University of Manitoba - Faculty of Engineering - Electrical & Computer Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program

Program Requirements & Overview

The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering's doctoral program is a blend of courses and research culminating in the defence and submission of a research thesis.


EXPECTED GRADUATION:  3.5 years (approximate)
TUITION & FEES http://umanitoba.ca/student/records/fees/1034.html
MAXIMUM TIME LIMIT:
(maximum time allowed in program)

6-YEARS (Full-Time)

  • PART-TIME:  6-years + an additional 4-months for each YEAR declared as Part-Time to a Max. of 7-years

7-YEARS if began Ph.D. PRIOR TO Fall 2013



PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES


GENERAL INFORMATION

PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & OVERVIEW

ECE COURSES

CANDIDACY EXAM DATES

  1. CANDIDACY EXAM (within Year 1)
  2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE (after Candidacy)
  3. ETHICS APPROVAL (if needed)
  4. THESIS PROPOSAL PRESENTATION (Year 2)
  5. WRITING YOUR THESIS 
       & STYLE REQUIREMENTS
  6. EXAMINING COMMITTEE
  7. FINAL ORAL: (Year 3-6)
  8. AFTER THE DEFENCE

 

AURORA -- COURSE REGISTRATION

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES


 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ALL courses and research must be approved by your Academic Advisor (Professor) before proceeding.  ALL Ph.D. Students MUST meet with their entire Advisory Committee at least annually.

  1. FIRST YEAR:
    1. Discuss research possibilities with Professor (Academic Advisor)
    2. Discuss courses required for research with Professor (Academic Advisor)
    3. Enroll in Academic Advisor APPROVED courses
    4. Meet with entire Advisory Committee at least once annually until graduation
    5. Pass CANDIDACY EXAM 
      1. The Candidacy Exam must be taken within the first 12-months of the start of the Ph.D. program 
      2. Students have TWO opportunities to pass the Candidacy Exam
    6. FORMS -- After passing the Candidacy Exam, fill-in and submit the following forms to the Graduate Student Advisor
      1. "Program of Study/Appointment of Advisory Committee"
      2. "Report on Candidacy Exam
        1. signed by your Academic Advisor ONLY
  2. SECOND YEAR:
    1. COMPETE course requirements
    2. Begin to design a research timeline with your Academic Advisor
    3. Meet with entire Advisory Committee at least once annually until graduation
    4. Complete THESIS PROPOSAL requirement  
      1. The Thesis Proposal must be presented and approved within 27-month of the start of the Ph.D. program
      2. Submit a WRITTEN thesis proposal to your Academic Advisor for approval
        1. the written proposal is no longer than 40-pages
      3. Once the Thesis Proposal is approved by your Academic Advisor prepare to present thesis proposal.
      4.  Present your Thesis Proposal
      5. After successful completion of your Thesis Proposal fill-in the following form and submit to the Graduate Student Advisor 
        1. FORMPh.D. Thesis Proposal form
        2. SIGNATURES:  All Advisory Committee Members must sign the Ph.D. Thesis Proposal form
  3. THIRD YEAR:
    1. Research timeline should be complete
      1. The Research timeline is flexible and may be adjusted for problems
    2. Meet with entire Advisory Committee at least once annually until graduation
    3. Work on research
    4. Thesis Proposal Requirement: Should now be complete (within 27-months from the student's start in the Ph.D. Program)
  4. THIRD TO SIXTH YEAR:
    1. Ph.D. Final Orals (Thesis Defences) are usually conducted in the student's Third to Sixth year
    2. Conclude Research
    3. Write & Complete Thesis
    4. Prior to submission of the thesis for distribution the thesis must be approved by
      1. The Advisory Committee
      2. The Academic Advisor.
    5. Distribute Final Thesis to Examining Committee (Thesis Portal)
    6. Meet with entire Advisory Committee at least once annually until graduation

 


PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

 

PROGRAM LENGTH

AVERAGE TIME TO GRADUATION:                    3.5 years

MAXIMUM TIME ALLOWED IN PROGRAM:   6-Years (Full-time or Part-time)

BASED ON...

    • Successful completion of course & other requirements
    • Research
    • Approvals by Advisory Committee members and Academic & Co Advisors
    • Publications
    • Writing requirements & abilities
    • et al.

 


 

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS 

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE HOLDERS
in Electrical or Computer engineering who have been admitted directly into the Ph.D. program

  1. REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS:  
    A mimimum of 12-credit hours of Advisor approved course-work is required. 

