The semiconductor industry is a significant contributor to Singapore's electronics output and is one of the largest employers in Singapore. Currently, Singapore has 14 silicon wafer fabrication plants, 20 assembly and test operations and about 40 IC design centres.
In addition, recent advances in thin film technology have created exciting new opportunities. Thin film technology can be used for applications in many industries such as optical coatings, displays and information storage. This technology is also closely linked to one of the key emerging technologies - nanotechnology.
The Diploma in Micro and Nanotechnology (DMNT) enables you to master the underlying technologies that powers the everyday gadgets such as mobile phone and computer, the innovations that fascinates us such as touch screen tablet and the inventions that preserve the earth for our future generation such as LED lighting and solar cell. Through this course, you will find yourself being transformed into knowledgeable and enterprising young professionals who can apply skills to solve real life industry problems and help create the next generation innovations that will enhance the quality of life for mankind.
By the end of the course, you will master the wafer fabrication processes behind the Integrated Circuit (IC); understand how thin film technologies are applied to real life applications like solar cell and LED; uncover the root of semiconductor technologies at the atomic level; identify the causes of failures of Integrated Circuit (IC) through the use of state-of-the-art equipment; and discover limitless possibilities of nanotechnology that will shape the future of mankind.
To facilitate students’ learning and prepare them for the industry, the Diploma in Micro and Nanotechnology is fully equipped with the industry standard cleanroom facility for 6 and 8 inch wafer processing and device fabrications. DMNT students will get to do their curriculum and project works using state-of-the-art semiconductor processing and characterization equipment such as sputter system, Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP), acid/solvent wetbench, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), surface profiler, ellipsometer and 4-point resistivity probe. DMNT students will also gain hands-on knowledge in high vacuum and plasma operation in the vacuum and plasma technology laboratories.
Through workshops jointly conducted by RP and the industry partners, DMNT students can look forward to receive joint certification endorsed by the industries highlighting their expertise in the field. Upon completion of the Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) software training widely used in the industry for development in IC processing, device characterization and design for manufacturing, DMNT students will be awarded the joint certification (RP and Synopsys) in TCAD software training. For students who completed the hands-on vacuum technology and plasma system workshop, they will be presented with the joint certification (RP and MKS) in vacuum and plasma training.
DMNT students will go through a 16 weeks internship programme during their course of studies at RP. They will work in world class semiconductor industries like Global Foundries, REC Singapore, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte Ltd, SSMC, Numonyx Pte Ltd, Presidium Instruments, TLG Technology Pte Ltd and MBE Tech, as well as top notched research institutes such as Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), Data Storage Institute (DSI) and DSO National Laboratories. The internships allow the students to have a feel of the work life after graduation and give them good opportunity to interact and link up with the professionals.
DMNT students will also have the chance to work on an industry Final Year Project based in the industries, research institutes or universities during their final year of studies. They will work on research projects that are of industry values (such as green technology, renewable energy, solar cells, hydrogen fuel cells, nano-wires/particles) and which can be linked to real life device applications. During the course of their research, the students could also play a part in journal publications as well as submit their projects for competition.
With enriching students with valuable overseas experience in mind, DMNT organises at least 2 students overseas study trips a year to countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Shanghai, Suzhou and many others. The students get to visit renowned universities like the National Tsing Hua University, Seoul National University, and top-notched semiconductor industry players like IC design company Faraday Technology Corporation and IC packaging and assembly company Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (SPIL). Such overseas opportunities allow DMNT students to discover the latest technology trend, well preparing them for the global requirements of the semiconductor industry.
DMNT graduates can look forward to excellent career prospects in the semiconductor industries, industries using thin film and coating technologies as well as emerging industries in nanotechnology. They can be employed as assistant or associate engineers in diverse areas such as Integrated Circuit (IC) design and development, wafer fabrication, Integrated Circuit (IC) test and assembly, equipment testing, technical marketing and Integrated Circuit (IC) applications support.
Graduates may also choose to pursue further education. The DMNT curriculum is designed to meet the requirements for advanced standing in local and overseas Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs). You can pursue a degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering or Materials Engineering or Information Engineering & Media at the local universities - National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
We have also established advancement pathways with overseas universities such as University of Adelaide (Australia), Curtin University of Technology (Australia), Edith Cowan University (Australia), La Trobe University (Australia), Swinburne University of Technology (Australia), University of Queensland (Australia), Australian National University (Australia), University of Newcastle (Australia), Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand) and Newcastle University (UK). In addition, you can also pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering & Information Technology from Technical University of Munich under the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). For more information about university pathways, visit RP's Further Studies.
To find out more about how you can apply for this diploma, visit Republic Poly's Admissions page.
Want to find out more about the school that offers this diploma? Then drop by the School of Engineering's homepage now!
Table 1: Minimum Entry Requirements
Table 2: Aggregate Type
Addn Combined ScienceAdditional ScienceBiologyChemistryCombined ScienceComputer StudiesCreative 3D AnimationDesign & TechnologyEngineering ScienceFood & NutritionFundamentals of ElectronicsGeneral ScienceHuman & Social BiologyIntegrated SciencePhysicsPhysical ScienceScience (Chem, Bio)Science (Phy, Bio)Science (Phy, Chem)Science (Phy, Chem, Bio)
The course consists of general modules, discipline modules, and specialisation modules. Year 1 covers general modules such as Cognitive Processes and Problem Solving, and Mathematics. Year 2 focuses on discipline modules such as Analogue Electronics and Digital Electronics I. In year 3, you will go on to take specialisation modules and undergo the industry orientation programme.
Each module is equivalent to 4 modular credits (MC).
7 compulsory modules: A101 Science
A113 Mathematics
A207 Physics
B102 Organisational Behaviour
E114 Mathematics for Engineering
G101 Cognitive Processes and Problem Solving
G103 Introduction to Communication Practice
10 compulsory modules: C105 Introduction to Programming
E112 Engineering Design
E105 Digital Electronics I
E201 Digital Electronics II
E203 Circuit Analysis
E204 Linear Circuits and Control
E219 Analogue Electronics A201 Chemistry
A202 Chemistry II
A203 Applied Physics
5 compulsory modules: E341 Electronic and Semiconductor Materials
E343 Wafer Fabrication and Packaging
E344 Thin Film Technology
E345 Measurement Techniques and Failure Analysis
E348 Nanotechnology Applications
3 compulsory modules: G901 Creative Engagement
G301 Project
E921 Industry Immersion Programme (4 modules)
Select 1 module from the following list: E302 Data Acquisition and Sensors E303 Programmable Logic Controllers
E306 Power Electronics and Motion Control
E346 Integrated Circuit Design and Layout
E347 Advanced Packaging and Testing
E332 Quality Control
E212 Facilities Planning and Design
E218 Manufacturing Planning and Control
E214 Statistical Methods for Engineering
A291 Materials Science
A292 Polymer and Composite Science
A392 Advanced Materials
A211 Advanced Mathematics I – Differential Equations
A212 Advanced Mathematics II – Linear Algebra
Select 1 module from the entire range of modules offered by the Schools and Centres in RP.
To graduate with a Diploma in Micro and Nanotechnology, you must complete a total of 120 modular credits. You should be able to do this within three years of enrolment if you successfully complete on average five modules, or its equivalent, per semester.