Electrical and Computer Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Engineering 7

Engineering 7 (E7) Building on Waterloo's East Campus.

Conduct research in one of our 14 areas of specialization and generate new knowledge to shape the future with the PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering program.   

Electrical and Computer Engineering is at the core of almost everything. Through coursework, original research and a thesis, you’ll explore creative and innovative solutions for the everyday needs of society spanning from communications to energy and technology. Throughout the program, you will be guided by our internationally recognized faculty and researchers.  

You will have the opportunity to work in our world-class research labs and centres, establish connections with our partners in industry and access a suite of competitive funding opportunities. You will be prepared for a career in academia, leading engineering firms, corporations or government agencies.  


Research fields

  • Applied Electromagnetics and Photonics
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Communications and Information Systems
  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer Software and Systems
  • Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems
  • Integrated Devices, Circuits and Systems
  • Nanoengineering
  • Power and Energy Systems
  • Quantum Engineering

Research project opportunities for this program

Silicon Thin-Film Applied Research

Dr. Karim's lab at UWaterloo has been developing imaging device technology based on propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast (XPC) for the past decade. With Dr. Keller, we are applying this technology to obtain three-dimensional images of medical tissues with sub-cellular resolution.

Electric Vehicle Integration in Microgrids

The widespread deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in residential areas faces several critical challenges: (i) limited availability of parking spaces, (ii) insufficient power distribution capacity to meet growing charging demands in densely populated neighbourhoods, and (iii) the high cost, long deployment timelines, and limited scalability and resiliency of state-of-the-art charging infrastructure, particularly during power system outages.

This project aims to address these challenges by developing a compact, low-footprint EV charging station based on a microgrid architecture. The proposed system will be capable of reliable operation during grid outages while minimizing adverse impacts on the utility grid under normal operating conditions. By integrating local energy resources and intelligent control, the charging station will offer enhanced resiliency, ability to expand, and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional solutions.

Control and Protection of Inverter-Dominated Power Systems

Global efforts to combat climate change are driving a fundamental transformation of electric power systems. Increasing integration of renewable energy resources (RESs), rapid growth in direct-current (DC) loads driven by electric vehicle (EV) charging, and the modernization of aging infrastructure through high-voltage DC (HVDC) links are accelerating the transition from traditional alternating-current (AC) grids toward hybrid AC–DC power systems.

Power electronic inverters serve as the critical interface between AC and DC systems. However, most deployed inverters today are grid-following (GFL), meaning they inject current based on measured grid voltage and frequency. While GFL inverters perform well in strong grids, high penetration levels can lead to instability in low-inertia or weak power systems. Grid-forming inverters (GFMIs), which locally regulate voltage and frequency, offer improved stability and enable islanding and resilient operation. Despite their advantages, widespread integration of GFMIs presents significant technical challenges in control, protection, and interoperability. This project aims to address these challenges by developing advanced control and protection solutions for inverter-dominated power grids. 

Program overview

Department/School: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Doctoral, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

  • February 1(for admission in September)
  • June 1(for admission in January of the following year)
  • October 1 (for admission in May of the following year)

Key contacts

Request more information about an Engineering program

Supervisors

Admission requirements

  • Admission to the program is based upon the student's academic record and evidence of ability to pursue independent research.
  • Normally an overall standing equivalent to 80% in either a relevant thesis-based master's degree or a University of Waterloo Master of Engineering (MEng) degree that includes a completed ECE 699 Master of Engineering Project course.
  • At the time of admission, each student must have a faculty supervisor who has endorsed the recommendation for admission.

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Resume

  • Statement of interest
    • A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to, uploaded as a supporting document in the online application. Review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion.

  • Transcript(s)

  • References
    • Three references are required; at least two from academic sources.
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
    • TOEFL 4.5 (writing 4.5, speaking 4, reading 4, listening 4), IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0, speaking 6.0)

Tuition and fees