    Additionally, the Academic Advisor and/or Advisory Committee may make recommend additional courses/credit hours which may be needed for research.
    1. The 12-credit hours must be at the 7000-level or higher
    2. At least 6 of the 12-credit hours must be from ECE
  2. ADVANCE CREDIT TRANSFER
    1. Credit MAY be given for graduate-level courses in which a degree was not awarded
    2. These courses must be approved within the FIRST YEAR of admission into the graduate progam by the
      1. Academic Advisor
      2. Department
      3. FGS
    3. Transferred credit-hours may be up to 50% of Ph.D. coursework load
  3. ADDITIONAL CREDIT HOURS:   COURSES IN STUDENT'S RESEARCH BACKGROUND
    1. The Advisor and/or Advisory Committee may require that the student complete additonal credit hours. 
      The student may enroll-in up to 24-credit hours without additional costs as long as the course is within the student's research area 
      1. APPROVED Additional Credit Hours:  Must be approved by the
        1. Academic Advisor
        2. Department
        3. FGS
      2. PURPOSE:   To support the student's background in their research
      3. GPA:   Grades in these courses are calculated in the student's Degree GPA
    2. ADDITIONAL CREDIT HOURS:  NON-RESEARCH COURSES -- Approval Required 
      1. The student may requests enrollment in courses outside his/her reseach area but it must be approved by the
        1. Academic Advisor
        2. Department
        3. FGS
      2. Additional Fees Required
        The student will be charged additonal fees based on the
        1. Number of credit-hours
        2. Department/Faculty from which the course is offered  
      3. GPA:   Grades in these courses are calculated in the student's Degree GPA

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE HOLDERS
who have been recommended for "Transfer to the Ph.D. Program" from the University of Manitoba's ECE Master of Science Program.

  1. REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS:  A minimum of 24-credit hours of Advisory Committee-approved course-work 
    1.  7000-Level Required:  At least 9-credit hours
    2.  6-Credit Hours
      1. From Another Department:  Up-to 6-credit hours may be taken from another department at the 3000 level or above

        OR...
      2. From ECE:      Up-to 6-credit hours may be taken from the ECE department at the 4000 level or above
    3. Required from ECE:   At least 12 of the 24 credit hours MUST be from the ECE Dept. 
  2. ADVANCE CREDIT TRANSFER
    1. Credit MAY be given for graduate-level courses in which a degree was not awarded
    2. These courses must be approved within the FIRST YEAR of admission into the graduate progam by the
      1. Academic Advisor
      2. Department
      3. FGS
    3. Transferred credit-hours may be up to 50% of Ph.D. coursework load
  3. ADDITIONAL CREDIT HOURS:   COURSES IN STUDENT'S RESEARCH BACKGROUND
    1. The Advisor and/or Advisory Committee may require that the student complete additonal credit hours. 

      The student may enroll-in up to 24-credit hours without additional costs as long as the course is within the student's research area
      1. APPROVED Additional Credit Hours:  Must be approved by the
        1. Academic Advisor
        2. Department
        3. FGS
      2. PURPOSE:   To support the student's background in their research
      3. GPA:   Grades in these courses are calculated in the student's Degree GPA
    2. ADDITIONAL CREDIT HOURS:  NON-RESEARCH COURSES -- Approval Required
      1. The student may requests enrollment in courses outside his/her reseach area but it must be approved by the
        1. Academic Advisor
        2. Department
        3. FGS
      2. Additional Fees Required
        The student will be charged additional fees based on the
        1. Number of credit-hours
        2. Department/Faculty from which the course is offered 
      3. GPA:   Grades in these courses are calculated in the student's Degree GPA

 


 

PROGRESS REPORTS & ANNUAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS: 

 

  1. ADVISORY COMMITTEE
    1. SET-UP:  The Advisory Committee is assembled after success completion of the Candidacy Exam (within the 12-months of the start of your Ph.D. Program)
    2. PURPOSE:  Advisory Committee members are experts in your research area and are selected by your Academic Advisor to assist in the evaluation of  your progress in your program, research set-up and proposal, thesis development, and presentation, etc. 
    3. MEETINGS:  At least once a year, the Advisory Committee evaluates and comments on the Ph.D. students academic and research work.  The information is recorded on a Progress Report and submitted to the Department's Graduate Student Advisor
  2. PROGRESS REPORT MEETINGS:
    1. DISTRIBUTION & MEETINGS: 
      1. Progress Reports are distributed to Academic Advisors between FEBRUARY through APRIL afterwhich a Progress Report Form is signed by the Advisory Committee, Student's Advisor(s), and submitted to the Department.
      2. Please meet with your Academic Advisor to set-up a Progress Report Meeting.  Meetings must be held between FEBRUARY through APRIL
    2. SIGNATURES REQUIRED:
      1. EACH Advisory Committee Member
      2. The Academic Advisor(s)
      3. The STUDENT must sign the Progress Report
        1. By signing the Progress Report the Student is acknowledging that he/she has read and understands information stated on the Progress Report
        2. The Student is NOT agreeing with information stated on the Progress Report
    3.  SUBMISSION
      • Submit completed Progress Report to the Department. 
  3. COMPLETION & RESPONSIBILITY
    1. The STUDENT is RESPONSIBLE for the completion and submission of the Progress Report
    2. LATE PROGRESS REPORTS
      1. Progress Reports are processed in order of receipt. 
      2. Late Progress Reports may result in delayed registration and Late Fees
    3. COMPLETE
      1. ALL Progress Reports SECTIONS must be completed -- NO EMPTY SECTIONS
      2. Incomplete Progress Reports will be returned to the Student
        • This may result in delayed registration and Late Fees
  4. WARNING:  ACADEMIC, RESEARCH, ETHICAL
    Should the student be in danger of failure or show problems in their program (academics, research, ethics, etc.) the Advisor(s) and Advisory Committee will evaluate the Student appropriately
    1. "IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT"
      1. The PURPOSE of the "In Need of Improvement" designation is to help the student get back on-track
      2. An OUTLINE OF GOALS within a specified period must be submitted with the Progress Report
        1. GOALS must include deadlines dates
        2. At each Goal Deadline, the Student must meet with the Academic Advisor to verify the successful accomplishment of the GOAL
        3. A SECOND "IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT" requires the Student to WITHDRAW from the Graduate Program
        4. A PROGRESS REPORT and GOAL evaluation must be submitted to the DEPARTMENT after each meeting 
    2. "UNSATISFACTORY"
      • Required WITHDRAW from the Graduate Program

