Andhra University to Launch B.Tech VLSI Design Course to Support India Semiconductor Mission

Andhra University (AU) will introduce a new B.Tech course in VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) Design from the 2026-27 academic year, aimed at supplying skilled engineers to India’s expanding semiconductor industry.

The move follows the Centre’s approval of four new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), including one in Andhra Pradesh. AU College of Engineering principal Prof. G. Sasibhushana Rao said the projects would require engineers from multiple disciplines, with VLSI graduates expected to be in high demand.

“AU has received AICTE approval for B.Tech VLSI Design and AU Council sanction for 60 seats. It will be the first State university to offer this programme,” Prof. Rao said. He highlighted employment opportunities across engineering streams, including VLSI, Computer Science, ECE, Mechanical, and Civil engineering.

The semiconductor manufacturing process relies on design, fabrication, testing, and result analysis. Design uses electronic design automation tools for chip layouts and verification, fabrication produces chips on silicon wafers, testing ensures functionality, and analysis focuses on yield optimization, Prof. Rao explained.

A fully operational semiconductor full-fledged manufacturing unit (fab) requires over 5,000 engineers. Students from VLSI, ECE, and Computer Science will work on design, verification, testing, and analytics, while microelectronics candidates will focus on device modelling and process integration.

With the latest approvals, ISM projects have risen to ten, with investments of around Rs 1.60 lakh crore across six states, including Andhra Pradesh. Advanced System in Package Technologies (ASIP), in partnership with South Korea’s APACT Co. Ltd, will set up a semiconductor unit with an annual capacity of 96 million units near Visakhapatnam, producing chips for mobile phones, set-top boxes, automobiles, and other electronics.