MICS - HKUST Class Schedule & Quota

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course introduces integrated circuit (IC) and insights into key IC technologies. Through visiting chip fabrication facilities and watching examples, it helps students understand the importance of IC to our daily lives and societies. The course overviews topics including IC fabrication, architecture, systems, applications, and electronic design automation (EDA). The IC history and development trends are discussed in the course. Graded Pass/Fail.

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces integrated circuit (IC) and insights into key IC technologies. Through visiting chip fabrication facilities and watching examples, it helps students understand the importance of IC to our daily lives and societies. The course overviews topics including IC fabrication, architecture, systems, applications, and electronic design automation (EDA). The IC history and development trends are discussed in the course. Graded Pass/Fail.

MICS 1010 - Introduction to IC Chip (1 unit)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6451)	01-SEP-2026 - 26-SEP-2026 Tu 06:00PM - 06:50PM	Rm 102, W4	XU, Jiang	96	100	0	0	> Visits to advanced IC facilities and companies will be arranged in addition to regular lectures. The detailed visiting schedule will be announced during the courses.
	11-OCT-2026 - 24-OCT-2026 Tu 06:00PM - 06:50PM	Rm 102, W4	XU, Jiang
	TBA	No room required	XU, Jiang

COURSE INFO

PRE-REQUISITE	UFUG 1102 OR UFUG 1105
DESCRIPTION	This course introduces the foundational principles of electronic circuits, serving as a critical bridge between fundamental physics and modern microelectronic systems. Students will learn to leverage the concept of "abstraction" to simplify complex behaviors, starting with the MOSFET as a basic digital switch and progressing to analog amplifiers, logic gates, and memory elements. Key topics include the lumped circuit abstraction, RC dynamics, energy and delay mechanisms, and small-signal modeling. By combining theoretical analysis with hands-on circuit simulations, students will develop a strong physical intuition for how device-level characteristics dictate system-level performance.

PRE-REQUISITE

UFUG 1102 OR UFUG 1105

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the foundational principles of electronic circuits, serving as a critical bridge between fundamental physics and modern microelectronic systems. Students will learn to leverage the concept of "abstraction" to simplify complex behaviors, starting with the MOSFET as a basic digital switch and progressing to analog amplifiers, logic gates, and memory elements. Key topics include the lumped circuit abstraction, RC dynamics, energy and delay mechanisms, and small-signal modeling. By combining theoretical analysis with hands-on circuit simulations, students will develop a strong physical intuition for how device-level characteristics dictate system-level performance.

MICS 2010 - Foundations of Electronic Circuits (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6480)	Th 03:00PM - 05:50PM	Rm 149, E1	CAI, Guigang JIANG, Hongwu	50	30	20	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	The course covers a wide range of topics, including logic gates, Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential logic circuits, programmable logic devices and the hardware description language. Students will learn the theoretical foundations of digital circuits and gain practical experience in designing and analyzing complex digital systems. The course emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory experiments and design projects, where students will apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems and build digital circuits using EDA tools.

DESCRIPTION

The course covers a wide range of topics, including logic gates, Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential logic circuits, programmable logic devices and the hardware description language. Students will learn the theoretical foundations of digital circuits and gain practical experience in designing and analyzing complex digital systems. The course emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory experiments and design projects, where students will apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems and build digital circuits using EDA tools.

MICS 2020 - Digital Circuits Analysis and Design (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail
L01 (6456)	01-SEP-2026 - 05-SEP-2026 Th 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 233, E1	HUANG, Zhiqiang	50	26	24
L01 (6456)	13-SEP-2026 - 21-NOV-2026 Th 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 233, E1	HUANG, Zhiqiang	50	26	24
LA01 (6457)	22-NOV-2026 - 07-DEC-2026 Fr 03:00PM - 05:50PM	Maxwell Lab (W2-223C)	HUANG, Zhiqiang	25	20	5
LA02 (6458)	22-NOV-2026 - 07-DEC-2026 Sa 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Maxwell Lab (W2-223C)	HUANG, Zhiqiang	25	6	19

COURSE INFO

CROSS CAMPUS COURSE EQUIVALENCE	ELEC 2350
DESCRIPTION	This is an introductory course to computer hardware and software organization. The topics covered include computing systems, computing programing, hardware-software collaboration, computer arithmetic, computer hardware organizations and operations, parallel processing, memory technologies and organization, and technology trends.

