SEMI is an international Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) program in semiconductor engineering offered by the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University. The program requires four years of study for applicants who have completed high school. 

The SEMI program prepares students to enter the workforce in one of the most important industries of this century where data and cloud services become more important and where semiconductors play the fundamental role as the material backbones of all these applications.

Total Course Credits (131 Credits)

1. General Education (24 Credits)
   • General Education (12 Credits)
   • Foreign Language (12 Credits)
2. Core Courses (101 Credits)
   • Basic Sciences (18 Credits)
   • Engineering Specialization (83 Credits)
     – Semiconductor Engineering Compulsory (59 Credits)
     – Compulsory Electives in Multidisciplinary and 21st Century Skills (6 Credits)
     – Compulsory Electives in Information Technology (6 Credits)
     – Semiconductor Engineering Electives (12 Credits)
3. Free Electives (6 Credits)

Semiconductor Engineering is more specialized and concentrated on the development of semiconductor materials and devices for the electronics industry. It primarily deals with improving the performance of microprocessors, memory chips, and other semiconductor components used in a variety of electronic products. However, Nano Engineering is broader in scope, dealing with nanomaterials and devices across a range of fields like medicine, energy, and materials science. It focuses on the unique physical and chemical properties that emerge at the nanoscale and applies them to create innovative technologies.

The SEMI program is similar to the NANO program in the aspect of advanced material-related content. Semiconductor engineers creatively design and fabricate integrated circuits (IC) or chips, which are critically instrumental in enabling most, if not all, applications in the ADME, AERO, ICE, and Robotics AI programs.

The SEMI program aims to produce global-talented semiconductor engineers who comprehend the unique global supply chain of the semiconductor industry, with insights into state-of-the-art IC design and fabrication. The program provides a student with unique opportunities to gain practical learning experience in semiconductor design and manufacturing, through an internship with leading industries in Thailand and abroad. Students could then apply their knowledge to unique applications of IC or chips for the fast-growing AI and EV industries in their own way, hopefully, in their future careers.

Those who are interested and want to play an active/leadership role in advancing one or more of the various aspects of semiconductor technology, from designing advanced semiconductor devices, circuits, and systems, to fabricating, testing, prototyping, employing, and optimizing them for 21st-century applications that include edge computing, cloud-based applications, electric vehicles (EV), and generative AI.

The graduate students from the SEMI program will have technical and soft skills crucial for working as semiconductor engineers. The highlighted technical skills are as follows:

1. Understanding of physics and chemistry of the semiconductor materials and processes.
2. Proficiency in semiconductor fabrication processes.
3. Circuit analysis and design for both analog and digital circuits.
4. Industry standards and regulations.
5. Data analysis and statistical skills.
6. Simulation and modeling software for predicting device behavior.
7. Problem-solving and troubleshooting.

This program is conducted entirely in English. Both Thai and Non-Thai applicants are welcome to apply to the program.

All students in the SEMI program are encouraged to take a one-semester student exchange program abroad at our partnership universities which have excellent semiconductor engineering programs, such as National Taiwan University (NTU), Lunghwa University of Science and Technology (LHU) in Taiwan, or Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea. Moreover, students can design their study plans to earn double bachelor’s degrees from both Chulalongkorn and Lunghwa Universities, with a specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. For the double-degree program, students will study at Chulalongkorn University for the first two years for theoretical and fundamental courses. Then, they will continue their study at Lunghwa University for another year and take more practical courses to obtain hands-on experience with industrial-scaled semiconductor fabrication, assembly, and testing equipment. In addition, they will have an opportunity to take one full-year industrial internship in advanced electronic companies in Taiwan. Financial support is available for both the student exchange and double degree programs while students are studying and taking internships abroad.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical career path of a semiconductor engineer.

Entry-Level Positions

• Design Engineer: Works on designing semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs), microprocessors, or transistors.
• Process Engineer: Focuses on developing and improving the manufacturing processes used to create semiconductor components.
• Test Engineer: Develops and executes testing procedures to ensure the reliability and performance of semiconductor devices.

Mid-Level Positions

• Senior Design Engineer: Leads teams in designing and optimizing semiconductor devices.
• Product Engineer: Focuses on ensuring that the product meets technical and business goals, working between design, manufacturing, and testing.
• Fabrication Engineer: Works in semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs) focusing on the processes involved in etching, lithography, doping, etc.
• Yield/Reliability Engineer: Aims to improve manufacturing yield and reliability by identifying and addressing factors that cause defects in semiconductor production.

Advanced Positions

• Principal Engineer: Leads teams of engineers, provides technical guidance, and oversees the entire development process from concept to production.
• R&D Engineer: Focuses on research and development of new semiconductor technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Manager: Manages teams of engineers, coordinates projects, and works on product development strategies.

Apart from being able to work as an engineer in the semiconductor industry, the graduated students from the SEMI program can continue to study for a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in the Semiconductor Engineering Program or other related fields such as the Electrical Engineering Program. The graduate programs relating to the SEMI program are available in both domestic and abroad universities.