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Program 01 · ASIC Design

Think in logic.
Design in RTL.
Build for silicon.

Advanced ASIC / SoC Design Engineer Program. A rigorous, project-driven pathway that develops the specific engineering skills that semiconductor companies actually hire for.

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What They Do Curriculum Tools Careers Who Should Join Apply
01 · The Role

What does an ASIC design engineer actually do?

An ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) design engineer takes a chip specification and turns it, block by block, into logic that will be manufactured in silicon. They think architecturally, code disciplined RTL, and work with tools that shape gates and timing. Their output becomes real hardware.

01
Specification
02
Microarchitecture
03
RTL Design
04
Simulation
05
Synthesis
06
Timing (STA)
07
SoC Integration
08
Silicon Flow

Why this role matters

  • ASIC designers shape the logic that ends up inside every phone, GPU, SSD controller, network switch and AI accelerator.
  • They translate abstract specifications into hardware that must work correctly, fast enough, and within power budgets.
  • Their decisions — how to pipeline, when to register, how to partition — directly determine chip performance.

Why students choose ASIC

  • You enjoy structured, architectural problem-solving.
  • You like clean logic and disciplined coding.
  • You want your work to physically exist in silicon.
  • You are motivated by rigor rather than shortcuts.
02 · ASIC Curriculum

Nine modules.
One engineer.

The curriculum is engineered in the same order the industry actually builds chips — foundations first, then design, then tools, then a full-flow project. Click any module to expand.

MODULE 01 Digital Design Foundation
The mental model every ASIC engineer needs. You'll rebuild digital logic from first principles — with an emphasis on how each construct behaves in real hardware, not just on paper.
Combinational LogicSequential LogicFlip-FlopsCountersFSMsMemoriesClockingTiming Fundamentals
MODULE 02Verilog
The language most silicon in production is still written in. You'll write combinational and sequential RTL, build testbenches, run simulations, and debug — the fundamental daily loop of an RTL engineer.
SyntaxData TypesModulesComb RTLSeq RTLTestbenchesSimulationDebug
MODULE 03SystemVerilog for Design
Modern RTL uses SystemVerilog. You'll master interfaces, packages, parameterisation, structs, enums and generate constructs — writing reusable RTL that scales to real SoC-size designs.
InterfacesPackagesParametersStructuresEnumsGenerateReusable RTL
MODULE 04RTL Design
Where fresh graduates struggle most — writing RTL that a design lead would actually accept. You'll learn industry coding guidelines, disciplined FSM architecture, clean datapaths, and how to think about pipelining, latency and throughput as first-class design concerns.
Coding GuidelinesFSM ArchDatapathsControl LogicPipeliningLatencyThroughputClock DomainsReset Strategy
MODULE 05Microarchitecture
The step that separates a coder from a designer. You'll learn how to convert a specification into a working microarchitecture — deciding block partitioning, register boundaries, control/datapath split, and where to trade area against timing.
Block PartitioningRegistersDatapathsState MachinesInterfacesPerf Tradeoffs
MODULE 06Synthesis
Convert RTL into gates and understand exactly what the tool is doing to your code. You'll read reports, write constraints, iterate on optimisation, and learn to reason about area, power and timing as an integrated tradeoff.
RTL → GatesConstraintsOptimizationAreaPowerTimingReports
MODULE 07Static Timing Analysis
Timing closure is where many designs slow down or die. You'll learn setup and hold, clock definitions, timing paths, constraint writing, violation triage, and the disciplined mindset needed to actually close timing.
SetupHoldClock DefTiming PathsConstraintsViolationsClosure
MODULE 08SoC Integration
Real chips are made of many IPs integrated into subsystems. You'll learn how those IPs come together — bus and interconnect concepts, clock/reset integration, memory interfaces, and how to debug integration-level issues.
IP IntegrationBus/InterconnectClock/ResetMemory InterfacesSubsystem DesignIntegration Debug
MODULE 09Industry-Grade RTL Project
The full flow, end-to-end, on a substantial RTL block. Reviewed by practicing engineers. Your final deliverables become the core of your engineering portfolio.
SpecificationArchitectureRTLTestbenchSimulationSynthesisTimingReportPresentation

