NEXUS-SEMICON
Advanced Semiconductor Education • Industry Specialization • Research • Innovation
The NEXUS-SEMICON Postgraduate Certificate Program is designed to prepare the next generation of semiconductor engineers, technology professionals, researchers, and innovation leaders for the rapidly evolving global semiconductor ecosystem.
The program combines advanced semiconductor fundamentals, VLSI and SoC design, AI hardware, semiconductor materials, advanced packaging, research methodology, technology management, and industry-focused specialisation into an integrated learning experience.
Rather than focusing on a single segment of the semiconductor value chain, NEXUS-SEMICON provides learners with a systems-level understanding of the semiconductor industry– from devices and materials to chips, AI computing, packaging, manufacturing, applications, and commercialization.
Why NEXUS-SEMICON?
The semiconductor industry is no longer limited to traditional chip design and fabrication. Modern semiconductor professionals increasingly need to understand the interaction between:
Devices → Materials → Design → AI Hardware → Packaging → Manufacturing → Systems → Industry Applications → Commercialisation
NEXUS-SEMICON is structured around this complete technology ecosystem.
Students first develop a common advanced semiconductor foundation and then begin building expertise in a selected industry or technology domain.
The result is a multidisciplinary professional capable of understanding both the technology and its real-world application.
Program Architecture
The NEXUS-SEMICON postgraduate certificate follows the academic architecture of an advanced M.Tech-level semiconductor curriculum while providing a focused professional pathway.
Semester 1
Advanced Semiconductor Foundation + Specialisation
25 Credits
Students develop advanced knowledge across the core semiconductor technology stack while beginning their chosen specialisation.
Core Learning
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SEM501 | Advanced Semiconductor Devices | 3 |
| SEM502 | Advanced VLSI & SoC | 3 |
| SEM503 | Semiconductor AI & Intelligent Systems | 3 |
| SEM504 | Advanced Packaging & Integration | 3 |
| SEM505 | Advanced Semiconductor Materials | 3 |
| SEM506 | Research Methodology | 2 |
| SEM507 | Technology Strategy & Management | 2 |
| PG Specialization I | Selected Specialization Course | 3 |
| PG Specialization II | Selected Specialization Course | 3 |
Total: 25 Credits
The learning progression is deliberately designed as:
Advanced Devices → VLSI/SoC → AI Hardware → Packaging → Materials → Research → Strategy → Specialization
This gives every learner a common advanced foundation before moving deeper into an industry or technology domain.
Semester 2
Research + Industry Application + Innovation
28 Credits
The second semester moves from advanced knowledge toward research, industrial application, technology development and commercialization.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SEM508 | Advanced Research Seminar | 2 |
| SEM509 | Industry Research Project | 6 |
| SEM510 | Thesis / Advanced Capstone | 12 |
| SEM511 | Technology Commercialization | 2 |
| PG Specialization III | Selected Specialization Course | 3 |
| PG Specialization IV | Selected Specialization Course | 3 |
Total: 28 Credits
The second semester therefore transforms classroom knowledge into:
Research → Industry Project → Thesis/Capstone → Specialization → Commercialization
Total Academic Structure
| Component | Credits |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 25 |
| Semester 2 | 28 |
| Total | 53 Credits |
The 53-credit architecture provides a substantial advanced postgraduate learning framework without artificially adding courses simply to reach a predetermined credit number.
Specialization-Driven Learning
A defining feature of NEXUS-SEMICON is its industry and technology specialization model.
Students select four specialization courses from a broader portfolio of six-course clusters.
