PhD Electronic Systems Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering Degree
Program start date | Application deadline |
2024-10-01 | - |
2025-01-01 | - |
2025-04-01 | - |
2025-10-01 | - |
2026-01-01 | - |
2026-04-01 | - |
Program Overview
The University of Essex's PhD Electronic Systems Engineering program offers students the opportunity to pursue advanced research in areas such as audio/video networking, data communications, and radar. Supervised by experts in the field, students develop expertise as independent researchers, culminating in a dissertation and oral defense. Career opportunities for graduates include senior positions in industry and academia, with alumni employed at organizations such as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Visa International, and BT Group.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The PhD Electronic Systems Engineering program at the University of Essex is a full-time research degree that typically lasts 3-4 years. The program focuses on research in the following areas:
- Audio and video networking
- Multimedia architectures and applications
- Data communications and networking
- RF engineering
- Radio, radar, and electromagnetics
- Propagation
- Video, image processing, and computer vision The program benefits from the expertise of electronic engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, physicists, and psychologists. The School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering is one of the largest and best-resourced schools in the UK, with extensive networked computer facilities, software aids, and a wide range of test and instrumentation equipment.
Assessment:
The PhD program aims to train students as independent researchers who can critically assess other research work and have a comprehensive knowledge of their subject area. Students are initially registered as MPhil/PhD students and are transferred to the PhD in the first half of their second year if they have made satisfactory progress. The primary assessment for the PhD is a dissertation, typically around 80,000 words in length, completed within 3-4 years. The PhD is awarded after a successful defense of the thesis in an oral examination with two examiners, at least one from outside Essex.
Teaching:
The PhD program involves person-to-person interaction with a supervisor who guides students in developing their research topic, refining their research skills, and advising them on capitalizing on their existing technical knowledge. Supervisors often maintain contact with their PhD graduates throughout their careers and may collaborate on scientific projects after graduation. The School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering provides six laboratories exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students, including:
- BCI Lab: Equipped with EEG systems, near infra-red system, EMG system, eye tracker, transcranial magnetic stimulation system, electrogoniometers, accelerometers, robotic manipulators, virtual reality systems, and medical chairs.
- Brooker Robotics Lab: Equipped with mobile robots, miniature 'intelligent' rooms, and software for developing embedded systems.
- Robot Arena: A large laboratory with a powered lab floor for long-duration experiments of mobile robots, featuring a 3D motion tracking system.
- Embedded Systems Laboratory: Provides software and hardware facilities for designing, constructing, and prototyping embedded systems.
- Video Studio: Equipped with high-definition cameras, video mixer, digital audio mixer, talkback system, lighting rig, blue screen facilities, and post-production software.
- Electronics Laboratory: Equipped with oscilloscopes, networked PCs, soldering irons, wiring equipment, and electronic components.
- Networking Laboratory: Designed for configuring and experimenting with networks, with 32 workstations and demountable hard disks.
Careers:
Graduates of the PhD Electronic Systems Engineering program have progressed to senior positions in industry and academia. Some of the companies and organizations where former graduates are employed include:
- Electronic Data Systems
- Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
- Bank of Mexico
- Visa International
- Hyperknowledge (Cambridge)
- Hellenic Air Force
- ICSS (Beijing)
- United Microelectronic Corporation (Taiwan)
- Alcatel Submarine
- BT Group
- QinetiQ
- Dolby Laboratories
- Fujitsu
- Royal Air Forces
- University of Essex
- Imperial College, London
Other:
The program provides an active and stimulating environment for research. The School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering has a 182-processor Viglen/Rocks cluster dedicated to research. The program also offers an MPhil and a Masters by dissertation in Electronic Systems Engineering. Part-time research study is available.
- Home/UK fee £4,786 per year
- International fee £18,750 per year
- Fees will increase for each academic year of study.