First intake of students due in September/October 2026
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Maynooth University (MU) has announced a new Master of Engineering Science in Integrated Circuit Design – the first of its kind in Europe.
“This flagship programme, which has been developed in close partnership with Ireland’s semi-conductor industry, aims to deliver graduates who are ready to step straight into high-value roles in a strategically critical sector,” said Dr John Dooley of the Department of Electronic Engineering at MU and Programme Director for the new postgraduate degree.
The European Chips Act, a €43 billion initiative launched in 2023, sets out a roadmap to significantly bolster Europe’s semiconductor capacity, while the 2024 Draghi Report calls for maximising joint EU efforts in advanced chip innovation.
In Ireland, the Programme for Government, the National Semiconductor Strategy, and the IDA have all highlighted semiconductors as a strategic driver of growth, and a vital opportunity for the country over the coming decade.
“This is the only course of its kind in Europe and has been designed in close collaboration with leading semiconductor companies,” said Dr Dooley. “Maynooth University worked with the MIDAS Ireland semiconductor industry cluster in the design of the course to ensure that it addressed critical skills gaps and priority competencies.”
The degree programme is built around five core: a paid internship of approximately six months with a semi-conductor company; a strong problem-based learning approach; specialist modules spanning analogue, digital and verification; AI and machine learning training tailored to the semiconductor industry of the future; and hands on training with the professional software tools used for integrated circuit design.
“These elements are integrated so that students can move seamlessly from advanced theory and simulation into real-world design, verification and implementation workflows within their host companies,” said Dr Dooley.
The programme has been backed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), together with partner companies, MIDAS Ireland, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
The first intake of students is underway, with lectures beginning in September/October 2026, followed by two academic semesters at MU, then an industry internship of around six months.
TechCentral Reporters