 


 

GPA REQUIREMENTS      

All graduate students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 each Term and in the Degree GPA.  Failure to maintain the minimum GPA may be cause to for a student to be withdrawn from the graduate program.

 

*In some cases, as in the case of a student receiving an award (e.g. UMGF), the minimum GPA requirement may be higher. In the case of the UMGF a 3.5 GPA is required to keep this award. 

 

 


 

CONTINUED REGISTRATION      

All students must maintain continuous registration year 'round, until graduation. 

This means you must register in course Grad 8020 (Master's Registration) from the time you begin your graduate program until graduation.

You MUST register in Grad 8020

  • upon initial registration as a graduate student
  • during ALL Summer Terms -- regardless of whether you are taking courses
  • even after you have concluded your course requirements
  • until you graduate

 


 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

Other Requirements include

  1. Academic Advisor's Requirements
  2. Successful completion of the the Academic Integrity Tutorial within your initial term
  3. Submission of the Advisor Student Guidelines
  4. Submission of a qualifying Progress Reports at least annually
  5. Adherance to Copyright and Plargiarism regulations
  6. Adhearance to the Codes and Conduct of the University  
  7. UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INTEGRITY
  8. University Plagiarism Software:  iThenticate
  9. et. al.

 

 


 

CONFIRMATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO GRADUATE

ONCE you have successfully defended and submitted your Final Thesis to M-SPACE you may order a Confirmation of Eligibility To Graduate Letter.  

 

CONFIRMATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO GRADUATE LETTER:   To obtain a letter confirming you eligibility to graduate for your employer and/or Post-Graduate Work Permit please order directly through the REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, 400 University Centre.

 

TRANSCRIPTS:  If you also require a Transcript, again, please order this directly through the REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, 400 University Centre.
Final transcripts may not be available until approximately 10-working days after graduation... please confirm with the REGISTRAR'S OFFICE. 

 

 


 

GRADUATION CONFIRMED BY UNIVERSITY SENATE  

 

Once the University Senate confirms your graduation you name will appear on the ECE / BME Events emailed to all students and faculty, usuallly weekly.  In many cases this will take place AFTER you order and receive your CONFIRMATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO GRADUATE.   

 

 

 


 

NOTE:  STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

ALL graduate students are responsible for ...

  • knowing their program requirements including but not limited to
    • knowing the rules and regulations of the University and Department
    • knowing plagiarism and copyright regulations and rules
    • knowing the requirements for graduation in the student's current program, etc. 
  • maintaining the minimum required GPA as required by the Faculty and the Academic Advisor which is usually but in some cases may be higher
    • 3.0 per TERM GPA
    • 3.0 per COURSE GPA
      (requirements may be higher as determined by the Academic Advisor or Department)
    • 3.0 per DEGREE GPA
  • keeping the total annual vacations to 3-months
  • correctly, accurately, and promptly informing Academic Advisors of concerns, problems, etc.
  • bringing and discussing problems to their Academic Advisor
  • keeping Academic Advisors and Instructors informed of anything interferring with academics and/or research including personal matters
  • making the Academic Advisor and Department aware of failing grades, poor performance in the program, absences, plargiarism, etc.
  • approval of all courses by the Academic Advisor
  • approval of resarch by the Academic Advisor and Advisory Committee
  • attendance and keeping Academic Advisors and Instructors aware of any absences, illnesses, special requirements needed for academics and/or research, any required accommodations needed, etc.
  • checking your University of Manitoba student email account for correspondances from the Faculty, Departments, Administration, etc. -- All officials emails are sent through student university email accounts only .