Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Graduate specializations

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Business Leadership
  • Computer Networking and Security
  • Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems
  • Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials
  • Software
  • Sustainable Energy

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Full-time: 4 terms (16 months)
    • Part-time: 8 terms (32 months)
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Professional
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires either (i) a 75% overall standing in the last two years, or equivalent, in a relevant four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent or (ii) a 75% overall standing or equivalent, in a relevant four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent, as the minimum requirement for admission to a Master's program for applicants educated at a Canadian institution. A 75% overall standing or equivalent, in a relevant four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent is the minimum requirement for admission to a Master's program for applicants educated outside of Canada.
  • Application materials 
    • Résumé
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  2
    • Type of references: 

      at least 1 academic
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Coursework option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must successfully complete 8 one-term courses (0.50 unit weight) acceptable for credit by the Department.
    • Students may register for any ECE course at the 600 or 700 levels.
    • A minimum of 5 courses must be taken from within the ECE Department. A maximum of 3 courses may be taken from outside the Department but must be from the faculties of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. Students opting for the Graduate Specialization in Business Leadership are allowed to take a maximum of 4 courses from outside ECE, but from the specified list of BE/BET courses, detailed below.
    • A minimum grade of 65% in each of the 8 courses and a minimum cumulative average of 70% are required to remain in the program. Students who receive a grade of less than 65% may be permitted to take a maximum of 2 additional courses to meet the minimum averages for the degree requirements (outlined above).
    • Students wishing to complete a Graduate Specialization as part of their MEng program should consult the list of required courses for each Graduate Specialization before selecting courses, as the number of minimum required courses may differ.

    • Students in the MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering program may choose to pursue one of the following Graduate Specializations:

      1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
      2. Biomedical Engineering
      3. Business Leadership
      4. Computer Networking and Security
      5. Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems
      6. Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials
      7. Software
      8. Sustainable Energy

    • A Graduate Specialization is a University credential that is recognized on the student’s transcript but not on the diploma and is intended to reflect that a student has successfully completed a set of courses that together provide an in-depth study in the area of the Graduate Specialization. A student will only obtain the Graduate Specialization on their transcript if they have completed the requirements associated with the MEng degree and the requirements associated with the Graduate Specialization.

    • All MEng Graduate Specializations in Electrical and Computer Engineering consist of a set of at least 4 graduate (0.50 weight) level courses and this set is comprised of a mix of compulsory and elective courses. Compulsory courses are those that are prescribed as part of the Graduate Specialization. Elective courses are those that are on a list of courses designated as electives for a given Graduate Specialization. The requirements for each of the Graduate Specializations are described below.

    • Note: Not all elective courses for any given Graduate Specialization are guaranteed to be offered each year. Students are encouraged to take elective courses when they are offered and should plan accordingly.

    • Students will be able to complete the Business Leadership Graduate Specialization along with 1 other ECE Graduate Specialization, noting the following:

      • Each course will only be counted towards one Graduate Specialization and the MEng degree.
      • The number of required courses for the MEng degree will increase from 8 to 9 or 10 depending on the requirements associated with the Graduate Specializations.

    • Students must consult with the ECE Masters Coordinator to finalize their plan of study and to ensure that they are able to meet the degree and Graduate Specialization requirements within the program time limits.

    1. Graduate Specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, students must successfully complete 2 compulsory courses and 3 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
        • ECE 657A Data and Knowledge Modelling and Analysis
      • Elective courses  (choose 3 from the following list):
        • ECE 602 Introduction to Optimization
        • ECE 603 Statistical Signal Processing
        • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
        • ECE 607 Fundamentals of Ultrasonics
        • ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communication
        • ECE 659 Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Networks
        • ECE 700 Topic-7 Game Theory with Engineering Applications
        • ECE 750 Topic-32 Biology and Computation
        • ECE 750 Topic-33 Embodied Intelligence
        • ECE 750 Topic-35 Social Robotics
        • MSCI 718 Statistical Methods for Data Analytics

    2. Graduate Specialization in Biomedical Engineering

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Biomedical Engineering, students must successfully complete 3 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • ECE 601 Foundations of Biology in Engineering
        • ECE 608 Quantitative Methods in Biomedical Engineering
        • ECE 609 Engineering Analysis of Living Cells
      • Elective courses (choose 2 from the following list):
        • ECE 607 Fundamentals of Ultrasonics
        • ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communications
        • ECE 675 Radiation and Propagation of Electromagnetic Fields
        • ECE 750 Topic-32 Biology and Computation
        • ECE 750 Topic-33 Embodied Intelligence
        • SYDE 677 Medical Imaging