MICS 2070 - Introduction to Computer Organization and Design (4 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6462)	Tu 12:00PM - 02:50PM	Rm 233, E1	CHEN, Yun	50	14	36	0
T01 (6463)	Th 02:00PM - 02:50PM	Rm 233, E1	CHEN, Yun	50	14	36	0

COURSE INFO

PRE-REQUISITE	MICS 2010
CROSS CAMPUS COURSE EQUIVALENCE	ELEC 3500
DESCRIPTION	This is an introductory course for semiconductor device operation principles and technology in common electronic products such as integrated circuit (IC), digital camera, solar cell, memory elements, smartcard, etc. Topics covered include Semiconductor properties, IC fabrication technology, PN junctions, Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), MOSFETs, CCD and the future technology trend in the electronic industry.

MICS 3090 - Integrated Circuit Devices (4 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Remarks
L01 (6465)	We 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 234, E1	WANG, Renjie	50	6	44
T01 (6466)	01-SEP-2026 - 10-OCT-2026 Th 12:00PM - 12:50PM	Rm 234, E1	WANG, Renjie	50	6	44
T01 (6466)	22-NOV-2026 - 07-DEC-2026 Th 12:00PM - 12:50PM	Rm 234, E1	WANG, Renjie	50	6	44
LA01 (6467)	11-OCT-2026 - 21-NOV-2026 Tu 03:30PM - 04:20PM	TBA	WANG, Renjie	25	6	19	> Hands-on experiments are conducted in one room of W3-522 (Novel IC Exploration Facility-NICE). When in the NICE laboratory, students are required to follow the laboratory and university lab regulations. During the course, students will be guided to participate in the necessary university HSE laboratory safety training and the corresponding laboratory safety knowledge learning.
LA02 (6468)	11-OCT-2026 - 21-NOV-2026 Mo 01:00PM - 01:50PM	TBA	WANG, Renjie	25	0	25	> Hands-on experiments are conducted in one room of W3-522 (Novel IC Exploration Facility-NICE). When in the NICE laboratory, students are required to follow the laboratory and university lab regulations. During the course, students will be guided to participate in the necessary university HSE laboratory safety training and the corresponding laboratory safety knowledge learning.

COURSE INFO

PRE-REQUISITE	MICS 2010
CROSS CAMPUS COURSE EQUIVALENCE	ELEC 4420
DESCRIPTION	Multiple-stage operational amplifiers, frequency response, feedback analysis, stability and compensation, Slew rate, advanced amplifier design techniques, analog VLSI building blocks.

MICS 4040 - Analogue Integrated Circuits Design and Analysis (4 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6475)	TBA	TBA	TBA	50	0	50	0
T01 (6476)	TBA	TBA	TBA	50	0	50	0

COURSE INFO

PREVIOUS CODE	MICS 6001B
DESCRIPTION	This is a foundational course designed to introduce students to the operational principles and technology of semiconductor devices commonly used in modern VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration). The course will delve into a wide range of topics, including semiconductor statistics, IC manufacturing technology, PN junctions, Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), and MOSFETs. Additionally, this course will explore the future technology trends in the electronics industry, highlighting how modern VLSI technologies are sensitive to structural details and fabrication techniques. Students will gain insights into how VLSI devices are designed, the potential future evolutions in this field, and the impact of fabrication techniques on device electrical performance.

PREVIOUS CODE

MICS 6001B

DESCRIPTION

This is a foundational course designed to introduce students to the operational principles and technology of semiconductor devices commonly used in modern VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration). The course will delve into a wide range of topics, including semiconductor statistics, IC manufacturing technology, PN junctions, Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), and MOSFETs. Additionally, this course will explore the future technology trends in the electronics industry, highlighting how modern VLSI technologies are sensitive to structural details and fabrication techniques. Students will gain insights into how VLSI devices are designed, the potential future evolutions in this field, and the impact of fabrication techniques on device electrical performance.

MICS 5230 - Modern VLSI Devices and Technology (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6080)	We 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 101, W2	LIU, Xiwen	20	8	12	0

COURSE INFO

PREVIOUS CODE	MICS 6000I
DESCRIPTION	This course introduces the foundations of modern VLSI electronic design automation (EDA), with a focus on optimization and algorithm foundations for VLSI physical design problems. We will introduce partitioning, floor planning, placement, routing, manufacturability optimization, and mask optimization. We will see a set of concrete applications of various conventional optimization techniques in VLSI design, e.g., graph theory, convex programming, numerical optimization, etc.

