Course summary
Bristol and the surrounding area hosts a thriving and world-renowned semiconductor design industry. The groups involved in microelectronics research at the University of Bristol have collaborative links with multinational companies in the microelectronics industry. These organisations have identified a shortfall in graduates with the necessary qualifications and professional skills to work in the sector, so this programme has been designed to meet this need. A range of taught subjects covers core topics, such as digital and analogue application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design, digital signal processor (DSP) and field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based computing, integrated sensors and actuators, and embedded computing systems. Changes are made periodically to reflect important emerging disciplines, such as electronics for the Internet of Things (IoT), biomedical applications, and quantum photonics applications. The programme offers you the opportunity to learn from microelectronics, nanoelectronics, and computer science experts. You could move on to start working straight after your degree or continue your studies on a PhD. We aim to provide you with a range of contemporary design skills to supplement theoretical knowledge. Lectures are accompanied by lab exercises in state-of-the-art industrial electronic design automation (EDA) software to give you valuable experience in a professional environment.
Assessment method
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2026/msc-advanced-microelectronic-systems-engineering.pdf
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, or a related discipline in Engineering. Your degree must also include scores of 55% or an international equivalent in each of the following four modules: Analogue Electronics, Digital Electronics, Programming and Signals and Systems. If you have not studied any Signals and Systems or Programming modules, a module in Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Microprocessors and Embedded Systems, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), or Computer Architecture will be considered in place of this. Unfortunately, applicants with an Engineering background in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Materials Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Geophysics, Physics, Electric Engineering and Automation, Power Electronics and Automation and Control will not be considered suitable for this programme. If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date. We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific modules requirements would still apply. We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional qualifications. If you have the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae/résumé) when you apply, showing: - A relevant postgraduate qualification. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £16200 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £16200 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £16200 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £16200 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £16200 | Year 1 |
| EU | £36900 | Year 1 |
| International | £36900 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queen’s Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU