Requirement to graduate

Curriculum and Programme Structure

 

9 Months at CGU

Under the NEED programme, students will spend the first 9 months at CGU completing core and elective modules, where the students will gain real-life immersion with Taiwan’s leading IC design and semiconductor foundries while undergoing CGU’s industry-oriented curriculum.

 

All students will complete the compulsory modules listed below. When selecting their elective modules, NEED students will choose to specialise in either the Advanced Manufacturing Track  or the IC Design Track:

 

Advanced Manufacturing Track
(Elective Modules)

 

Under this Track, students will learn more about the integral aspects of IC production quality and reliability management. This includes reliability and failure analysis, failure mechanisms and packaging reliability.

Students must complete at least 4 of the following:

  • Nano-Materials and Devices*
  • Bio-Medical Electronics*
  • Quality Engineering
  • IC Packaging Reliability
  • Failure Mechanisms in VLSI
  • Failure Analysis for VLSI

*Students can choose either Nano-Materials and Devices or Bio-Medical Electronics, but not both.

IC Design Track 
(Elective Modules)

 

Under this Track, students will learn more about the tools, software and processes required to conduct analysis, design and
develop a wide variety of ICs (analog, digital, radio frequency, mixed-signal).

Students must complete at least 4 of the following:

  • Nano-Materials and Devices*
  • Bio-Medical Electronics*
  • Mixed Signal Design
  • RF IC Design
  • Analog Electronics
  • Digital Electronics

*Students can choose either Nano-Materials and Devices or Bio-Medical Electronics, but not both.

Compulsory Modules
  • Reliability Engineering
  • Introduction to VLSI: Technology and Design
  • Test and Measurement for VLSI
  • Advanced Transistor Modeling for VLSI Design

 

9 Months at SUTD

At SUTD, students will spend the next 9 months completing a Master thesis and research project (design implementation, fabrication, testing and assembly) which will incorporate the technical knowledge gained at CGU.

 

This Master thesis will be subjected to an Oral Defense, where students will defend their research against professional critique by a board consisting of SUTD faculty and external faculty/industry experts.

 

Students are also required to complete at least 4 Professional Short Development Courses to gain industry-relevant knowledge to round out their holistic education.

What's next

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Frequently asked questions

What are the eligibility criteria or admission requirements for the PhD / EngD programme?

Applicants should have:

  • At least a bachelor’s degree or above with excellent academic standing
  • Proficiency in English with a minimum score of
    • 90 for TOEFL (internet-based); or
    • 6.5 for IELTS
    • This is waived if the language of the medium in your institution is English
  • Strong research interest

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline may vary each year, please refer to the programme webpages for latest updates.


How many intakes are there each year?

There are two intakes per year (January and September). Please refer to the respective programme webpages for more information.

 

 


What are the documents required to apply?

Please prepare these documents for application:

  • Original Undergraduate Degree certificate and academic transcripts
    Please provide your undergraduate degree certificate, official academic transcripts and official letter of certification from your institution stating the expected date of graduation or award of degree if you have not graduated from your degree programme. Please include the grading policy/system for your transcript. For non-English documents, an official English translation must be provided (at your expense). Those who have a Master degree, should also provide the Master degree certificate and official academic transcripts.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report
    If the medium of instruction during your undergraduate studies was not in English, please submit your IELTS or TOEFL scores no later than 2 weeks after the application deadline.
  • Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score report
    Not required, but highly recommended.
  • Name, designation and institutional email address of THREE academic referees
    Your academic referees must be able to gauge your scholastic capabilities and achievements and your ability to complete the programme. It is advisable to notify your academic referees beforehand as they must submit their respective online recommendations within 1 week of your PhD application submission.
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Relevant supporting documents
    Soft copy or web links to academic and/or industry portfolio, awards, publications, etc.
  • Your Singaporean Identity Card (NRIC) or relevant pages in your Passport
  • ​​Your Statement of Objectives (3,000 words)

The uploaded documents must be in English. Otherwise, they must be accompanied by certified translations in the English language.


Can I apply before completing my current studies?

Yes—many programmes accept applications from students in their final term. Admission is conditional upon official graduation proof.


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