This creates a flexible learning model:
Common Semiconductor Core + Industry Specialization + Research + Industry Project
Available Specialization Clusters
01 – Automotive Semiconductor Systems
- Automotive SoC
- ADAS Hardware
- EV Semiconductor Systems
- Automotive AI
- Automotive Functional Safety
- Vehicle Semiconductor Architecture
02 – AI & Computing Semiconductors
- AI Accelerator Architecture
- NPU/GPU Design
- HPC Architecture
- Chiplets
- Advanced Memory
- Hardware AI Optimization
03 – Power & Energy Semiconductors
- SiC Devices
- GaN Devices
- Advanced Power IC
- EV Power Systems
- Grid Electronics
- Energy Semiconductor Materials
04 – Telecom & 6G Semiconductors
- RFIC
- mmWave
- 6G Hardware
- RF Front-End
- Optical Communication
- Satellite Semiconductor Systems
05 – Aerospace & DefenSe Semiconductors
- Radiation-Hardened Devices
- Secure Chips
- Radar Electronics
- Space Electronics
- Avionics
- Defense Semiconductor Reliability
06 – Medical Semiconductors
- Biosensors
- Medical ASICs
- Wearable Chips
- Biomedical Imaging
- Implantable Electronics
- Medical AI Hardware
07 – Semiconductor Manufacturing
- Advanced Process Technology
- Process Integration
- Lithography
- Yield Engineering
- Fab Automation
- Semiconductor Digital Twins
08 – Advanced Packaging
- 2.5D Packaging
- 3D ICs
- Chiplets
- Heterogeneous Integration
- Thermal Engineering
- Advanced Testing
09 – Photonics & Quantum Semiconductors
- Silicon Photonics
- Photonic IC
- Quantum Devices
- Optical Computing
- Quantum Semiconductor Materials
- Emerging Architectures
Industry-Connected Learning
NEXUS-SEMICON places significant emphasis on learning by doing.
Students are expected to move beyond theoretical understanding through:
- Semiconductor design projects
- Device and materials studies
- VLSI/SoC design exercises
- AI hardware projects
- Packaging and integration projects
- Industry research
- Technology assessment
- Semiconductor case studies
- Innovation projects
- Thesis/capstone development
- Technology commercialization
The objective is to develop graduates who can understand, design, evaluate, research and innovate rather than simply complete examinations.
Research & Innovation
Research is embedded throughout the program.
Students are introduced to:
Research Methodology → Research Seminar → Industry Research → Thesis/Capstone → Commercialization
This creates a pathway from identifying a technological problem to developing a potential solution and evaluating its industrial or commercial relevance.
Potential research areas include:
- Advanced semiconductor devices
- AI accelerators
- Semiconductor materials
- Chiplets
- 3D integration
- Advanced packaging
- SiC/GaN power devices
- Automotive semiconductor systems
- RF and 6G semiconductor technologies
- Radiation-hardened electronics
- Medical semiconductor systems
- Silicon photonics
- Quantum semiconductor technologies
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Yield optimization
- Digital twins and intelligent fabs
Technology + Management
NEXUS-SEMICON also recognizes that tomorrow’s semiconductor leaders need more than technical knowledge.
The curriculum therefore incorporates:
Technology Strategy & Management
and
Technology Commercialization
Students gain exposure to:
- Semiconductor industry strategy
- Technology roadmaps
- Intellectual property
- Technology evaluation
- Innovation management
- Product development
- Commercialization
- Startup opportunities
- Technology transfer
- Industry ecosystems
This creates a bridge between engineering, research, business and innovation.
Year 2 Earn While Learn Internship Program
Learn. Work. Earn. Build. Get Industry Ready.
The NEXUS-SEMICON Earn While Learn Internship Program is a defining component of the second year of the NEXUS-SEMICON postgraduate pathway.
The program is designed to bridge the gap between advanced academic learning and professional semiconductor employment by placing eligible students into structured, industry-connected internships while they continue their postgraduate studies.
Instead of spending the second year exclusively in a classroom, students progressively transition into the real semiconductor workplace; working on projects, gaining professional experience, developing industry skills, and earning a monthly stipend.
The Earn While Learn Model
The Year 2 model follows a simple principle:
Students should not only learn about the semiconductor industry – they should experience it.
The student spends Year 2 combining:
Academic Learning + Industry Internship + Research + Project Work + Thesis + Professional Development
This creates a direct pathway from:
Classroom → Industry → Experience → Research → Employment
Year 2 Structure
YEAR 2
Earn While Learn + Industry Research + Advanced Project
Students undertake a structured paid internship aligned with their selected semiconductor specialization.
| Component | Focus |
| Industry Internship | Paid industry experience |
| Industry Research Project | Solve a real-world technology problem |
| Advanced Seminar | Research presentation and knowledge sharing |
| Thesis / Capstone | Advanced technical project |
| Specialization | Deep domain expertise |
| Technology Commercialization | Converting technology into impact |
The internship becomes an integral part of the student’s professional development rather than a separate summer placement.
