ECE 327Digital Hardware Systems
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Design and modelling of digital hardware systems using a hardware description language. Development process. Impact of implementation technologies. Performance analysis and optimization. Functional verification. Timing analysis. Power analysis and optimization. Faults and testability. Reliability and fault tolerance.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Complete 1 of the following
- Students must be in level 3A or higher
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in CS-Digital Hardware Specialization, or H-Software Engineering
- Enrolled in a BASc program
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4402 | 119 / 130 | TTh 11:30–12:50 Jan 11 11:30–12:20 Jan 25 11:30–12:20 Feb 8 11:30–12:20 Mar 1 11:30–12:20 Mar 15 11:30–12:20 Mar 29 11:30–12:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1867 | 30 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 201 | 4483 | 36 / 35 | Jan 18 13:30–16:20 Feb 1 13:30–16:20 Feb 22 13:30–16:20 Mar 15 13:30–16:20 Mar 29 13:30–16:20 |
| LAB 202 | 4516 | 33 / 35 | Jan 19 13:30–16:20 Feb 2 13:30–16:20 Feb 23 13:30–16:20 Mar 16 13:30–16:20 Mar 30 13:30–16:20 |
| LAB 203 | 4517 | 35 / 35 | Jan 20 13:30–16:20 Feb 3 13:30–16:20 Feb 24 13:30–16:20 Mar 17 13:30–16:20 Mar 31 13:30–16:20 |
| LAB 204 | 5182 | 15 / 25 | Jan 21 13:30–16:20 Feb 4 13:30–16:20 Feb 25 13:30–16:20 Mar 18 13:30–16:20 Apr 1 13:30–16:20 |
| TUT 101 | 4403 | 119 / 130 | Th 16:30–17:20 |
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names ECE 327.
- ECE 327 site Course website · ece.uwaterloo.ca · gone now; archived copy from Nov 2025 Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
72% liked it36% easy79% useful
From 137 ratings and 33 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
I was really looking forward to this course, especially since I enjoyed ECE 124. Additionally, Nachiket had good reviews on UW Flow. However, ECE 327 has quickly become my least favourite course due to its assessment structure and inconsistent instruction.
In previous terms, labs were done in pairs, but Nachiket found that many students committed academic misconduct (P71), where one partner did all the work while the other remained uninvolved. To address this, he changed the course structure for Winter 2025—labs are now individual, and 62.5% of the final grade comes from online multiple-choice quizzes on Crowdmark. These quizzes require scrolling through lengthy problems and penalize…Mar 2025 · didn’t like it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
one of the worst professors i've had at waterloo. he carries a lot of ego and has a clear bias that hardware/low-level engineering is inherently superior to software, which gets old fast in a course that should be about learning, not his personal worldview.
the biggest issue is how thin-skinned he is. post any constructive criticism on Ed Discussion and he'll come after you publicly. there's a real "you can't question me" energy that makes the class feel hostile. students shouldn't have to walk on eggshells just to ask questions.
the material itself isn't bad, but the experience is rough. take someone else if you can.Apr 2026 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The premise of this course is interesting and the labs are fun. However, it is organized and assessed poorly with MC online quizzes only. Students have voiced their complaints about this format, but the prof isn't willing to mark assessments manually as "hates doing it." This course would be useful if you want to go into digital design.
Mar 2025 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This course is in my opinion the most interesting course I've ever taken so far, and this is coming from someone who is focused on the software engineering side of the industry. The labs are challenging but incredibly rewarding as I've learned so much from them, it makes you feel like you are getting a great education as this is something you can only find here and not learn from some bootcamp.
Mar 2025 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
My main complaint about this course is how ridiculously unfair the marking is for the labs/projects. The manuals are vague, but the rubrics are in stupid detail and it seems like the TAs are out to take off as many marks as possible.
Jul 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
93 posts and comments in 73 threads mention ECE 327, July 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
HELP: I Got Offered Admission To CS and CE. Any Advice On How To Decide? 9 points, 18 comments
“Hi, I am a grade 12 student who applied to the computer engineering and computer science programs at the University of Waterloo. …”
u/sjc96s: “… I personally loved ECE320 and ECE327. The program is quite well rounded in later years as well coving operating systems and networking for more software topics. …”
Winter 2024
I got the lowest mark in the course on my Math 119 midterm (ECE 1B) 25 points, 10 comments
“It was worth 35%, I don't think I'm gonna be able to even pass the term as the rest of my ECE courses are extremely difficult as well. I don't think I got more than 25% on 106 and 15% on 108. …”
u/Effective-Attorney33: “I got bottom two on ECE 327 final and passed. You just gotta lock in and get this bread.”
