Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The B.Tech {Lateral Entry} in VLSI Design System at the Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a 3-year full-time undergraduate programme offered under the "Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology)" stream. Designed for diploma holders seeking direct entry into the second year (Semester III) of the B.Tech programme, it covers VLSI design, digital system design, semiconductor devices, embedded systems, chip design and verification, and advanced electronic circuit design. The total intake for the Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology) programme is 60 seats, with lateral entry seats governed by ACPC, Government of Gujarat. The programme is offered in full-time, on-campus mode and is highly relevant in the context of India's growing semiconductor and chip design ecosystem, with demand from both domestic and global VLSI design companies.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are processed via DDCET (Diploma to Degree Common Entrance Test) 2026 conducted by ACPC, Gujarat. The DDCET 2026 registration window was open from February 9, 2026 to March 30, 2026, and the examination is scheduled for April 26, 2026. Counselling and seat allotment for ACPC state quota lateral entry seats will follow after the declaration of results in May 2026. Candidates must apply to ACPC separately at https://gujacpc.admissions.nic.in/diploma-to-degree/

Key Points

Lateral entry is directly into Semester III (2nd year) of the B.Tech programme, allowing diploma holders to complete their B.Tech in 3 years instead of 4.
Candidates admitted through lateral entry must clear pre-requisite courses prescribed by the Institute: Computer Programming, Foundation Mathematics I, and Foundation Mathematics II.
The VLSI Design System programme is part of the "Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology)" stream, which is aligned with India's National Semiconductor Mission and the global demand for chip design professionals.
The Institute of Technology, Nirma University is NAAC A+ accredited and all B.Tech programmes are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) under Tier-I category.
Students can pursue interdisciplinary minor specialisations in areas such as Computer Engineering, Robotics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Marketing alongside their core programme.
The institute has an MOU with NVIDIA for the NU-NVIDIA Edge AI Lab, and collaborations with leading organisations including Physical Research Laboratory, Institute of Plasma Research, and Satellite Application Centre (ISRO), providing students access to cutting-edge research and industry exposure.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Ranking
FAQs

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad Latest Updates and News

11 Apr, 2026 Gujarat ACPC DDCET Engineering 2026 exam date revised. The exam will now be held on May 5, 2026 for BTech lateral entry admissions.

ITNU B.Tech VLSI Lateral Fees

The B.Tech {Lateral} VLSI Design System programme at Nirma University follows the same fee structure as the regular B.Tech programme for the respective admission category. For the All India category (2026-27), the annual tuition fee is Rs. 2,75,000. For ACPC state quota students, the annual tuition fee is Rs. 2,55,000 (as per 2025-26 structure; 2026-27 subject to Government of Gujarat approval). Since lateral entry is into Semester III, the total programme duration is 3 years (6 semesters), making the total tuition fee Rs. 8,25,000 for All India category students. A refundable security deposit of Rs. 7,000 is collected at the time of admission.

Fee Structure

Sr. No.	Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
1	Tuition Fee (Per Annum) - All India Category	2,75,000
2a	Initial Enrollment Fee (One Time)	1,000
2b	Examination Fee and Semester Grade Report (Per Annum)	7,000
2c	Seminar, Orientation, Welcome Kit (One Time)	1,200
2d	Alumni Association Membership Fee (One Time)	3,500
	Total Other Fees (2a+2b+2c+2d)	12,700
3	Refundable Security Deposit (Refundable)	7,000
	Total Fees for Year 1 (1+2+3)	2,94,700
	Total Tuition Fees for 3 Years (All India Category)	8,25,000
	Total Programme Fees (Tuition + Other Fees) for 3 Years	8,57,400

Total Programme Fees calculated as: 3 years tuition (Rs. 8,25,000) + One-time fees (Rs. 5,700) + Annual exam fee for 3 years (Rs. 21,000) + Refundable security (Rs. 7,000) = Rs. 8,58,700 (excluding refundable security: Rs. 8,51,700)

Fees are subject to approval of the Government of Gujarat and may be revised.
The refundable security deposit of Rs. 7,000 is returned at the time of leaving the institute.
ACPC state quota students pay a reduced tuition fee of approximately Rs. 2,55,000 per annum (2025-26 rate); Rs. 20,000 is paid at ACPC at the time of allotment and the balance is paid to the institute.
Hostel accommodation is available on campus. On-campus hostel is provided to all girl students on a 100% basis. Hostel fees are not mandatory and are charged separately based on occupancy.
Payment is made by Demand Draft/At Par Cheque/Local MICR Cheque (CTS-2010) or online through Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking/UPI.
Eligibility certificate fee (if required): Rs. 1,000 (one time).

