Amongst the diverse Engineering branches, each and every specialisation is filled with countless opportunities and immense career scope. From electrical and electronics engineering to aerospace engineering and architectural engineering, the engineering landscape has truly revolutionised our daily activities as well as brought us new and innovative devices. There are several degrees and diploma courses available in this domain and amongst these, electrical engineering is one of the most sought after specialisations. For those planning to pursue a career in research, PhD is certainly the highest-level degree you must pursue. Through this blog, we have collated all the essential features of PhD in Electrical Engineering, its popular specialisations, subjects, universities and career scope!
Also Read: Types of Engineering Degrees
This Blog Includes:
Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Course | Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering |
| Duration | 3 years – 5 years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Masters in Electrical Engineering with 55% aggregate marks |
| Top Entrance Exam | GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET |
| Top Colleges | IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 20,000 to INR 3,00,000 |
| Career Prospects | Project Manager, Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, Research & Development, etc. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 4,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 |
Course Overview
Popular offered as a 3-year degree, PhD in Electrical Engineering equips students all the nuances related to electronic and electromagnetics. Further, you will get to explore advanced level knowledge of VLSI, circuits, images and vision, communications, networks, information theory, microwave antennas etc. Moreover, digital signal processing, as well as electromagnetics is thoroughly analyzed and researched through this course
Course Variants
There are several course variants offered across the world for a PhD in Electrical Engineering and its related specialisations and some of these are:
| Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) |
| PhD in Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering | PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Conversion | PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Wind Energy and Control |
| PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- High Voltage Technologies and Electrical Plant Diagnostics | PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering | Doctor of Philosophy in Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering |
| PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Advanced Electrical Systems | PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Centre for Intelligent Dynamic Communications | PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Centre for Microsystems and Photonics |
Eligibility Criteria
In order to apply for a PhD in Electrical Engineering, it is quintessential that you are able to qualify the admission prerequisites set by your chosen university. Unequivocally, students are advised to visit their respective university’s website about the admission procedure of a specific course. Glance through some of the general eligibility requirements for a PhD in Electrical Engineering;
- The basic requirement for this course is a master’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering or its related fields from a recognised university. You must also qualify the criteria of minimum marks for the master’s degree as prescribed by the university.
- In order to apply for this course at an Indian university, you will have to provide entrance exam scores of GATE/UGC NET/CSIR NET, etc.
- For those planning to pursue this PhD degree abroad, it is highly recommended to have your English proficiency tests like IELTS/TOEFL/PTE etc cleared. Moreover, GRE scores are also required in many universities. Along with this, you will also have to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Letters of Recommendation (LORs).
Major Subjects Covered
Though the actual course offerings might differ from one university to another, here is a list of major subjects which are commonly studied under a PhD in Electrical Engineering:
- Applied Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Elements of Electrical Engineering
- Electrical Circuits
- Computer-aided Engineering
- Electrical Circuit Technology
- Electrical Power Generation
- Transmission
- Power Electronics
- Computer-aided Electrical Drawing
- Estimation Specification
- Industrial Drives
- Switchgear Protection
- Utilization of Electrical Energy
- Embedded Systems
Note: The aforementioned subjects and syllabus are only for indicative purposes and may differ as per course and university.
Specialisations for PhD in Electrical Engineering
As Electrical Engineering is a broader domain of study, there are different branches in this field that one can opt for a doctorate degree. Here are the major specialisations you must consider for a PhD in Electrical Engineering:
- Power Engineering
- Control Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Microelectronics
- Signal Processing
- Telecommunications Engineering
- Instrumentation Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electro-Optical Engineering
Popular Universities for PhD in Electrical Engineering
There are numerous universities across the globe which offer doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering. While choosing a university for this course, you must explore the research exposure and academic faculty that will be guiding you throughout this degree to help you make the most of it. Check out the following popular universities offering PhD in Electrical Engineering:
- University of Florida
- University of Canterbury
- Northwestern University
- University of Dayton
- The University of New South Wales
- University of Tennessee
- RMIT University
- University of Waterloo
- Curtin University
- University of Glasgow
- University of Exeter
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Birmingham
- Loughborough University
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering: Top Colleges in India 2021
Mentioned below are the prominent universities or colleges of India offering a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering:
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Hyderabad
- Lovely Professional University
- Sharda University
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Madras
- JMI New Delhi
- IIT Delhi
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
- College of Engineering, Trivandrum
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in IIT
The admission to Ph.D. electrical engineering is based on marks scored in entrance exams. Some of the popular entrance exams are GATE, UGC – NET, CSIR – UGC – NET, etc. Almost all the engineering colleges in India provide a Ph.D. in Electrical engineering degree. What it’s like to pursue it from IIT? Let’s look at the information which is tabulated below:
| NIRF Ranks 2021 | College | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Package |
| 1 | IIT Madras | Entrance Exam followed up by Interview | INR 19,670 | INR 16,10,000 |
| 2 | IIT Delhi | Entrance Exam followed up by Interview | INR 42,900 | INR 16,00,000 |
| 3 | IIT Bombay | Entrance Exam followed up by Interview | INR 73,000 | INR 20,34,000 |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | Entrance Exam followed up by Interview | INR 64,050 | INR 15,80,000 |
| 5 | IIT Hyderabad | Entrance Exam followed up by Interview | INR 25,095 | INR 18,00,000 |
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering: Entrance Exams
Important details related to some of the popular Ph.D. electrical engineering entrance exams are given below in the table:
| Entrance Exams | Conducting Body | Date of Registration | Exam Dates | Exam Modes |
| GATE 2021 | IIT council | September 2020(Tentative) | February 2021 (Tentative) | Online |
| UGC – NET | NA | Till June 30, 2020 | To be announced | Online |
| CSIR – UGC – NET | NA | Till June 30, 2020 | To be announced | Online |
Career Prospects
While many pursue a career in research and development after completing their doctorate in Electrical Engineering, you can explore lucrative opportunities available in the public and private sector. Go through the following list of prominent career opportunities available after completing this degree:
- Electrical Engineer
- Automotive Designer
- Application Engineer
- Electrical Technician
- Program Manager
- Micro Electrical Engineer
- Instrumentation Engineer
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Electrical Design Engineer
- Lecturer/Professor
Also Read: Best Engineering Courses for Future
FAQs
No, because both are different degrees. If research is your main focus then go for Ph.D.
A Part-time Ph.D. is when you complete your degree in six to eight years, even if you have a master’s degree.
A part-time Ph.D. is better because you can learn side by side & not compromise your job life.
Ability to be creative and thinking outside the box.
Due to the Pandemic situation, the registration process has been postponed. When the situation gets better, further notifications would be notified.
Hope this blog has provided you with the major course details about PhD in Electrical Engineering. Planning to explore PhD degrees abroad? Get in touch with our Leverage Edu counsellors and we will assist you in selecting the right course and university which fits your interests, skills and preferences! Sign up for an e-meeting with us today!
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2 comments
Excellent information you have shared, thanks for taking the time to share with us such a great article
Thank you!