Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Electrical and Computer Engineering

Course work, research thesis, and comprehensive oral examinations

4 years

Funding available

Program Overview

As a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, you can play a vital role in researching and developing future technology. We offer opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, both at Queen’s and abroad.

During the first month of the program, the department, in consultation with the student's supervisor(s), establishes the PhD Advisory Committee consisting of the supervisor(s), an internal examiner, and a department representative. At this time, an area of research is chosen. The internal examiner should have expertise close to the candidate's general research area. The requirements to be fulfilled include a minimum of 4 term-length graduate courses beyond the master’s degree, a two-part comprehensive examination, the seminar course ELEC-891, satisfactory research progress and a thesis. One of the graduate courses must be taken from outside the department, and one of the graduate courses must be taken inside the department. Only one course may be a double-numbered graduate course (also known as combined undergraduate/graduate course). Fourth-year undergraduate courses cannot be taken for credit toward PhD program requirements, as per Smith Engineering at Queen's Graduate Council Regulation 2.1.5. The supervisor(s) and the department must approve all programs of study.

For students who received a master’s from the same department at Queen's and in the same area of study, the minimum course requirements shall be decided in consultation with the PhD Advisory Committee and approved by the Department Head or Graduate Coordinator.

All PhD candidates will take a comprehensive examination administered in two parts by the candidate's PhD Advisory committee. Part I deals with the candidate's background in their chosen area of research. Part II consists of the candidate's thesis proposal. The PhD Part I report must be submitted to the department within 10 months of the start of the program, and the PhD Part I Comprehensive Examination should be held no later than two months from the report submission date. For Part II, the PHD Advisory Committee for the Part I exam is augmented with an external/Internal examiner (outside the ECE Department, within Queen's University). The PhD Part II report must be submitted to the department within 22 months of the start of the program, and the PhD Part II Comprehensive Examination should be held no later than two months from the report submission date. After the successful completion of Part II, thesis research progress is reported by the candidate and reviewed by the PhD Advisory Committee annually.

Example Timeline of a Potential PhD Program

Admission and Application

A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related field.

Domestic Applicants

75% or B+ or Upper Second Class Standing

International Applicants

P.R. China: 80% or GPA of 3.1/4.0

India, Bangladesh & Pakistan: First class or 63%

Iran: 16/20

All others: 80%

Curriculum Vitae

We require curriculum vitae. Curriculum vitae is a detailed, structured listing of education, publications, projects, awards, and engineering work history. This document can be part of the online application or emailed to the department, or a hard copy can be included with your mailed documents.

English Proficiency Requirements

Proficiency in English is a requirement for admission. Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to obtain satisfactory standing in English language proficiency tests before their application can be considered for admission. We require a minimum of 7.0 on IELTS or 65 on PTE or for TOEFL; 580 (paper-based); 237 (Computer-based); and 88 (Internet-based) with a minimum score in each of the components: Writing test 24/30, Speaking test 22/30, Reading test 22/30 and Listening test 20/30. The results must be no more than two years old.

How to Submit English Language Test Scores

The School of Graduate Studies can access test scores directly from TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic and CAEL CE databases. We do not require hard copies of your test scores sent from the testing center if we can obtain them directly from TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or CAEL.

TOEFL, PTE Academic and CAEL CE

Please ensure that you have the testing center release the TOEFL, PTE Academic, or CAEL CE score to Queen’s University (0949). Inform the School of Graduate Studies (following submission of your application) that your score report is available to retrieve electronically from the official testing center site. Email: sgsapp@queensu.ca

IELTS

Please provide the School of Graduate Studies with the TRF number found on your IELTS score report (following submission of your application) in order for us to obtain your IELTS test score electronically from the IELTS site. Email: sgsapp@queensu.ca

Hard copy test results: If you did not arrange to have the results of your English language proficiency test accessible to the School of Graduate Studies, you must request that the testing agency send us a hard copy official test results document either by email at sgsapp@queensu.ca or through regular mail (address below).

We do not require the GRE. Please do not send us official GRE scores.

Master of Applied Science or Master of Science

Fill out the application
Send original, official transcripts to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).
Indicate accurate email addresses for your referees. They will be contacted and asked to supply an electronic reference.
Submit payment by credit card online.
Contact professors who work in your area of interest to increase your chance of receiving an offer.

Before you begin your application, please review the graduate studies application process.

Fall Admission

Application due: January 31 (international), March 1 (domestic).

Notification of acceptance: usually the end of April for international students.

Winter Admission

Application due: August 15 (for both domestic and international applicants).

Notification of acceptance: usually mid-October for international students.

Finding a Supervisor

We encourage you to identify an area of research interest and contact potential supervisor(s) before applying. Visit research groups and faculty profiles. When you find a faculty member with similar research interests to yours, contact them to let them know about your interest in graduate work, area of research and related experience.

Funding

The minimum funding guarantee for domestic and international MASc students is $23,000 per year, up to four years, providing good academic standing and satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree. The typical financial support package usually consists of research assistantships, teaching assistantship, graduate award(s) and/or a scholarship.

Domestic students are encouraged to apply for external funding from OGS, NSERC, and other sources. Top-up awards may be given to students who hold federal government Tri-Council Awards such as NSERC. Visit the School of Graduate Studies’ Awards and Scholarships for more information.

The department may also nominate students to the Graduate School for any internal scholarships available. The student does not submit an application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Career Opportunities

Our graduates have found careers:

As university professors, including at the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Carleton University, and Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
With high tech companies such as AMD, BlackBerry, Ciena, Cisco Systems, Google, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Infinera, Microsoft, Nokia
With startup companies
In service sectors such as financials, pension, actuarial, intellectual property

Interested in learning more about becoming a postdoctoral fellow? Learn more through Queen’s School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Program Contacts

Graduate Program Assistant
Cheryl Wright
cheryl.wright@queensu.ca
613-533-6000 ext. 79307
Walter Light Hall, Room 416
Graduate Program Assistant
Debie Fraser
fraser.d@queensu.ca
613-533-2179
Walter Light Hall , Room 416A