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Graduate Certificate of Engineering (Microelectronic Engineering)

This course has been discontinued - the information is provided for continuing students.

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  • This information is for international students.

Overview

The Graduate Certificate of Engineering (Microelectronic Engineering) forms the first stage in a four-stage nested program consisting of:
The major role of professional engineers in the Australian workforce is to act as agents for change through the development of technically sound, economically viable and socially acceptable solutions to complex and new technical problems. In this context, the microelectronics engineer today is faced with many challenges brought about by the rapid advances in computer, multimedia and telecommunication technology.
Microelectronic design stream addresses all aspects of this technology, from high level specification of microelectronic systems, through implementation alternatives, to realisation of integrated circuits. The course aims to produce engineers with the necessary skills and practical experience to satisfy the requirements of the microelectronics industry. An important feature of the program is the opportunity it provides for students to design their own integrated circuits.
(Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time.)
Information sessions

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Duration6 Month/s
Campus and intakes  Calendar
Hawthorn -Semester 1, Semester 2
Course codeA102
CRICOS code057847D
Fees*A$12,125 (total for 2012)*
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
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Course in detail

On this page: course description, course structure and units of study.

Course description

The Graduate Certificate of Engineering (Microelectronic Engineering) forms the first stage in a four-stage nested program consisting of:
The major role of professional engineers in the Australian workforce is to act as agents for change through the development of technically sound, economically viable and socially acceptable solutions to complex and new technical problems. In this context, the microelectronics engineer today is faced with many challenges brought about by the rapid advances in computer, multimedia and telecommunication technology.
Microelectronic design stream addresses all aspects of this technology, from high level specification of microelectronic systems, through implementation alternatives, to realisation of integrated circuits. The course aims to produce engineers with the necessary skills and practical experience to satisfy the requirements of the microelectronics industry. An important feature of the program is the opportunity it provides for students to design their own integrated circuits.
(Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time.)

Course structure

Swinburne's Microelectronic Engineering programs are a nested suite, offering students the opportunity to exit at the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master or Master (Honours) stage. 
The Graduate Certificate comprises four units (50 credit points).  Students may undertake any four units from the Microelectronics program with a maximum of one Management elective.
This program operates under a student workload model based on 100 credit points for a full-time academic year. One credit point is deemed equivalent to one hour of student work per week for one semester whether in contact with staff or in private study. Typically, four units of study are taken per semester, each unit having a value of 12.5 credit points. The typical student’s average weekly workload during semester is therefore expected to be 50 hours. Total student contact hours - including lectures, classes, tutorials, laboratory and field sessions - will be approximately 16 hours/week during academic semesters.
Preliminary Units of Study:
Students who lack the appropriate background may be required to do relevant undergraduate units of study before they commence postgraduate study in units that assume knowledge in specialist areas. The following units of study would provide the level of assumed knowledge for all the microelectronic engineering courses. These units are offered in the undergraduate program Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Computer Systems) (E051) and students can enrol in these units concurrently with other master degree units, which do not require the assumed knowledge provided in these units of study. 
Digital Electronics Design (HET202)
Embedded Microcontrollers (HET232) HET386 Analogue Electronics 2 (previously HET308)
Digital Signal and Image Processing (HET329)
(Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time.)

Units of study

Units Available
Microelectronics units
 HET6001 HDL and High Level Synthesis
HET6002 Integrated Circuit Design
HET6003 Hardware Implementation of Coding and Compression Algorithms
HET6004 Advanced Digital System Design
HET6005 Advanced Embedded System Design
HET6006 Emerging Topics in IC Design
HET6007 Advanced VLSI Design
HET6008 VLSI Digital Signal Processing Systems
HET6009 Reliability and Testability in IC Design
HET6014 RF and Mixed Signal Design
Introduction to Semiconductor Device Fabrication (HET6011)
HET6012 Semiconductor Device Physics (Sarawak only)
HET6015 Electronic Packaging Design Principles (Sarawak only)
Management Elective (one only)
HES6175 Project Costing
HES6791 Project Management
HIR506 Technology Management
 
Recommended Study Sequence
HET6001 HDL and High Level Synthesis
HET6003 Hardware Implementation of Coding and Compression Algorithms
HET6005 Advanced Embedded System Design
HIR506 Technology Management 
Note
  • All units are 12.5 credit points (CP) unless noted otherwise
  • Onshore international students can undertake no more than 25% of their course by online or distance education and may not study exclusively online/distance in any compulsory study period in accordance with government regulation.
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Graduate outcomes

On this page: aims and objectives, career opportunities and professional recognition.

Aims and objectives

The general aims of the course are to provide graduates with:
  • High levels of both logical and lateral thinking development so that the graduates can lead constructive change through innovation
  • The ability to use a multi-disciplinary engineering philosophy towards the synthesis, design and integration of solutions
  • A level of professional development in confidence, judgment and experience such that the implementation of proposed solutions proceeds successfully
The specific aims of the course are to:
  • Develop integrated circuit design expertise in embedded system, digital, mixed signal and system-on-chip
  • Develop understanding of the device physics, fabrication process and testing needed by IC designers
  • Develop the advanced technical skills necessary to master state of the art microelectronic technology
  • Develop research skills necessary to obtain specialist knowledge of subjects pertinent to integrated circuit design
  • Cultivate logical and lateral thinking that leads to creation and innovation in the pursuit of solutions to engineering problems

Career opportunities

Career opportunities involve work in embedded system design, VLSI design, system on chip, chip design, design of DSP-based systems, in a wide range of industries including telecommunications, automotive, chip design and testing corporations (Motorolla, Intel, Bosch etc) and research organisations.

Professional recognition

Completion of this course may assist graduates in meeting eligibility criteria for membership to various levels of Engineers Australia. Refer to the Engineers Australia website for full details.
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Course experience

On this page: Swinburne Abroad.

Swinburne Abroad

Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.
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Entry requirements

This course has academic and English language requirements.

Academic requirements

A recognised four-year Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic, Computer or Communication/Telecommunication Engineering or a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in an appropriate field. Applicants with a three year Bachelor of Science
(in appropriate field) or a Bachelor of Engineering in another field may also be considered but may be required to take additional (preliminary) subjects.
 

English language requirements

Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70% OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 575 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 232 (with Written Writing score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 90 with no band less than 20.
 
Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.
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Apply

On this page: how to apply, course fees, scholarships and find out more.

How to apply

Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

Course fees*

A$12,125 (total for 2012)

*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Scholarships

A range of scholarships is available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

Find out more

Enquire online: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/international/enquiry

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

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