Engineering courses as non-math courses for CS majors 2 points, 7 comments
“Does anyone know if ECE courses can count towards the non-math part of the CS degree? My friend told me his advisor said yes but wanted to confirm since I'm in 4B and want to graduate on time lol”
u/djao: “Anything non-math can count towards the non-math units degree requirement, but CS specifically has elective depth and elective breadth requirements, which form the bulk of the non-math courses …”
u/djao: “I have seen explicit examples where ECE 327 "Digital Hardware Systems" was not counted as eligible for depth, and this class at least judging from the title seems to be about as close to digital hardware as you can get.”
u/tendstwofiftytwo: “… As a CS AI spec student who is taking ece 423,327 and 124 to check the box for the engineering requirement of the ai spec, I was told I may use these courses as non math credits. However ece 380 and ece 481. …”
Spring 2023
What are your core courses? 8 points, 11 comments
“Basically title - What are several courses that you think really define your program? Any thoughts on them, and how they went? Looking forward to the discussion (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\:･ﾟ✧”
u/Xierumeng: “Computer engineering: ECE 224 ECE 320 ECE 327 ECE 350 ECE 423 ECE 455 Honourable mention: ECE 105 ECE 106 Douglas Harder Peter Levine Paul Ward The ECE advisors”
Winter 2023
best engineering courses to take as a cs major 10 points, 11 comments
“\ im an almost 4th year, interested more in lower level/systems/ece kinda stuff”
u/Math_IB: “Some good digital hardware/cpu architecture courses: ece124, ece222, ece327, ece320”
CE 4A TEs 8 points, 30 comments
u/OkCelery1514: “… I took ECE 380, ECE 318, & ECE 327 in 3A and performed at the average in all these courses. I liked the content of ECE 380, ECE 358, ECE 356, & ECE 351. I want a (relatively) light workload, but to still learn some new things. …”
Fall 2022
taking Digital Hardware Specialization 1 point, 5 comments
“I'm currently 3A CS. Kinda interested in those low-level stuff. I'm wondering if it is too late to take the Digital Hardware Specialization (considering all the courses that are required). …”
u/2kofawsome: “Too late, you need to apply in 1A to have it fit https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/current/programs/dighard/”
u/2kofawsome: “… If you look at the courses, ECE 124 -> ECE 222 -> ECE 327 -> ECE 423 which means you need 4 terms (and also you likely already took CS251 which conflicts with ECE 222). …”
Winter 2022
Advice or insights for 3A CE please 12 points, 5 comments
u/waterlooecesucks: “… ECE 318 - Weihua Zhuang ECE 350 - Ziqiang (Patrick) Huang ECE 327 - William Bishop ECE 380 - Andrew Leunis The only prof I know is Bishop and I heard he’s goated, the other profs I’m not familiar with. Here are some questions: 1. How important is ECE 207 for ECE 318 and ECE 380? …”
u/mywaterlooaccount: “… Out of 52 responses for least favorite course in ECE 2022 class profile: 2-3 were ECE 380 1 was ECE 327, 1 was 318 7 was ECE 350 This might give you some insight, but IMO OS wasn't fair when we took it, and 380 was difficult but fair”
CE 3A Course load - how does it look? 5 points, 1 comment
u/dontRemoveTheHurdles: “… Core Courses: ECE 318 - Communication Systems ECE 327 - Digital Hardware Systems ECE 350 - Real Time OS (cries) ECE 380 - Analog Control Systems Electives: MSCI 442 SCI 238 - Intro to Astronomy I really want to take at least one extra elective so I can free up later terms for …”
ECE courses to learn about FPGAs/Verilog/etc 0 points, 4 comments
u/Prepared-Oats-56: “ece327”
u/mywaterlooaccount: “ECE 124, 327, 320 are a place to start.”
ECE 327 advices 0 points, 3 comments
Fall 2021
the absolute state of ECE204 258 points, 58 comments
“The journey thus far: We began the course with some slow lectures - "It's okay, we'll use Harder's website!", the cohort thought. Harder's website was nowhere to be found - all material stripped. …”
u/Nebel12345: “this post killed like 80% of my imposter syndrome thanks i am going to apply for full time lecturer positions now instead of thinking that i can't teach”
u/TheColoneI: “ece 327 was a fantastic course. 320 is also as good if not better.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them