Monthly Earn While Learn Support
Under the proposed NEXUS-SEMICON model, participating students receive:
₹7,500 per month
during the second-year Earn While Learn period, subject to the applicable internship/employment arrangement and eligibility requirements.
Example
₹7,500 × 12 months = ₹90,000
potential annual learning-and-earning support for a student participating for twelve months.
The stipend is intended to provide students with financial support while they gain meaningful professional experience.
Earn while you learn. Experience while you study. Prepare while you build your career.
Industry Internship Pathways
Internships are aligned with the student’s selected specialization.
Automotive Semiconductor Systems
Students may work on:
- Automotive SoC
- ADAS hardware
- EV semiconductor systems
- Automotive AI
- Functional safety
- Vehicle semiconductor architecture
- Automotive electronics validation
AI & Computing Semiconductors
Potential internship areas include:
- AI accelerator architecture
- NPU/GPU systems
- Hardware AI optimization
- HPC architecture
- Chiplets
- Advanced memory
- AI computing platforms
Power & Energy Semiconductors
Possible areas include:
- SiC devices
- GaN devices
- Power ICs
- EV power electronics
- Grid electronics
- Energy semiconductor materials
Telecom & 6G Semiconductors
Students may gain experience in:
- RFIC
- mmWave systems
- 6G hardware
- RF front-end
- Optical communication
- Satellite electronics
Aerospace & Defense Semiconductors
Possible areas include:
- Radiation-hardened electronics
- Secure chips
- Radar electronics
- Space electronics
- Avionics
- Semiconductor reliability
Medical Semiconductors
Potential areas include:
- Biosensors
- Medical ASICs
- Wearable electronics
- Biomedical imaging
- Implantable electronics
- Medical AI hardware
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Students may work in:
- Process technology
- Process integration
- Lithography
- Yield engineering
- Fab automation
- Digital twins
- Semiconductor testing
Advanced Packaging
Potential areas include:
- 2.5D packaging
- 3D ICs
- Chiplets
- Heterogeneous integration
- Thermal engineering
- Advanced testing
Photonics & Quantum Semiconductors
Possible areas include:
- Silicon photonics
- Photonic ICs
- Quantum devices
- Optical computing
- Quantum semiconductor materials
- Emerging architectures
From Student to Industry Professional
The Earn While Learn model is structured around progressive responsibility.
Stage 1 – Learn
Students complete the advanced semiconductor foundation and establish their technical specialization.
Stage 2 – Prepare
Students receive professional preparation covering:
- Workplace readiness
- Technical communication
- Project management
- Research methods
- Intellectual property
- Industry ethics
- Safety and quality
- Professional documentation
Stage 3 – Enter Industry
Students join an approved industry, research organization, startup, laboratory, or technology partner.
Stage 4 – Work & Learn
Students participate in supervised technical assignments and industry projects while continuing required academic activities.
Stage 5 – Research
Industry problems can become the foundation for the student’s research project or thesis, subject to academic and industry approval.
Stage 6 – Demonstrate
Students present their work through seminars, technical reports, project reviews, demonstrations and thesis/capstone evaluation.
Stage 7 – Transition
High-performing students can be considered for continued employment or advanced opportunities with the host organization, subject to the employer’s requirements.
Academic Integration
The internship is not treated as an isolated work experience.
It connects directly with the second-year academic architecture:
SEM508
Advanced Research Seminar
Students communicate their research findings and industry learning.
SEM509
Industry Research Project
The student works on a defined semiconductor industry problem.
SEM510
Thesis / Advanced Capstone
The student’s advanced project demonstrates technical depth, research capability and problem-solving ability.
SEM511
Technology Commercialization
Students examine whether their research, product or technology can be translated into a market opportunity.