ITNU B.Tech VLSI Lateral Admission 2026

Admissions to the B.Tech {Lateral} VLSI Design System programme at Nirma University are governed by ACPC, Government of Gujarat through the DDCET (Diploma to Degree Common Entrance Test). The DDCET 2026 examination is scheduled for April 26, 2026, and registration closed on March 30, 2026. Seat allotment for ACPC state quota seats will be conducted after the declaration of DDCET results in May 2026. Candidates must apply separately to ACPC at the official portal.

Admission Dates

Event	Date
DDCET 2026 Online Registration Opens	February 9, 2026
DDCET 2026 Online Registration Closes	March 30, 2026
DDCET 2026 Admit Card Issuance	April 18, 2026
DDCET 2026 Offline Examination	April 26, 2026
Publication of Provisional Answer Key	April 27, 2026
Grievance Reporting Window	April 28 - May 2, 2026
Publication of Final Answer Key and DDCET Result	First Week of May 2026
Publication of DDCET Merit/Result	Second Week of May 2026
ACPC Counselling and Seat Allotment	To be announced (post-result, June-July 2026 tentative)
Reporting and Document Verification	To be announced by ACPC

Entrance Exam Details

Exam	Conducting Body	Purpose	Applicable For
DDCET 2026	ACPC, Government of Gujarat	Lateral entry admission to B.Tech 2nd year (Semester III) via state quota	ACPC State Quota Seats (25% of intake)

Note: DDCET is the mandatory entrance exam for lateral entry (diploma to degree) admissions through ACPC state quota. Admissions are primarily through ACPC/DDCET for lateral entry seats at Nirma University.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidate must have passed the qualifying Diploma examination in the relevant discipline (Electronics/Electronics and Communication/Electrical/related disciplines) from the Technical Examination Board (TEB), Gujarat, or a recognised Board/University/Institute approved by AICTE and situated in Gujarat State, with minimum aggregate marks as prescribed by AICTE for lateral entry.
The minimum aggregate marks required in the qualifying diploma examination shall be as per norms prescribed by AICTE, New Delhi for lateral entry to the second year of undergraduate engineering programmes for the current academic year.
Candidates who could not be admitted in the immediate previous academic year due to late declaration of results by the respective Board/University are also eligible, provided they meet the minimum marks criteria.

Admission Process:

Register online for DDCET 2026 at the ACPC portal: https://gujacpc.admissions.nic.in/diploma-to-degree/
Appear for the DDCET 2026 offline examination on April 26, 2026.
Check DDCET result and merit list (expected Second Week of May 2026).
Participate in ACPC online counselling: fill and lock branch/college choices as per the schedule.
Accept the allotted seat and pay the required fees within the stipulated time.
Report to the Institute of Technology, Nirma University for document verification and admission formalities.
Clear the pre-requisite courses prescribed by the Institute (Computer Programming, Foundation Mathematics I, Foundation Mathematics II) as required.

ITNU B.Tech VLSI Lateral Scholarships 2026

Nirma University offers a comprehensive range of merit-based and need-based scholarships for B.Tech students, including lateral entry students. The scholarship programme is designed to support meritorious students as well as those from economically weaker sections. The MYSY (Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana) scholarship from the Government of Gujarat is also available for eligible students from Gujarat.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Merit Scholarship - Full Tuition Fee Waiver	ACPC Merit Rank 1-75 (State Quota)	100% Tuition Fee Waiver
Merit Scholarship - Based on Merit (All India)	JEE Main CRL Rank 1-5,500 (Department-wise)	Rs. 1,00,000 per annum
Merit Scholarship - Based on Merit (All India)	JEE Main CRL Rank 1-20,000 (Open Merit)	Rs. 1,00,000 per annum
Merit Cum Means Scholarship (All India)	ACPC Merit Rank 1-200 (Department-wise, income-based)	Rs. 1,00,000 per annum
Merit Cum Means Scholarship (ACPC)	ACPC Merit Rank 1-200 (Open Merit, income-based)	Rs. 50,000 per annum
100% Interest-Free Loan Scholarship	Need-based	Up to full tuition fee
50% Interest-Free Loan Scholarship	Need-based	Up to 50% tuition fee
Needy Student Fund Scholarship	Financially needy students	As applicable
NITAA (Alumni) Scholarship	Merit-based, alumni-funded	As applicable
Earn While You Learn Scheme	All students	Part-time work on campus
MYSY Scholarship (Govt. of Gujarat)	Gujarat domicile, income criteria	Up to Rs. 50,000 per annum

Scholarship amounts are under revision for 2026-27; candidates should verify from the official scholarship brochure at the Nirma University admissions portal.
Merit scholarships for the merit cum means category are based on family total annual income.
MYSY students are eligible for the merit cum means scholarship, covering examination fees, books and stationery, transport fees, and more, up to Rs. 50,000 per annum.
Conditions apply for all scholarships; refer to the official scholarship details document.
Scholarship eligibility for lateral entry students may differ from regular B.Tech students; candidates should confirm with the admissions office.

