Program/Course Requirements

Completion requirement

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies' requirements and the Schulich School of Engineering requirements, the Department normally requires:

a) Normally, 18 to 27 units at the graduate level beyond the bachelor's degree, or 6 to 15 units at the graduate level beyond the master's degree with no fewer than half the courses in the Departmental program.

b) A grade of at least a B+ in each graduate course with a grade point average of at least 3.30 and a grade of CR in ENGG601 and ENGG603.

c) All Doctoral students are required to successfully complete the candidacy requirements, which consist of four components: PhD coursework, a Field of Study examination in Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering, a written thesis proposal, and an oral thesis proposal examination. Specific details of the candidacy requirements can be found on the Departmental website.

While studying full-time in the PhD program:

a) Students will be required to complete Engineering 601 and 603 at the beginning of their graduate studies program.

b) Students in the PhD program who completed the course in the MSc program will not be required to take Engineering 601 and 603 for the second time.

c) Students who are required to take Engineering 601 and 603 must successfully present two seminars.

Graduate students have the opportunity to participate in the Transformative Talent Internship option.

Additional Program Information

Completion requirement

Advanced Credit

The applicant must make Advanced Credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission or for grades below B.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

Students admitted to the Schulich School of Engineering will not be allowed to request the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Where appropriate, PhD students may take 500-level undergraduate courses for credit with approval of the supervisor and the Department (a maximum of 3 units for PhD). Undergraduate courses will not count toward the PhD program requirements.

Time Limit

Expected completion time is four years for the Doctor of Philosophy. The maximum completion time is six years.

Supervisory Assignments and Required Examinations

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

In the Doctor of Philosophy, a supervisor to provide guidance to the student is normally selected at the time of admission.

Research Proposal Requirements

The written thesis proposal is evaluated and approved by the candidacy examination committee as part of the candidacy requirements. Specific requirements for the proposal and the format of its evaluation can be found on the Departmental website.

Required Examinations

The Schulich School of Engineering has established common minimum examination requirements for all its graduate programs.

Doctoral Candidacy Requirements

All Doctoral students are required to pass a Field of Study examination in Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering and an oral thesis proposal examination. Specific details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements can be found on the Departmental website.

Doctoral Final Oral Examination

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The examining committee consists of: the Supervisory Committee, an Internal Examiner who may be internal to the home program, and one member external to the University of Calgary. The examination is chaired by a neutral chair (non-voting), proposed by the Department Head or Graduate Director. The examining committee must be approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The student shall make a public twenty-minute presentation of their thesis research, normally immediately before the oral examination. Examining committee members should attend this presentation but should refrain from asking questions during the presentation. The maximum allowable two-hour examination period does not include the time spent on student presentation.

Thesis oral examinations are open.

Financial Assistance

Completion requirement

Thesis-based candidates are typically admitted with financial support provided by an interested supervisor, the department, or an official organization. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering

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