PREVIOUS CODE

MICS 6000I

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the foundations of modern VLSI electronic design automation (EDA), with a focus on optimization and algorithm foundations for VLSI physical design problems. We will introduce partitioning, floor planning, placement, routing, manufacturability optimization, and mask optimization. We will see a set of concrete applications of various conventional optimization techniques in VLSI design, e.g., graph theory, convex programming, numerical optimization, etc.

MICS 5520 - Physical Design Automation of Digital Systems (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6081)	Fr 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 103, E1	MA, Yuzhe	20	16	4	0

COURSE INFO

PREVIOUS CODE	MICS 6000L
DESCRIPTION	This course aims to build a strong foundation and prepare students with modern computer architecture insights and techniques for future computer design. The course covers the fundamental and advanced concepts and principles in computer architecture, including processor, memory hierarchy, multicore, interconnection, and domain specialization.

MICS 5710 - Computer Architecture (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6082)	Th 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 201, W1	HUANG, Jiayi	20	13	7	0

COURSE INFO

PREVIOUS CODE	MICS 6001C
DESCRIPTION	This course introduces the principles, architectures, and design methodologies of FPGA-based custom computing. Students will learn modern FPGA platforms, HLS programming, memory and dataflow optimization, and accelerator design for computation-intensive workloads such as deep learning, large language models, graph processing, and database systems. Hands-on examples and a term-long project guide students to build efficient hardware accelerators using C/C++ HLS tools.

PREVIOUS CODE

MICS 6001C

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the principles, architectures, and design methodologies of FPGA-based custom computing. Students will learn modern FPGA platforms, HLS programming, memory and dataflow optimization, and accelerator design for computation-intensive workloads such as deep learning, large language models, graph processing, and database systems. Hands-on examples and a term-long project guide students to build efficient hardware accelerators using C/C++ HLS tools.

MICS 5760 - FPGA-based Custom Computing (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6086)	Th 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 201, E3	CHEN, Xinyu	20	19	1	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course will first discuss the traditional symbolic reasoning techniques, covering propositional logic, predicate calculus, and classical reasoning methods including Boolean satisfiability solving, model checking and interactive theorem proving. It will then explore the combination of neural networks and symbolic reasoning, including neural heuristics for symbolic reasoning, the neural logic network, the neural Turing machine, neural program induction and synthesis, etc.

DESCRIPTION

This course will first discuss the traditional symbolic reasoning techniques, covering propositional logic, predicate calculus, and classical reasoning methods including Boolean satisfiability solving, model checking and interactive theorem proving. It will then explore the combination of neural networks and symbolic reasoning, including neural heuristics for symbolic reasoning, the neural logic network, the neural Turing machine, neural program induction and synthesis, etc.

MICS 6001X - Symbolic and Neurosymbolic Reasoning (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6148)	Th 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 202, W1	ZHANG, Hongce	20	10	10	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course offers an in-depth exploration of the essential principles underlying modern integrated circuits (ICs), with a focus on power converters. Students will explore the fundamentals of IC design before diving into two basic types of power converters. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical case studies, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of integrated power converters, including their operation principles, design considerations, challenges and applications. By the end of this course, students will be equipped with the knowledge to design and analyze two important power converters.

DESCRIPTION

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the essential principles underlying modern integrated circuits (ICs), with a focus on power converters. Students will explore the fundamentals of IC design before diving into two basic types of power converters. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical case studies, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of integrated power converters, including their operation principles, design considerations, challenges and applications. By the end of this course, students will be equipped with the knowledge to design and analyze two important power converters.

MICS 6001Y - Integrated Power Electronics (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6149)	Tu 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 201, E4	CAI, Guigang	20	9	11	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course introduces the probabilistic computing system and the related underlying knowledge. The content includes the reviewing of the basic knowledge of probability, machine learning systems based on probabilistic computing as well as related device techniques that can be leveraged in constructing the hardware probabilistic computing systems. Through the course, the students will have a refresh of the knowledge of probability, and obtain the basic knowledge of the probabilistic machine learning models such as generative models for discrete data, linear and logistic regression models based on probability directed graphical models and mixture models. On the hardware side, the students will learn how probability distributions can be efficiently generated by novel devices, which the appropriate materials and device physics.

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the probabilistic computing system and the related underlying knowledge. The content includes the reviewing of the basic knowledge of probability, machine learning systems based on probabilistic computing as well as related device techniques that can be leveraged in constructing the hardware probabilistic computing systems. Through the course, the students will have a refresh of the knowledge of probability, and obtain the basic knowledge of the probabilistic machine learning models such as generative models for discrete data, linear and logistic regression models based on probability directed graphical models and mixture models. On the hardware side, the students will learn how probability distributions can be efficiently generated by novel devices, which the appropriate materials and device physics.