What you'll deliver from Module 09

01
Written specification
02
Microarchitecture doc
03
Clean RTL codebase
04
Testbench + simulation
05
Synthesis report
06
STA report
07
Design report
08
Technical presentation to engineers
09
Portfolio-ready artifact
03 · Industry EDA Environment

The tools real engineers use.

SION Varsity trains students on professional Synopsys EDA tools — the same tools used by semiconductor companies worldwide. Our authorised access includes VCS for simulation, Design Compiler for synthesis, Verdi for debugging, and PrimeTime for static timing analysis.

Synopsys™ EDA Tools. SION Varsity trains students on industry-standard Synopsys tools — VCS for functional simulation, Design Compiler for synthesis, Verdi for debugging, and PrimeTime for static timing analysis. Synopsys™, VCS™, Design Compiler™, Verdi™ and PrimeTime™ are trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. Used under SION Varsity's authorised access.
SimulationSynopsys VCS
SynthesisSynopsys Design Compiler
Static TimingSynopsys PrimeTime
04 · Career Roles

Where an ASIC engineer actually works.

The skills built in this program map directly to how semiconductor teams hire. Common role titles below — every one of them is a real, in-demand seat inside real engineering teams.

RTL Design Engineer
RTL · Microarch · Coding
ASIC Design Engineer
Full ASIC flow ownership
SoC Design Engineer
SoC-level integration
Front-End Design Engineer
RTL to netlist
FPGA / RTL Engineer
RTL for FPGA + ASIC
IP Design Engineer
Reusable silicon IP
05 · Who Should Join

Is ASIC design right for you?

Who this program is designed for

  • ECE, EEE and Electronics graduates.
  • Instrumentation graduates with suitable interest in digital design.
  • CSE graduates with strong digital-design fundamentals and genuine hardware interest.
  • Working engineers transitioning into VLSI from adjacent domains.

Prerequisites

  • Basic digital electronics (combinational + sequential logic, FSMs, memory).
  • Basic programming and logical thinking.
  • Strong willingness to practise — RTL is a skill built by repetition.
  • Comfort with disciplined, structured work over long design cycles.
An honest note. ASIC design is a rigorous skill. SION Varsity does not claim that anyone becomes job-ready overnight — but with focused engagement across all nine modules, students consistently build the depth needed to pursue real RTL and design roles.
06 · Fees · Scholarship · Apply

Join the ASIC Design program.

One application. No application fee. Scholarship decided purely on merit — your Talent Test score determines your fee reduction.

🇮🇳
APAC · Bengaluru
₹85,000
+ GST
🇦🇪
Middle East · Dubai
AED 18,000
+ VAT
🇺🇸
USA · San Jose
$4,200
+ tax
⭐
Elite Track Fully sponsored — merit-based, invite-only after Talent Test. Top performers join at zero cost.
🏆
Merit-Based Scholarship
Scholarship is awarded solely on Talent Test performance. No interviews, no essays — the test score determines the fee reduction. Higher scores unlock larger reductions, up to full sponsorship for the Elite track.
Admission Flow
01
Submit Application
Fill the form on the right — no fee, no commitment. Takes under two minutes.
02
Academic Review
Coordinator reviews your degree, branch and year. Response within one working day.
03
Coordinator Call
Brief call to confirm your background, goals and preferred cohort date.
04
Physical Talent Test
Aptitude test at nearest SION centre — digital design fundamentals, logical reasoning, engineering aptitude.
05
Scholarship Decision & Enrollment
Merit scholarship announced. Final fee confirmed. Enrollment proceeds immediately.
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