Analogue and Digital Integrated Circuit Design
Learn about integrated circuit design, spanning analogue, mixed-signal, and digital circuits.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
-
South Kensington
-
Minimum entry standard
First-Class Honours in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related subject with a substantial Electrical/Electronic Engineering component.
Course overview
You will gain an in-depth knowledge of analogue, mixed signal and digital circuits on this MSc course for future integrated circuit (IC) designers.
You will examine the practical issues of device-level design, system-level performance requirements, low power circuits and embedded systems.
You'll be taught through a blend of lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory sessions, and have the opportunity to design a complex digital VLSI from conception to fabrication.
You'll also apply the skills you've acquired to a practical problem via an individual research project, in an area of your interest.
This course 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.
Analyse and assess the principles of modern deep learning systems.
Examine the process of downsizing transistors to finFETs and transitioning to stacks of nanowire and nanosheet transistors.
Gain working knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of signal measurement strategies, and practical skills in applying them.
Familiarise yourself with how biomedical electronics can be used to create medical devices that interface with the human body.
Study the sources and detectors used in radio and optical communication links, and the behaviour of their signals as they propagate in various media.
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.
Examine the theory and practice of modern machine learning methods, and learn how machine learning helps computers extract information automatically from data.
Learn about the underlying physical principles, methods of fabrication and applications of a broad range of micro-scale devices that combine mechanical, electrical/electronic and optical functionalities.
Deepen your knowledge of the fundamental principles and applications of microwave technology.
Broaden your understanding of the terminology, concepts and basic methods of radio frequency design.
Design, fabricate, and characterise sensors.
Learn how sensor systems are implemented and deployed to provide optimal information about the physical world.
Learn about the physical operation of different imaging systems, starting with acoustic imaging and rising in frequency through electromagnetic methods operating at radio, microwave, terahertz, thermal, optical and X-ray frequencies.
The individual research project is your opportunity to explore a topic that genuinely interests you while building the advanced skills valued by universities and employers alike. You will deepen your subject knowledge through independent research into a practical problem, strengthen your report-writing and presentation abilities, and gain practical experience in managing a substantial piece of work from start to finish.
With support from a supervisor and clearly structured deliverables, the project is designed to help you grow in confidence, demonstrate originality, and produce a high-quality final report and poster presentation
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 2025 and 2029.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Lectures and lab work
- Independent study
- Research project
- 20% Title 1 goes here
- 36% Title 2 goes here
- 44% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Virtual learning environment
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Lectures
-
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
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework
- Examinations
- Practical
- 50% Title 1 goes here
- 40% Title 2 goes here
- 10% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
-
Coursework
-
Examinations
-
Practical
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Individual research project
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Poster presentations
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
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.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
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.
Fees and funding
Home fee
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400
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.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000
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.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow 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
Email: eee.pgadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering website.
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Request info
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Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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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