Joint International Master in Semiconductor ChipS Integration and Innovation

Joint International Master in Semiconductor ChipS Integration and Innovation is one of 11 English-taught Science programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from NOK 260,000 to NOK 295,000. 11 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

What you study

This is a joint master's, taught in English, that moves you across three European universities. The first semester is at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. There you build a foundation in semiconductor physics, artificial intelligence, sustainable and reliable electronics, innovation and entrepreneurship. The second semester is at the University of South-Eastern Norway in Vestfold. That term is hands-on: microfabrication, cleanroom processing, sensors and their integration with semiconductor devices for smart systems, digital twins, and materials and device characterisation through advanced laboratory training. The third semester is at BME in Budapest, Hungary. You go deeper into semiconductor device design, integrated circuits and mixed signal chip design, system-level engineering, power semiconductors, and advanced modelling tools used in the semiconductor industry. The fourth semester is the master project, split between the consortium partners or done with an industrial or academic partner.

How the programme is organised

The programme is 120 ECTS over two years. The mobility is fixed: Finland, then Norway, then Hungary, then the master project. Teaching mixes coursework, laboratory training, industry projects, summer internships, and Winter and Summer Schools. The programme has industry clusters as associated partners, the European Platform on Smart Systems (EPoSS) and the Norwegian Centre of Expertise, Micro- and Nanotechnologies (NCE-MNT). That means visits to relevant industries, guest speakers from the business community, and the chance to take your master project in an industrial company in Norway or elsewhere in Europe. You study alongside a diverse cohort from around the world.

Who it suits

It suits someone who wants to design, fabricate, model and integrate intelligent electronic systems, and who is ready to move country each semester. You should be comfortable with laboratory work and cleanroom processing, and interested in the whole chain from chip to system. The programme also covers innovation, entrepreneurship and business creation, so it fits students who want to work in industry, launch a start-up, or go on to doctoral studies. The consortium says previous versions of similar joint masters saw around half of graduates start doctoral studies.

Admission, language and next steps

Applications are assessed on academic achievement, relevant experience, motivation, interview performance, and the consortium's commitment to diversity and geographical balance. A maximum of 30 students are admitted each cohort. Required documents are a certified copy of your bachelor's degree and transcript with an English translation, proof of English language proficiency, a CV, and two letters of reference or recommendation. Deadlines: 10 January for Erasmus Mundus scholarship applicants and self-funded applicants from outside the EU/EEA; 15 April for self-funded applicants from EU/EEA countries. Applicants by the January deadline who qualify are invited to an online competence test and an asynchronous video interview, then the strongest candidates to a live online interview. Check the programme page for the full timeline and any updates. The Erasmus Mundus programme is subject to the signing of the Grant Agreement, expected in mid-November 2026, and all applicants will be informed if the programme cannot proceed.

Master’s applications go straight to University of South-Eastern Norway, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: Deadlines: Erasmus Mundus and applicants from outside EU/EAA: 10 January. Applicants from EU/EEA: and Nordic countries 15. April. The register shows 10 January 2027 as a deadline date for this programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.