Executive PG Certification in AI-Enabled VLSI Design

The program is called Executive Post Graduate Certification in AI-Enabled VLSI Design, and it is offered by the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur).

The program duration is  8 months. The cohort will start from April 2026 (Tentative).

Qualification:

B.Tech / M.Tech, B.E / M.E (4th Year Students or Completed)
(Electronics, ECE, EE, VLSI, Electrical, Instrumentation, CS, IT)

M.Sc (Electronics / Physics / Semiconductor Technology) or MCA
Experience
Currently in 4th Year/ Graduated Fresher/Working professional.

Candidates from other engineering disciplines with demonstrable exposure to embedded systems, Digital Electronics, HDL, or Semiconductor fundamentals may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Minimum Academic Requirement:

50% aggregate (or equivalent CGPA) from a recognised university

Fill the Apply Now form and click submit.

The application process has already begun - Apply Now Link.

The program fees - Rs 1,25,000 + 18% GST
Financing options are available; kindly check with your counselors for more information.

The program is delivered through 100% live online classes delivered by IIT Kharagpur faculty and industry experts.

The program offers a unique blend of three main pillars
- The Precision of Cadence: Master industry-standard ASIC implementation from Genus synthesis to Tempus signoff
- The Reality of Xilinx Vivado: FPGA workflow experience for hardware-proven rapid prototyping
-The Industry standard flow: The program covers the complete RTL to GDSII flow with AI-driven PPA optimization reports, reworking, and mission-critical low-power design techniques.

Yes, around Rs 10,000 will be required to be paid to the institute at the time of the immersion. The details regarding the same will be provided near the immersion dates.

Yes, accommodation booking will be enabled for such candidates (subject to availability).

Yes. The admission process involves five steps:
1. Submit Application: Share your academic and professional background
2. Profile Review: Shortlisting by the technical committee
3. Prescreening Test: A test to evaluate your knowledge of the subject
3. Offer Letter: Receive your invitation to join the cohort
4. Block Your Seat: Secure your spot in the upcoming batch

The following are the documents required:
-Aadhar Card
-DOB (in correct format and as per Aadhar Card - DD/MM/YYYY)
-Resume
-Graduation Marksheet and Degree (cross-verified with scores entered in the application portal)
-12th Marks (cross-verified)
-Previous Experience Letter, Offer Letter, and Salary Slip

Yes, there will be a pre-screening exam. A basic understanding of Digital Electronics, Analog Electronics, Logical Reasoning, and Verilog coding skills would help qualify for the pre-screening test

Basic Verilog coding skills would help qualify for the pre-screening test, as well as provide a smooth start for the certification.

Full fee payment of ₹1,25,000 + GST must be completed within 5 days of receiving the offer letter.
A non-refundable application deposit of ₹5,000 is required at the time of application submission (adjusted in the final fee)
Loan options are also available.

Yes. If you or your family are funding the program, you can choose to self-fund either partially or in full.

Yes. Futurense has partnered with various financial institutions to offer financial assistance.

Interest rates vary depending on the repayment plan and financial partner. Rates are described as reasonable and competitive considering the recent rise in unsecured loan rates in India.

PAN
Aadhar
Last 3 months’ bank statements

The program provides comprehensive coverage across the following areas:
- Foundations for digital design & High-Fidelity RTL: Verilog, low-power fundamentals, FSM controllers, memory inference
- FPGA mapped workflow: Using VIVADO IDE and Verilog coding, FPGA workflows can be targeted
- ASIC Implementation & Signoff: Netlist-to-GDSII path, floorplanning, CTS, DRC/LVS, STA, power analysis
- AI-Integrated EDA & Agentic Loops: AI constraint tuning of reports for better design

The program provides hands-on experience with industry-leading tools:
- Vivado IDE
- Cadence Tools: Xcelium, Genus, Innovus, Tempus, Voltus
- Programming & Automation: Verilog, Tcl Scripting basics.

Unlike traditional VLSI courses that rely on manual iteration, this program integrates AI-driven workflows:
- ML-based Design Space Exploration (DSE) to optimize Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) reports.
- Predictive Static Timing Analysis (STA)

The program provides full-stack ownership from RTL to GDSII, hands-on experience with commercial-grade toolchains used in the semiconductor industry. AI-driven automation capabilities that represent the future of chip design. This comprehensive approach makes graduates ready for future senior technical roles in the semiconductor industry.

The program provides modular training and industry-standard toolkits that can be adapted for different application domains in semiconductor design. Participants work on real-world capstone projects that can be tailored to their areas of interest.

The program includes the following sample capstone projects:
1-Hardware-Accelerated Audio Signal Processing with Neural Network Classifier
2-Tiny YOLO-Based Object Detection Accelerator for Edge AI
3-Accelerator for Optical Flow Estimation and Object Detection for Automated Vehicles

Prof. Mrigank Sharad, his expertise in fields of Nanoelectronics, VLSI Design, Digital and Mixed-Signal Systems is very critical in modern-day electronics. These expertise are foundational to the next generation of energy-efficient AI hardware and high-performance communication systems.

IIT Kharagpur holds distinguished credentials of being India’s First IIT, established in 1951 as an Institute of National Importance. IIT Kharagpur remains a trendsetter by combining India’s one of the most advanced VLSI research infrastructure with a specialized 'RTL-to-Silicon' curriculum that bridges the gap between fundamental  and industry-scale chip architecture."

The program merges IIT Kharagpur’s academic rigor with industry’s most advanced practices. The curriculum is designed to ensure graduates are prepared for the shift toward AI-integrated design and industry-standard tool flow that the semiconductor industry prefers.

Graduates will be positioned for the following roles:
- RTL Design Engineer
- FPGA Design Engineer / Architect
- ASIC Implementation Engineer
- Physical Design Engineer
- Low Power Design Specialist
- AI-EDA Integration Specialist

These are cutting-edge, high-demand skills in the semiconductor industry. As companies increasingly adopt AI-driven design automation, professionals with expertise in these areas command premium compensation and have access to specialized roles that are emerging in the industry.

The program equips learners with the complete stack, from RTL fundamentals to AI-driven automation. By mastering both traditional VLSI methodologies and emerging technologies, graduates are prepared not just for current roles but for the future direction of the semiconductor industry.

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates receive an Executive Post Graduate Certification in AI-Enabled VLSI Design from IIT Kharagpur.