ITNU B.Tech VLSI Lateral Placement 2026

Placement data exclusive to the B.Tech {Lateral} VLSI Design System programme is not separately published by the Institute. Lateral entry students are part of the same graduating batch as regular B.Tech students and participate in the same campus placement process. The Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology) is a relatively new programme at Nirma University, and branch-specific placement data for this stream is not yet separately available. The broader Electronics and Communication Engineering branch at ITNU recorded a placement rate of 85% with a highest salary of Rs. 35.56 LPA in 2023-24, which serves as a reference for the electronics/VLSI domain. VLSI design is one of the most sought-after specialisations in the semiconductor industry, with companies like Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Intel, Cadence, Synopsys, Renesas, and NXP Semiconductors actively recruiting VLSI engineers from top engineering institutes.

Placement Metrics

Placement Metric	Data (2023-24, Electronics & Communication Engineering - Reference Branch)
Placement Rate	85%
Highest Salary	Rs. 35.56 LPA
Overall Institute Highest Salary (B.Tech)	Rs. 52.25 LPA (CSE branch)
Overall Institute Average Salary (B.Tech)	Rs. 8.3 LPA
Students Opted for Higher Studies (EC Branch)	31
Total Companies Visited (Institute)	230+
Total Placement Offers (Institute)	600+

Branch-specific placement data for Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology) is not separately published as it is a newer programme. The above data is for the Electronics and Communication Engineering branch and is provided as a reference.

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad B.Tech {Lateral} VLSI Design System Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#131 out of 500 in India 2025

#1st in Ahmedabad

#6 in Gujarat

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ITNU B.Tech VLSI Lateral FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between B.Tech {Lateral} VLSI Design System and B.Tech {Lateral} Semiconductor Technology at Nirma University?

Ans. Both "VLSI Design System" and "Semiconductor Technology" are part of the same "Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology)" stream at Nirma University. The programme integrates both VLSI design and semiconductor technology in its curriculum. The different names in databases reflect the dual focus of the programme. Students admitted to this stream study a comprehensive curriculum covering both VLSI design methodologies and semiconductor device technology.

Ques. What diploma disciplines are eligible for lateral entry into the VLSI Design System B.Tech at Nirma University?

Ans. Candidates with a diploma in Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related disciplines from TEB Gujarat or a recognised AICTE-approved institution in Gujarat are generally eligible. The exact list of eligible diploma disciplines is specified by ACPC in the DDCET information brochure. Candidates should verify the eligible disciplines from the official ACPC website before applying.

Ques. What is the career scope after completing B.Tech in VLSI Design System from Nirma University?

Ans. VLSI design is one of the most in-demand specialisations in the global semiconductor industry. Graduates can work as VLSI Design Engineers, Physical Design Engineers, Verification Engineers, Embedded Systems Engineers, or Chip Design Analysts. Key recruiters include Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Intel, Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys, NXP Semiconductors, Renesas, and various fabless semiconductor companies. India's National Semiconductor Mission is also creating significant opportunities in domestic chip design and manufacturing.

Ques. Is there any entrance exam other than DDCET for lateral entry to Nirma University?

Ans. For ACPC state quota lateral entry seats (25% of intake), DDCET is the mandatory entrance exam. The lateral entry page at Nirma University's official website does not mention a separate All India category lateral entry process (unlike the regular B.Tech which has All India seats via JEE Main). Therefore, DDCET is the primary route for lateral entry admissions to Nirma University. Candidates should check the official website for any updates on All India lateral entry provisions.

Ques. What are the pre-requisite courses for lateral entry students at Nirma University, and when must they be cleared?

Ans. Lateral entry students must clear three pre-requisite courses: (1) Computer Programming, (2) Foundation Mathematics I, and (3) Foundation Mathematics II. These courses are prescribed by the Institute to bridge the gap between diploma-level and degree-level engineering education. The schedule for clearing these pre-requisite courses is communicated by the Institute after admission. Students are expected to complete these alongside or before their regular Semester III coursework.

Ques. How does Nirma University's VLSI Design programme compare to other institutes, and what makes it stand out?

Ans. Nirma University's Institute of Technology is NAAC A+ accredited and ranked among the top 15 self-financed engineering colleges in India by NIRF. The VLSI Design and Semiconductor Technology programme benefits from the institute's strong industry connections, including MOUs with NVIDIA (NU-NVIDIA Edge AI Lab), Physical Research Laboratory, Institute of Plasma Research, and Satellite Application Centre (ISRO). The institute's Centre of Excellence in Data Science (in collaboration with SUNY Binghamton) and the Centre for Robotics and Automation further enhance the learning environment for electronics and VLSI students.