Admission Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is based upon the student's academic record and evidence of ability to pursue independent research. At the time of admission, each PhD student must have a faculty supervisor who has endorsed the recommendation for admission. Normally, admission is made to a two-year PhD program from the Master's degree. Once candidates are formally registered they must maintain active registration continuously until the thesis is submitted. The actual time required to satisfy all PhD requirements is usually longer than six terms, but normally twelve terms are considered ample time. Extensions beyond 12 terms must be approved by the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee.
An applicant to the PhD program must normally hold an Master of Applied Science (MASc) degree from the University of Waterloo or an equivalent degree in engineering, applied science or mathematics from a university of recognized standing. Admission to the PhD program is approved by the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Studies Committee on an individual case basis. The principal admission criteria are:
- Excellence of background preparation and academic achievement in prior degrees and the possession of a relevant Master's degree.
- Three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from academic sources.
- Proof of competency in English (if applicable). A score of at least 550 is required in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of at least 213 is required on the computer version of the TOEFL. See the English Language Proficiency page for other acceptable tests of English.
- All applicants must submit a copy of their resume.
- All applicants must submit a one-two page "Plan of Study".
- All applicants must submit a Supplementary Information Form available through the on-line application process.
Refer to the Graduate Studies Office website for additional information concerning application and admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
Coursework
The coursework associated with the PhD program is intended to provide a foundation for advanced learning in the chosen field of research. A minimum of four courses (0.50 unit weight per course) is required for a PhD student holding a MASc degree or equivalent (seven 0.50 unit weight courses from a Bachelor program). At least 2 of the courses must be from the list of approved core courses (updated by the Department annually) in one of the 13 approved areas of specialization as specified in the student's letter of admission, unless this course requirement has already been achieved during a University of Waterloo Electrical and Computer Engineering program. The choice of courses must meet with the approval of the supervisor. The faculty supervisor will consider the level and adequacy of each student's preparation in drawing up the candidate's program. It is expected that PhD candidates will maintain a 78% minimum accumulative average in the course work. To obtain credit for the PhD program, an individual course must be passed with at least 75%. Graduate courses will normally include a supervised examination, worth at least 50% of the final grade.
Core courses
Antennas, Microwaves, and Wave Optics
- ECE 671: Microwave and RF Engineering
- ECE 675: Radiation and Propagation of Electromagnetic Fields
Circuits and Systems
- ECE 636: Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
- ECE 637: Digital Integrated Circuits
- ECE 671: Microwave and RF Engineering
Communications and Information Systems
Computer Hardware
- ECE 621: Computer Organization
- ECE 627: Register-transfer-level Digital Systems
Computer Software
- ECE 606: Algorithm Design and Analysis
- ECE 650: Methods and Tools for Software Engineering
- ECE 653: Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance
- ECE 654: Software Reliability Engineering
- ECE 656: Database Systems
Nanotechnology
- ECE 630: Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
- ECE 672: Optoelectronic Devices
- ECE 730 T13: Special Topics in Solid State Devices -Nanoelectronics
- ECE 730 T18: Special Topics in Solid State Devices - Organic Electronics
- ECE 730 T24: Special Topics in Solid State Devices - Fabrication in the Nanoscale: Principles, Technology and Applications
PAMI - Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence
- ECE 606: Algorithm Design and Analysis
- ECE 657: Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
- ECE 710 T13: Special Topics in Communications and Information Theory - Image Processing and Visual Communication
- ECE 750 T17: Special Topics in Computer Software - Data and Knowledge Modelling and Analysis
- ECE 750 T21: Special Topics in Computer Software - Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Networks
Power and Energy Systems
- ECE 662: Power Systems Analysis and Control
- ECE 663: Energy Processing
- ECE 665: High Voltage Engineering Applications
- ECE 666: Power Systems Operation
- ECE 668: Distribution System Engineering
Quantum Information
- QIC 710: Quantum Information Processing
- ECE 770 T14 (QIC 885): Special Topics in Antenna and Microwave Theory - Quantum Electronics and Photonics
- ECE 770 T11 (QIC750): Special Topics in Antenna and Microwave Theory - Quantum Information Processing Devices
Silicon Devices and Integrated Circuits
- ECE 630: Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
- ECE 631: Microelectronic Processing Technology
- ECE 636: Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
- ECE 671: Microwave and RF Engineering
- ECE 672: Optoelectronic Devices
- ECE 730 T18: Special Topics in Solid State Devices - Organic Electronics
Systems and Controls
- ECE 602 (CO 602): Introduction to Optimization
- ECE 604 (STAT 901): Stochastic Processes
- ECE 682: Multivariable Control Systems
- ECE 686: Filtering and Control of Stochastic Linear Systems
- ECE 688: Nonlinear Systems
VLSI - Very Large Scale Integration
- ECE 636: Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
- ECE 637: Digital Integrated Circuits
- ECE 671: Microwave and RF Engineering
Wireless Communication
Comprehensive Examination
This examination is conducted by the Department for each candidate. It is normally held 6-16 months after the initial registration for the PhD degree. The examination has two main objectives:
- to examine and approve the thesis proposal, after which an Advisory Committee is identified which is willing to assist the student with the subsequent research program;
- to satisfy the Department that the candidate has a broad knowledge of his/her field and a thorough technical background to pursue his/her research; the candidate will be questioned on his/her background preparation.
The result of this examination is the identification of an advisory committee which has examined and approved the candidate's thesis proposal and is willing to assist the supervisor with the subsequent research program. The validity of the comprehensive examination expires after three years.
PhD Research Seminar
The aim of the Research Seminar is to allow the student to gain experience in preparing and presenting his/her work. The Research Seminar should be given three terms after the PhD comprehensive examination. These seminars will be attended by faculty members, members of the student's advisory committee, and the PhD and MASc students. Since this is not intended to be an examination, the seminar presentation, and the feedback communication, would be regarded as satisfying the seminar credit requirements.
Thesis
The primary objective of the PhD program is the accomplishment of independent and original research work and reporting thereon in a research thesis. The subsidiary requirements are completion of a suitable coursework program, passing a comprehensive examination and receiving a satisfactory review by an advisory committee.
The requirements for the PhD degree are completed when the student successfully defends his or her thesis before an examination committee. This committee should consist of the supervisor, 3 other members of the University (at least one of whom should be from outside the Department) and an external examiner. Faculty from other Departments who hold cross appointments in the Department are counted as departmental members in defining examining committees.