Xilinx University Program (XUP) Overview & Getting Started 

Overview  
The Xilinx University Program (XUP) was established in 1985 to promote education and research using Xilinx Programmable Logic Device (PLD) technologies.  Today, with 57% worldwide market share in the commercial FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) market [In-Stat May '97], Xilinx is also by far the most widely used PLD vendor in the academic market.  We support well over 1,000 universities worldwide with state-of-the-art PLD products and services.  If you are an educator at the college or university level, we strongly encourage you to participate with Xilinx. 

Why teach with Xilinx? 
Xilinx Programmable Logic has arguably become the essential design element in top electrical and computer science departments around the world.  One reason is because Xilinx Programmable Logic is easy and fun to teach with. With Xilinx, students can design and implement real projects into hardware in minutes!  Because of their flexibility and ease of use, Xilinx FPGAs and CPLDs (Complex Programmable Logic Devices) are used in several areas of study including digital design, VHDL or Verilog design, processor architecture, DSP, telecom, reconfigurable computing, ASIC design, and almost anything one can imagine! Since Xilinx FPGAs and CPLDs are either SRAM or FLASH based, they can be programmed directly from a computer, in-system, and they can be continually reused.  Thus, classroom cost and effort are significantly reduced. 

Xilinx Programmable Logic is also used in engineering curricula because it is used extensively in the high technology industry.  Engineering managers demand that today's graduates know how to do real design with PLD technology because companies utilize this technology in their products. As the world's programmable logic leader in both technology and in FPGA market share, Xilinx is the right choice for you and your students. 

What does Xilinx offer? 
Our goal is to help you easily and successfully use Xilinx in order to provide the best education possible. For your classrooms, Xilinx offers huge discounts on its software and hardware for PCs and workstations.  Windows based software includes schematic entry, IEEE compliant VHDL, Verilog, and ABEL synthesis, State Diagram Editing, full simulation, and device implementation. With a clear awareness that many schools do not have funds even for the XUP discounts, Xilinx also encourages schools to submit donation requests for hardware and software as needed. Xilinx also offers unequaled university support by providing hands-on workshops in locations around the world, presentation materials, on-line example courses, newsgroup and other services. 

In addition, the Xilinx Student Edition from Prentice Hall publishers has been extremely well received by the academic community.  While commercial XUP software products are intended for university labs, the Xilinx Student Edition software has been designed specifically for students to use on their own computers.  This complete design environment lists for $87 (USD) and includes Xilinx student software, 'The Practical Xilinx Designer' lab tutorial book, and a hardware development board discount coupon.  (This board with cable costs an additional $129.) 

How can I get started? 

1. Take a look around the Xilinx University Program web site.  If you have not already done so, sign-up for a password to access the information for XUP members.  The XUP Products Brochure is especially helpful, but don't forget to take advantage of the other information and services available on this website. 

 
2. If you are interested in the Xilinx Student Edition, instructors may contact Prentice Hall for a sample copy. The Xilinx Student Edition can also be purchased at www.Amazon.com. 

 
3. Contact your local Xilinx representative to obtain commercial XUP products for your lab.  You may also contact the Xilinx University Program directly, and we will be glad help you get started with anything you need. 

Sincerely, 

Patrick Kane, XUP Manager 
Anna Acevedo, XUP Coordinator 
Xilinx, Inc. 
2100 Logic Dr. 
San Jose, CA  95124  USA 
xup@xilinx.com 
Phone/fax: USA 408-879-5338 / 408-879-4442 
 

University Newsgroup

Regional University Distributors

• Commercial Xilinx North American Distributors and International Distributors 
• EuroPractice Program for European Universities 
• Canadian MicroElectronics Corporation - See Embedded Systems Design & Rapid Prototyping 
• IC Design Education Ctr (IDEC) / KAIST, South Korea 
• Chip Implementation Center, Taiwan ROC 

Software Partners

• Viewlogic 
• Synopsys University Program 
• Aldec Home Page - For Xilinx Foundation Series users 
• Mentor Graphics University Program 
• Cadence University Program 
• OrCAD home page 
• Synplicity Home Page 
• Embedded Solutions Home Page - Handel-C compiler and Xilinx based boards 

Hardware Platform Vendors

• XESS Corporation - Manufacturer of the XS40 and XS95 development boards 
• Virtual Computer Corp. - Reconfigurable Logic Products 
• DEC Pamette VI - Multi FPGA PCI Board for research 
• Annapolis Micro Systems, Reconfigurable Logic Products 
• The ULTIMATE listing of FPGA hardware boards 
• Associated Professional Systems FPGA Kits and Applications