Education

Deep dive into semiconductors with expert advice, resources, and career insights within the Education field.

Education

The Skills Gap in Semiconductor Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

The semiconductor industry lies at the heart of modern technology. From smartphones and data centres to autonomous vehicles, medical devices and defence systems, semiconductors power the digital age. The UK is investing heavily in semiconductor research, fabrication and talent development as part of its industrial strategy — yet employers continue to report a persistent problem: Many graduates are not job-ready for semiconductor roles. Despite strong academic programmes in engineering, physics and materials science, there remains a tangible skills gap between what universities teach and what semiconductor employers actually need. This article explores that gap in depth: what universities do well, where there are consistent shortfalls, why the divide persists, what employers genuinely want, and how jobseekers can bridge the gap to build successful careers in the semiconductor sector.

Education Jobs

Maths for Semiconductor Jobs: The Only Topics You Actually Need (& How to Learn Them)

If you are aiming for semiconductor jobs in the UK it is easy to assume you need a PhD level maths toolkit. In practice most roles do not. Whether you are targeting device engineering, process engineering, yield engineering, product engineering, test, reliability, RF, analogue, digital design, EDA, packaging or applications engineering, the maths you actually use clusters into a few workhorse areas. This guide strips it back to the topics that genuinely help you get hired & perform well on the job: Exponents, logs & “physics curves” (Arrhenius style behaviour, subthreshold, leakage) Calculus in plain English (rates, gradients, differential equations intuition) Device electrostatics & transport basics (Poisson equation intuition, drift & diffusion) Complex numbers for AC & RF (impedance, phasors, frequency response) Signals maths (Fourier intuition, bandwidth, noise density) Probability & statistics for manufacturing (SPC, DOE, yield models, reliability basics) Basic optimisation habits (fitting models, tuning trade-offs, making decisions with data) You will also get a 6 week plan, portfolio projects & a resources section you can follow without getting pulled into unnecessary theory.

Careers Education

The Best Free Tools & Platforms to Practise Semiconductor Skills in 2025/26

Semiconductors are at the heart of modern technology. From the processors in your smartphone to the power electronics that drive electric vehicles, semiconductors enable the digital world. They are at the heart of computing, communications, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. For students, graduates, and career changers in the UK, the semiconductor industry offers outstanding opportunities. But employers expect more than theoretical knowledge. They want candidates who can model devices, simulate circuits, verify layouts, and understand how design choices impact performance. The challenge? Many professional semiconductor design tools are expensive, costing thousands of pounds for a licence. But the good news is that there are a number of free and open-source tools that allow you to practise key semiconductor skills — from device physics to circuit design and layout — entirely without cost. This article explores the best free tools and platforms to practise semiconductor skills in 2025. Each tool is explained, along with the skills it helps you develop, project ideas you can try, and how these can be turned into portfolio work that UK employers will value.

Education

Part-Time Study Routes That Lead to Semiconductor Jobs: Evening Courses, Bootcamps & Online Masters

The semiconductor industry is the backbone of modern electronics—powering everything from smartphones and data centres to electric vehicles and IoT devices. As Moore’s Law evolves and advanced nodes, 3D packaging and power-efficient design become critical, demand for skilled semiconductor professionals—process engineers, IC designers, fab technicians and test engineers—is soaring in the UK’s growing microelectronics sector. Yet many engineers and technologists cannot pause their careers for full-time study. Fortunately, part-time learning pathways—Evening Courses, Intensive Bootcamps and Flexible Online Master’s Programmes—enable you to learn semiconductor technology while working. This comprehensive guide explores every route: foundational CPD units and short courses, hands-on bootcamps, accredited online MSc programmes, plus funding options, practical planning advice and a detailed case study. Whether you’re a technician aiming for process development roles, an electrical engineer pivoting into VLSI design or a project manager looking to deepen your fab operations knowledge, you’ll find a pathway tailored to your schedule and career goals.

Careers Education

Key Skills for a Successful Career in Semiconductors

The semiconductor industry is at the heart of technological innovation, powering advancements in electronics, telecommunications, and computing. To thrive in this competitive field, professionals need a mix of technical expertise and soft skills. This guide highlights the key skills required for a successful career in semiconductors, from chip design and fabrication processes to problem-solving and teamwork.

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