Admissions

PhD in Engineering Program

(Communication / Computer / Electronics)

About the Program

The PhD in Engineeringdegree is awarded for candidates who successfully complete the taught courses and research components of the program. The students are required to complete a program of advanced courses in research methods and communication, computer, and electronics engineering. The students are also required to carry out an independent investigation of a specialized area of communication, computer, or electronics engineering. Candidates for this degree are supervised by experienced researchers and are expected to demonstrate initiative in their approach and innovation in their work. Ph.D. Candidates prepare and present a thesis on their chosen area. Research may be undertaken in several topics corresponding to the areas of focus identified by the University.

Program Goals

The aim of the Ph.D. in Engineering program is to produce graduates able to conduct research independently at the highest level of originality and quality.

The goalsof the program are:

To provide graduates with high specialization in their field of study
To equip graduates with research skills and techniques
To equip graduates with research communication skills
To equip graduates with research management skills
To provide graduates with good understanding of the research environment and its requirements
To equip graduates with personal effectiveness skills
To produce graduates who will make substantial contributions to academia, industry, business, and the community.
To undertake and publish research that is relevant to industry and business, and is highly regarded by the international community.

Program Outcomes

A student graduating with a Ph.D. in Engineering degree will be able to:

demonstrate a high level of understanding and specialization in his/her field of study
conduct independent investigation with rigour and discrimination
acquire and collate information through the effective use of appropriate sources and equipment
show an appreciation of the relationship of the area of his/her research to a wider field of knowledge
demonstrate a critical appreciation of the literature in his/her area of research
demonstrate an ability to recognise and validate research problems
demonstrate an understanding of relevant research methodologies and techniques and their appropriate application to his/her research
apply effective research project management techniques
make a significant and original contribution to the body of knowledge in his/her field of study
demonstrate an ability to appraise critically his/her contribution in the context of his/her overall investigation
constructively defend his/her research outcomes
write clearly, accurately, cogently, and in a style appropriate to purpose
construct coherent arguments and articulate ideas clearly to a range of audiences
show awareness of relevant research issues including environmental, political, economical, social, copyright, ethical, health and safety, exploitation of results, and intellectual property rights
demonstrate personal effectiveness attributes including initiative, motivation, flexibility, self-discipline, self-reliance, and the capacity to work independently

Career Opportunities

A PhD in Communication, Computer, or Electronics Engineering opens a wide range of career opportunities in academia and industry. A PhD in Engineering graduate can pursue an academic career in an educational institution or a research career in an academic/industrial research lab or a Research & Development center. PhD in Engineering graduates can also find excellent opportunities in government organizations, science/engineering policy and funding agencies, and in institutions that deal with Technology Transfer, Patents, and Intellectual Property management. In addition, a PhD in Engineering opens many opportunities in consultancy services and entrepreneurship.

In particular, the disciplines of Communication, Electronic, and Computer engineering touch virtually every aspect of human lives. These disciplines sit at the core of most technical advances being made on daily basis including those in IT, energy and sustainable development.

Admission Requirements

The university general graduate studies admission requirements apply for admission to the PhD in Engineering program.

Masters degrees relevant for admission to the program are Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Communication engineering, Computer engineering, Computer science, and Information Technology.

Duration of Study

The minimum period of study will be 3 years from the date of first registration in the case of full-time registration and 5 years from the date of first registration in the case of part-time registration. This study period includes the time taken to write-up the thesis.

The maximum period of study will be 5 years from the date of first registration in the case of full-time registration and 8 years from the date of first registration in the case of part-time registration. This study period includes the time taken to write-up the thesis. In exceptional cases, an extension of registration may be granted.

Program Structure

Program Components

The Ph.D. in Engineering program consists of two main components:

Taught Courses Component: in this component the student is required to complete a program of advanced study.
Research Component: in this component the student is required to carry out an independent investigation of a specialised area of engineering.

For the award of the Ph.D. in Engineering degree, the student must satisfy the following requirements:

Courses: The student must satisfy the taught courses requirements of the program.
Research Proposal: Having satisfied the taught courses requirements of the program, the student is then required to prepare a research proposal and pass a research proposal examination before being allowed to progress further on the program.
Thesis: The student must then complete a thesis on original research and defend it successfully in a viva voce examination.

Number of Courses and Curricular Offerings

The taught courses component of the program is equivalent to 18 credit-hours. It consists of 6 courses, with 3 credit-hours each, as follows:

2 core courses (6 credit-hours) on Research Methods. These are:

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
ECCE701	Research Methods in Engineering I	3
ECCE706	Research Methods in Engineering II	3

4 optional courses (12 credit-hours) selected from the following list of electives:

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
ECCE702	Advanced Digital Communication	3
ECCE703	Network and Information Security	3
ECCE704	Multimedia Communication and Processing	3
ECCE705	Advanced RF Circuit and Amplifier Design	3
ECCE707	Broadband and Wireless Communications	3
ECCE708	Distributed Computing	3
ECCE709	Advanced Embedded Systems Design	3
ECCE710	Nanoelectronic Systems Technology and Design	3
ECCE711	Selected Topics in Communication, Electronics, and Computer Engineering	3