PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering is a doctorate in Electrical Engineering programme taught at University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Tuition for international students is CAD 10,519 per year.
Also offered as: Master's Degree
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:Electrical Engineering
International tuition: CAD 10,519 / year
Last checked September 2026 · Source: ualberta.ca ·
Program details
Overview
This PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering emphasizes original research across 13 specializations, including artificial intelligence and robotics, biomedical engineering, communications, control systems, energy systems, and photonics. Students complete prescribed graduate-level coursework to demonstrate comprehensive disciplinary proficiency before advancing to PhD candidacy, typically entering through an MSc pathway first. The degree centres on a high-quality, defensible thesis built on independent and original research intended to make a publishable contribution to the field, and typically takes four to six years, involving rigorous theoretical and experimental work under faculty supervision. Application deadlines vary by student type, with international applicants due May 1 for fall entry or August 1 for winter entry, and domestic applicants facing later deadlines. The program is based at the University of Alberta's Edmonton campus, with faculty offices on the 11th floor of the Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering. It suits candidates seeking independent research careers in academia or industry R&D, including in areas such as quantum computing and sustainable energy.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.30 / 4.0
Admission Requirements: The PhD programme page links to the department's shared admission requirements, which set a minimum GPA of 3.3 on the University of Alberta's 4-point scale (calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework or the equivalent of the last two years of full-time study) and require an undergraduate degree from a recognized institution. Fall-term applications are due 1 May for international applicants and 1 June for domestic applicants; Winter-term applications are due 1 August for international applicants and 1 September for domestic applicants. English Language Proficiency, required unless exempted: IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 92 overall with no section below 21 for tests before 21 January 2026 (or 5.0 overall with no section below 4.5 on the revised scale thereafter), CAEL 70 overall with no subtest below 60, PTE Academic 62 overall, or Cambridge English 176 overall with no subscore below 169.
Application Details
Start Date:September and January
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply directly to the University of Alberta, not through a provincial service: for Fall 2027 entry the application window opens 1 October 2026 and the deadline for most programmes is 1 March 2027, though several limited-enrolment programmes close earlier (Juris Doctor, 1 December 2026; Dental Hygiene, 1 November 2026) or later (Bachelor of Design and BFA programmes, 1 May 2027); Spring and Summer 2027 admission also opens 1 October 2026, while Winter intake is limited to a few programmes. International applicants use the identical published dates and online application; the university states no separate international closing date. The 1 March deadline is firm and late applications are not accepted, but admission decisions are then issued on a rolling basis, and offers made before 1 April must be accepted by 1 May 2027. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
