Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly spreading in industrial settings, leading to an expansion of educational foundations for training professionals in AI semiconductor design.
Gachon University will open a graduate school specializing in AI semiconductor design in March 2027, offering a master's program focused on practical semiconductor design skills.
According to Gachon University, the first class will consist of 30 students, with admissions for the 2027 academic year taking place from October 19 to November 2.
The establishment of this graduate school responds to the recent shift in the AI industry from technologies for training large AI models to implementing AI in physical devices and services, known as 'Physical AI' and inference technologies.
As the fields where AI is integrated, such as robotics, autonomous driving, smart appliances, and smart factories, continue to grow, the importance of low-power, high-efficiency semiconductor design capabilities that can operate AI with limited power and computational resources is increasing.
In line with these industrial changes, Gachon University plans to offer a curriculum that emphasizes practical semiconductor development processes rather than just theoretical education.
Students will engage in the entire semiconductor development process, from design to verification, physical implementation, and tape-out, through project-based learning.
Instead of writing a thesis, students will earn their degrees by passing a graduation project review, and the curriculum will include patent applications to ensure tangible technological outcomes.
The education will be structured into six quarters, with two subjects per quarter, allowing students to focus on a total of 12 subjects over two years.
Key subjects will include computer architecture design, AI algorithms, and AI accelerator design, along with 'Industry-Academia R&D Projects I & II' conducted in collaboration with companies.
In the region, efforts are underway to strengthen the industrial base around Pangyo, where AI companies and technical talent are gathering.
The launch of the AI semiconductor design graduate school is expected to serve as a hub for nurturing talent that connects the university's educational functions with the local fabless and AI industry ecosystem.
Gachon University is also establishing the necessary infrastructure for semiconductor design education.
Utilizing facilities such as the College of Semiconductor, AI Hall, and Vision Tower, the university plans to conduct team-based industry-academia projects using a full package of the three major EDA tools and HPC infrastructure capable of concurrent design, along with dedicated design practice rooms.
Professors with experience in semiconductor design from industry will also participate in the education to enhance the design capabilities required in the actual industrial field.
Full tuition scholarships will be offered to the first incoming class.
Incentive scholarships based on students' research and project achievements, such as publications in international journals or awards at international competitions, as well as scholarships linked to industry-academia collaboration companies, will also be available.
Earlier, Gachon University expanded its collaboration base with domestic AI fabless companies by hosting the 'CES 2026 Fabless Summit Korea' in March.
Thus, the university plans to further enhance joint research and field-oriented talent development in conjunction with the opening of the graduate school.
Admissions for the 2027 master's program will occur in three rounds.
The first application period is from October 19 to November 2, the second from December 17 to 28 at 3 PM, and the third from January 21 to 25, 2027, also at 3 PM.
The announcement of the AI semiconductor design graduate school at Gachon University has generated significant interest among students and the local community.
As AI and semiconductors emerge as key sectors in future industries, the opportunity for local students to receive specialized education necessary for the industrial field is being positively evaluated.
In particular, there is growing interest among students in related majors due to the opportunity to experience the entire semiconductor development process, from design theory to verification and physical implementation.
Students preparing for employment express hope that this graduate program will provide a pathway to acquire the practical skills demanded by companies.
The local community anticipates that the establishment of this graduate school will serve as a bridge connecting Gachon University's educational functions with the AI and semiconductor industry ecosystem formed in the Seongnam and Pangyo areas.
If the regional characteristics of AI and fabless companies concentrated around Pangyo combine with the university's semiconductor education and research infrastructure, it could lay the groundwork for nurturing specialized talent needed by companies and expanding industry-academia collaboration.
Gachon University also plans to strengthen field-oriented education by conducting industry-academia R&D projects in collaboration with companies and utilizing EDA equipment and HPC infrastructure necessary for semiconductor design.
Meanwhile, Kim Yong-seok, the inaugural dean of the graduate school, stated, "Our goal is to train AI semiconductor design experts who can be immediately utilized in the semiconductor industry, and we will produce talent equipped with the practical skills demanded by the industry."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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