New Graduate Students

AI-generated banner image of a fictional graduate student walking along a pathway with Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering branding at the University of Waterloo.
From your first day to your next breakthrough.

Welcome to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)!

This page brings together the key information new ECE graduate students need before and during their first term, including contacts, required training, office space, and next steps.

Before you begin:

Find your ECE graduate program contact

Amber Beaudoin

MEng and MASc Program Coordinator

I can provide assistance with:

  • MASc and MEng student records
  • MASc thesis display and seminar bookings

Contact information:

ece.masters@uwaterloo.ca
Location: EIT 3138
Contact for: MASc and MEng records administration

Cassandra Brett

PhD Program Coordinator

I can provide assistance with:

  • PhD student records
  • PhD comprehensive exam books
  • PhD defence bookings

Contact information:

ece.phd@uwaterloo.ca
Location: EIT 3139
Contact for: PhD records administration

Complete your required training:

Before you can access ECE office or lab space, you must complete the required safety training. Proof of completion must be uploaded before keys or access are issued.

Graduate student office space:

Full-time MASc and PhD students

ECE provides desk space in a shared office or research lab, as available, to full-time graduate students (in research-based programs) for the duration of their studies.

To obtain office or lab space within the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, all requests must be initiated by faculty supervisors. This ensures alignment with research needs, departmental planning, and space availability.

NOTE:Access to office or lab space will only be granted once safety training has been successfully completed with a minimum score of 80%. Proof of completion must be uploaded prior to key issuance.

Part-time MASc and PhD students

Part-time MASc and PhD students can book their use of a desk in a hoteling office space daily (subject to availability, and provided all safety training is complete). Please contact Lisa Habel to book the space.

MEng students

Graduate students in course-based programs (MEng) are provided access to communal workspace with private study carrels and collaborative desks.

Study spaces can be found in the Davis Centre: 

  • DC 3571
  • DC 3572
  • DC 3574
  • DC 3576
  • DC 3586
  • DC 3587

To obtain the door code to enter these student spaces, please contact Lisa Habel at lhabel@uwaterloo.ca.

NOTE: Access to office or lab space will only be granted once safety training has been successfully completed with a minimum score of 80%. Proof of completion must be uploaded prior to key issuance.

ECE Graduate Student Mentorship Program:

AI-generated image of two ECE graduate students smiling and talking at a table with a laptop and notebook.

Starting graduate school comes with lots of questions. You don't have to figure everything out on your own.

The ECE Graduate Student Mentorship Program connects incoming graduate students with experienced ECE graduate students who can help make the transition to graduate studies and life at Waterloo a little easier.

How can a mentor help?

mentor conversation icon

Your mentor can be someone you reach out to with questions about:

  • adjusting to graduate studies
  • navigating the University of Waterloo
  • courses and degree requirements
  • the ECE graduate student experience
  • settling into the ECE and Waterloo community

How are mentors matched?

mentor matching group icon

We try to match incoming students with mentors who share relevant experiences or interests. Matching may consider: 

  • Program
  • Research area
  • Specialization
  • Supervisor
  • Gender identity
  • Immigration status
  • Spoken language(s)

Interested in having a mentor?

email envelope icon

Keep an eye on your inbox!

Further details on how to request an ECE graduate student mentor will be sent to you by email, or you can contact ECE's Graduate Funding Coordinator.

Faculty of Engineering Graduate Studies Office (EGSO) resources for current graduate students:

After reviewing the information for new students, visit the current graduate students section for program requirements, courses, student services, and other resources.

Faculty of Engineering new graduate student resources:

In addition to ECE-specific information, new graduate students should review the Faculty of Engineering’s new student resources.