    3. Graduate Specialization in Business Leadership

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Business Leadership, students must successfully complete 2 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • BE 600 Management and Leadership
        • BE 601 Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting
      • Elective courses (choose 2 from the following list): Note: not all elective courses may be offered each year.
        • BE 602 Data Analysis and Management
        • BE 603 Operations and Supply Chain Management
        • BE 604 Marketing Management
        • BE 605 Project Management
        • BE 606 Entrepreneurship and Innovation
        • BE 610 Special Topics in Business and Entrepreneurship
        • BE 680 Consulting
        • ECE 657A Data & Knowledge Modelling & Analysis
        • ECE 699 Master of Engineering Project
      • Note: A maximum of 4 courses from outside the Department of ECE is permitted to satisfy both the MEng in ECE and Graduate Specialization in Business Leadership requirements.

    4. Graduate Specialization in Computer Networking and Security

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Computer Networking and Security, students must successfully complete 3 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • ECE 610 Broadband Communication Networks
        • ECE 628 Computer Network Security
        • ECE 655 Protocols, Software, and Issues in Mobile Systems
      • Elective courses (choose 2 from the following list):
        • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
        • ECE 611 Digital Communications
        • ECE 612 Information Theory
        • ECE 656 Database Systems
        • ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
        • ECE 659 Intelligent Sensors & Wireless Sensor Network
        • ECE 715 Wireless Communication Networks
        • ECE 716 Communication Security

    5. Graduate Specialization in Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems, students must successfully complete 1 compulsory project course (1.0 unit), and 5 elective courses:
    • Note: Students are required to complete the 5 elective courses prior to enrolling in the ECE 649 project course.
    • The Graduate Specialization in Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems is primarily designed for students starting in the Fall term. Therefore, if a student starts in the Spring or Winter term the Graduate Specialization may not be guaranteed, due to the sequencing of elective courses.
      • Compulsory course:
        • ECE 649 Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems Project (1.0 unit)
      • Elective courses: Choose 5 total between Set-A and Set-B. A minimum of 2 of the 5 electives must be taken from Set-A.
        • Set-A:
          • ECE 621 Computer Organization
          • ECE 627 Register-transfer-level Digital Systems
          • ECE 630 Physics & Models Semiconductor Devices
          • ECE 631 Microelectronic Processing Technology
          • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
          • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits
          • ECE 642 Radio Frequency IC Design
          • ECE 671 Microwave & RF Engineering
        • Set-B:
          • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
          • ECE 638 CMOS Sensor Integrated Circuits
          • ECE 730 Topic-9 VLSI Quality, Reliability and Yield Engineering
          • ECE 730 Topic-16 Embedded Semiconductor RAM
          • ECE 730 Topic-30 Advanced VLSI Devices
          • ECE 738 VLSI Circuits for Wireless Communication
          • ECE 740 Topic-3 CMOS Data Converters
          • ECE 770 Topic-22 Radio and Wireless Systems

    6. Graduate Specialization in Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials, students must successfully complete 2 compulsory courses and 3 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • ECE 630 Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
        • ECE 631 Microelectronic Processing Technology
      • Elective courses (choose 3 from the following list):
        • ECE 632 Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
        • ECE 633 Nanoelectronics
        • ECE 634 Organic Electronics
        • ECE 635 Fabrication in the Nanoscale: Technology and Applications
        • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
        • NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology

    7. Graduate Specialization in Software

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Software, students must successfully complete 3 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • ECE 650 Methods and Tools for Software Engineering
        • ECE 651 Foundations of Software Engineering
        • ECE 653 Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance
      • Elective courses (choose 2 from the following list):
        • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
        • ECE 655 Protocols, Software, Issues in Mobile Systems
        • ECE 656 Database Systems
        • ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
        • ECE 658 Component Based Software

    8. Graduate Specialization in Sustainable Energy

    • To receive the Graduate Specialization in Sustainable Energy, students must successfully complete 2 compulsory courses and 3 elective courses:
      • Compulsory courses:
        • ECE 660 Operation and Control of Future Integrated Energy Systems
        • ECE 663 Energy Processing
      • Elective courses (choose 3 from the following list):
        • ECE 632 Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
        • ECE 662 Power System Analysis and Control
        • ECE 665 High Voltage Engineering Applications
        • ECE 666 Power Systems Operation
        • ECE 668 Distribution System Engineering
        • ECE 669 Dielectric Materials
        • ECE 761 HVDC and FACTS
        • ECE 762 Power System Components and Modelling
        • ECE 763 Sustainable Distributed Power Generation
        • ECE 765 Power System Protection and Relaying
        • ECE 768 Power System Quality
  • Link(s) to courses
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website
Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electrical and Computer Engineering future students program page