University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON
N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567
Staff and Faculty Directory
Contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is ideal for students pursuing a career in fundamental or applied research in academia, government, or corporate environments.
Exceptional applicants with a Bachelor's degree may be considered for direct-entry to the PhD program. Refer to our FAQ page (Can I apply for the PhD program without a Master's degree?) for more information on the process for direct-entry PhD admission.
NOTE: Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores are not an application requirement for our graduate program, but can be submitted as part of your application package.
Begin your application at least two weeks prior to the deadlines below to give your referees enough time to submit references on your behalf, and to ensure you have enough time to upload the documents required.
Application submission is currently open for the following start dates:
Start date |
Complete your application by |
Winter 2022 (January 1, 2022) |
CLOSED - (see decision timelines) |
Spring 2022 (May 1, 2022) |
October 1, 2021 |
Fall 2022 (September 1, 2022) |
February 1, 2022 |
Winter 2023 (January 1, 2023) |
June 1, 2022 |
ALL required documents must be uploaded by the deadline date. We recommend you upload your documents within two weeks of receiving your Waterloo ID Number so we can begin reviewing your application package.
Note: Admission decisions are not made on a first-come first-served basis.
Every PhD applicant must be accepted as a candidate under the supervision of an Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty member in order to be recommended for admission. Applicants are not required to have a supervisor at the time of application.
Before submitting your application, we encourage you to spend time reviewing the profiles of our faculty members within your proposed area(s) of specialization to determine which faculty members are a good fit for your proposed research, and to familiarize yourself with their work.
When completing your application form, we recommend that you list the faculty members you are interested in having as a potential supervisor in the "Potential Supervisors" field on the application form. Electrical and Computer Engineering does not require you to communicate with a faculty member in order to list their name as a potential supervisor.
Once you have submitted a complete application package, contact potential academic supervisors conducting research in your area(s) of specialization. You are not limited to contacting only those you have listed on your application. It is your responsibility bring your performance and record to the attention of those faculty members under whom you would like to work.
Please visit our frequently asked questions (FAQ) web page which answers many common questions regarding admission into an Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate program.
For any questions not answered on the FAQ page, e-mail the admissions coordinator. If you have submitted an application, please remember to include your 8-digit Waterloo ID Number in all correspondence.
University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON
N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567
Staff and Faculty Directory
Contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.