MICS 6002H - Probability and Probabilistic Computing Systems (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6150)	Tu 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 201, E4	YANG, Kezhou	20	19	1	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	The course focuses on the communication problem of on-chip many-core architectures. It introduces basic concepts and principles of on-chip bus and interconnection network, in particular, about network topology, routing and flow control, deadlock/livelock, and quality-of-service (QoS) et cetera. It presents the micro-architecture details of on-chip router and network interface designs for both message passing and shared memory systems. Furthermore, theoretical and experimental performance evaluation methodology will be investigated.

DESCRIPTION

The course focuses on the communication problem of on-chip many-core architectures. It introduces basic concepts and principles of on-chip bus and interconnection network, in particular, about network topology, routing and flow control, deadlock/livelock, and quality-of-service (QoS) et cetera. It presents the micro-architecture details of on-chip router and network interface designs for both message passing and shared memory systems. Furthermore, theoretical and experimental performance evaluation methodology will be investigated.

MICS 6002I - Network on Chip (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6151)	01-SEP-2026 - 29-OCT-2026 Fr 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 202, W2	LU, Zhonghai	20	12	8	0	> There will be no class scheduled for week 8 on October 30th, 2026. The time for the make-up session will be announced in class.
L01 (6151)	31-OCT-2026 - 07-DEC-2026 Fr 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 202, W2	LU, Zhonghai	20	12	8	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course offers an in-depth exploration of several important and commonly used sensors and circuits in biomedical applications, with a particular emphasis on wearable sensing systems and medical imaging systems. It will cover the fundamental operating principles of sensors, the characteristics of the output signals they produce, the circuits used for signal conditioning and processing, system-level integrations, and their applications such as the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in the healthcare.

DESCRIPTION

This course offers an in-depth exploration of several important and commonly used sensors and circuits in biomedical applications, with a particular emphasis on wearable sensing systems and medical imaging systems. It will cover the fundamental operating principles of sensors, the characteristics of the output signals they produce, the circuits used for signal conditioning and processing, system-level integrations, and their applications such as the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in the healthcare.

MICS 6002Q - Biomedical Sensors and Circuits (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6152)	Mo 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 201, E4	JIANG, Wei	20	11	9	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Nanoscale systems are important to a host of future technologies in energy, information, health, and environment, impacting nearly every aspect of our modern lives. This course introduces the fundamental principles of nanofabrication and characterization, with emphasis on the physical concepts that govern how nanoscale materials and devices are created, measured, and understood. Topics include top-down and bottom-up fabrication approaches, the operating principles and capabilities of major characterization techniques, and the quantum phenomena that become prominent at reduced dimensions. Using two-dimensional materials as a case study, the course examines how nanoscale structure, interfaces, and dimensionality influence material properties and device behavior, and how these effects can be harnessed in advanced electronic, photonic, and sensing applications.

DESCRIPTION

Nanoscale systems are important to a host of future technologies in energy, information, health, and environment, impacting nearly every aspect of our modern lives. This course introduces the fundamental principles of nanofabrication and characterization, with emphasis on the physical concepts that govern how nanoscale materials and devices are created, measured, and understood. Topics include top-down and bottom-up fabrication approaches, the operating principles and capabilities of major characterization techniques, and the quantum phenomena that become prominent at reduced dimensions. Using two-dimensional materials as a case study, the course examines how nanoscale structure, interfaces, and dimensionality influence material properties and device behavior, and how these effects can be harnessed in advanced electronic, photonic, and sensing applications.

MICS 6002R - Nanofabrication and Characterization (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6153)	We 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 201, W1	CHEN, Sihan	20	15	5	0

DESCRIPTION	An independent study on selected topics carried out under the supervision of a faculty member.

MICS 6090A - Independent Study (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (7031)	TBA	TBA	TBA	10	1	9	0	Instructor Consent Required

DESCRIPTION	An independent study on selected topics carried out under the supervision of a faculty member.

MICS 6090B - Independent Study (1 unit)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (6087)	TBA	TBA	TBA	999	0	999	0	Instructor Consent Required

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Master's thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.

MICS 6990 - MPhil Thesis Research (0 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (6088)	TBA	No room required	TBA	999	28	971	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Original and independent doctoral thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.

MICS 7990 - Doctoral Thesis Research (0 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (6089)	TBA	No room required	TBA	999	166	833	0