Mentorship Model
Each Earn While Learn student should ideally have two mentors:
Industry Mentor
A professional from the host organization who provides:
- Technical guidance
- Project supervision
- Workplace mentoring
- Industry exposure
- Performance feedback
Academic Mentor
A faculty/research mentor who provides:
- Academic supervision
- Research guidance
- Thesis supervision
- Assessment
- Academic quality assurance
This creates a powerful:
Industry Mentor + Academic Mentor = Dual Mentorship Model
Student Performance Framework
Students are evaluated on both academic and professional performance.
| Area | Evaluation |
| Technical Knowledge | Semiconductor expertise |
| Project Performance | Quality of assigned work |
| Research Capability | Analysis and problem solving |
| Innovation | Creativity and improvement |
| Professional Skills | Communication and teamwork |
| Workplace Discipline | Attendance and professionalism |
| Documentation | Reports and technical records |
| Presentation | Seminar and project presentation |
| Industry Feedback | Mentor evaluation |
| Final Project | Thesis / capstone |
What Students Gain
By completing the Earn While Learn experience, students can graduate with:
Academic Qualification: Advanced postgraduate semiconductor education.
Industry Experience: Practical exposure to real semiconductor projects.
Professional Portfolio: Projects, research, technical reports and demonstrated skills.
Industry Network: Connections with engineers, researchers, managers and technology organizations.
Research Experience: Experience solving real-world technical problems.
Financial Support: Monthly stipend during the eligible Earn While Learn period.
Employment Readiness: A significantly stronger transition from education to professional employment.
The NEXUS-SEMICON Employment Pathway
The long-term objective is to create a structured pipeline:
Year 1: LEARN
Advanced Semiconductor Foundation
+
Specialization
Year 2: EARN + LEARN
Industry Internship
+
Research
+
Thesis
+
Specialization
Graduation | DEMONSTRATE
Qualification
+
Industry Experience
+
Technical Portfolio
Career: EMPLOY
Semiconductor Industry
Research
Design
Manufacturing
Packaging
AI Hardware
Automotive
Energy
Telecom
Aerospace
Medical
Photonics
Earn While Learn – The NEXUS Promise
The program is built around a simple proposition:
Don’t wait until graduation to gain experience.
NEXUS-SEMICON enables students to begin building their professional identity while completing their advanced education.
Learn the technology.
Work on real problems.
Earn while learning.
Build your portfolio.
Conduct research.
Connect with industry.
Create your career.
NEXUS-SEMICON
From Semiconductor Education to Semiconductor Employment
Year 1: Learn & Specialize
Year 2: Earn, Learn & Research
Graduation: Industry Ready
Career: Build the Semiconductor Future
Who Is NEXUS-SEMICON For?
The program can serve a broad range of postgraduate and working professionals seeking advanced semiconductor expertise, including:
- Engineering graduates
- Electronics and electrical professionals
- Semiconductor engineers
- VLSI professionals
- Embedded systems engineers
- AI hardware professionals
- Manufacturing professionals
- Packaging professionals
- Materials professionals
- R&D professionals
- Technology managers
- Researchers
- Innovation professionals
- Professionals transitioning into semiconductor careers
The NEXUS-SEMICON Graduate
Upon completion, the learner should be able to:
Understand advanced semiconductor technologies.
Connect devices, materials, design, packaging and systems.
Apply semiconductor technologies to specific industries.
Research emerging semiconductor technologies and problems.
Design technology-oriented solutions and prototypes.
Evaluate semiconductor technologies and architectures.
Collaborate with industry and multidisciplinary teams.
Innovate across the semiconductor value chain.
Commercialize promising technologies and intellectual property.
NEXUS-SEMICON Learning Philosophy
The program is built around five principles:
01 – Learn
Build advanced semiconductor knowledge.
02 – SpecialiZe
Develop expertise in a selected industry or technology domain.
03 – Research
Solve real semiconductor problems.
04 – Apply
Connect learning to industry projects and applications.
05 – Innovate
Transform technology into products, intellectual property and commercial opportunities.
The NEXUS-SEMICON Advantage
One Program. Multiple Semiconductor Pathways.
A learner does not have to choose between semiconductor fundamentals and industry application.
NEXUS-SEMICON brings them together.
Advanced Core + Specialization + Research + Industry + Innovation
The program therefore provides a pathway from semiconductor fundamentals to advanced technology, from technology to industry, and from research to innovation.
NEXUS-SEMICON
Building the Semiconductor Workforce of the Future
Learn the technology.
Understand the ecosystem.
Specialize in an industry.
Solve real problems.
Build the future.