Electrical and Computer Engineering - PhD at Waterloo

Program information

Department/School Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering
Admit term(s)

Fall (September - December)

Winter (January - April)

Spring (May - August)

Application and document submission deadline(s)

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)

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

Research fields - Graduate research fields are used to better define a student's research concentration

Antennas, Microwaves and Wave Optics

Biomedical

Circuits and Systems Including Computer - Aided Design

Communications and Information Systems

Computer Hardware

Computer Software

Nanotechnology

Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (PAMI)

Power and Energy Systems

Quantum Information

Silicon Devices and Integrated Circuits

Systems and Control

Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)

Wireless Communication

Watch the How to apply to Waterloo graduate studies video

What does it take to get in?

Minimum 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.

Supervisors

Application materials

  • Resume

  • Supplementary information form (SIF)
    • The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the application documents web page for more information about this requirement
    • If a statement or letter is required by your program, 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 80 (writing 22, speaking 20, reading 20, listening 18), IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0, speaking 6.0)

How much will it cost?

What can you expect at Waterloo?


    This program page is effective September 2023; it will be updated annually.  Any changes to the program page following this date will be indicated with a notation. 

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