Program Overview

Program Overview

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (Aeronautics) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is offered by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. This program is designed to generate new knowledge and shape the future of aviation, aerospace, and space through research and innovation.

Program Details

• Department/School: Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
• Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
• Delivery mode: On-campus
• Program type: Collaborative, Doctoral, Research
• Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
• Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
• Study option(s): Thesis

Research Project Opportunities

Research project opportunities are available in various areas, including:

• Silicon Thin-Film Applied Research: This project involves developing imaging device technology based on propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast (XPC) for medical tissue imaging.

Application Deadlines

• 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)

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the program is based on 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.

Degree Requirements

• Review the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree.
• Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate students.

Application Materials

• Resume
• Program-specific questions (PSQ): These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to.
• 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)

Tuition and Fees

• Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program.
• Review living costs and housing.
• Learn about the PhD housing guarantee program for admitted students in fall 2026 and winter 2027.
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students.