as well as test procedures for evaluating the security of microelectronic systems against physical attacks.