PhD Electrical Engineering - Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Institutes, Scope

Mohit Dhulia
Updated on December 28, 2023

A PhD in Electrical Engineering is a course that leads to a doctorate degree. The program lasts a minimum of two years (three years for external candidates) and a maximum of five to six years from the date of registration. In general, the course syllabus entails investigating new technologies in the fields of electric machines, semiconductors and diodes, and electric circuits, among others.

Students with a PhD in Electrical Engineering are well-versed in all aspects of electronics and electromagnetics. You’ll also learn about advanced VLSI, circuits, images and vision, communications, networks, information theory, microwave antennas, and other topics. Furthermore, this course thoroughly examines and researches digital signal processing as well as electromagnetics.

Samsung Electronics, Bajaj Auto, Google, Zydus Cadila Group, Cactus Communications, and others are among the top recruiting firms.

PhD Electrical Engineering: An Overview

The major details and highlights of the PhD Electrical Engineering program are listed below.

Level of Course	Doctorate
Also referred as	Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
Duration of Course	3 years
Type of Examination	Semester wise
Eligibility Criteria	Post graduation in Electrical or Electronics stream with more than 55% marks.
Process of Admission	GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET
Fee for the Course	INR 20,000 – INR 3,00,000
Average Annual Salary	INR 4,00,000 – INR 20,00,000
Top Employing Firms	Samsung Electronics, Bajaj, Google, Zydus Cadila group, Cactus Communications, etc.
Positions of Job	Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, System Engineer, etc

PhD Electrical Engineering Eligibility

Candidates must have a post-graduate degree in electronics, electrical engineering, or a related field with a grade point average of at least 55 percent.
Some colleges, such as IITs, require 65 percent marks at the postgraduate level.
At both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, there should be no backlog in any subject.
Colleges and universities require students to pass an entrance exam and a personal interview.

PhD Electrical Engineering Syllabus

A PhD in electrical engineering takes three years to complete. Each year is divided into two semesters. Exams are held twice a year, semester by semester. The PhD in Electrical Engineering has a semester-wise syllabus.

First Semester	Second Semester
Applied Science	Applied Mathematics II
Applied Mathematics I	English Communication
Mechanical Engineering Sciences	Electrical Circuits
Elements of Electrical Engineering	Electronics I
Applied Science Lab	Computer Aided Engineering
Electrical Writing Lab	Electrical Circuit Technology
Basic Computer Skills	Electronics Lab
Third Semester	Fourth Semester
Electrical Machines I	Electrical Machines II
Computer Networks	Electrical Power Generation
Electrical Measurements	Transmission
Electronics II	Power Electronics
Electrical Measurements Lab	Electrical Machines Lab
Electronics Lab II	Power Electronics Lab
Computer Aided Electrical Drawing	—
Fifth Semester	Sixth Semester
Estimation Specification	Industrial Drives
Switchgear Protection	Utilization of Electrical Energy
Embedded Systems	Basic Management Skills
Electrical Workshop	PLC
CASP	Project Work II
Project Work 1	Industrial Visit

Relevant Links
Ph.D. (ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATION)	Ph.D. (ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING)	Ph.D. (ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING)
Ph.D. (FOOD TECHNOLOGY)	Ph.D. (GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING)	Ph.D. (INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)

PhD Electrical Engineering Admission Procedure

For final selection, most colleges and universities use entrance exams and personal interviews.
Top colleges, such as IIT Bombay and others, administer a written test after shortlisting some candidates based on entrance exam scores.
Some colleges and universities choose students based on their post-secondary grades.
The qualifying examination has a minimum grade requirement of 55 percent to 65 percent.
Direct admission is also available after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronic engineering.
For direct admission after graduation, the candidate must have commendable research experience and a graduation GPA of at least 75 percent (7.5 GPA).

Admission based on Entrance

The majority of colleges and universities admit PhD electrical engineering students based on entrance exams such as GATE, UGC-NET, and CSIR-UGC-NET.

The stepwise procedure followed is discussed below.

Step 1: Students must first register on the university’s official website.
Step 2: Following the examination, the site will post a cutoff list. Candidates will be assigned seats based on their entrance exam scores.
Step 3: For final selection, some colleges conduct personal interviews and written tests.
Step 4: If a student is found to be eligible, he or she will be offered admission.

Based on merit

A few colleges admit students to this program based on their performance on the qualifying exam. Below is a step-by-step guide to the admissions process.

Step 1: Students must complete an online application form in accordance with their eligibility.
Step 2: The college’s official website will post the cutoff list.
Step 3: Students will be called for a Personal Interview Round, during which they will be asked numerous subject-related questions.
Step 4: Candidates who have been shortlisted will be offered admission to the course.

PhD in Electrical Engineering: Focus Areas

Electrical Machines, Electromagnetism and Electromagnetic Devices, Generators, Motors, Electric Circuits, and other topics are covered in the PhD Electrical Engineering course.
Students will learn how to create new electric circuits and improve the quality of electronic devices so that they can perform better in this course.
Resistors, capacitors, transistors, inductors, semiconductors, LEDs, and other components will be used.
This program allows you to collaborate with well-known researchers in fields such as image and video processing, wireless communications, and more.
Students conduct research in one of these areas and attempt to design new gadgets and circuits as a result of their findings.
The research paper must be submitted for evaluation at the end of the course.

PhD Electrical Engineering: Preparation Plan

Candidates should be familiar with the fundamentals of topics covered in electrical engineering, electronics, and related fields.
They should be familiar with the entire UG and PG Electrical Engineering syllabus in order to answer any subject-related questions.
Create a study plan based on the previous year’s paper that will allow you to cover the syllabus and revise it effectively.
Try and solve as many sample question papers and practice tests as you can. This will undoubtedly be advantageous because students will be able to assess the question pattern as well as their time management abilities.
Make a list of all the important topics from the previous year’s papers and allot enough time for each one.
Candidates must have an outstanding academic record in order to secure a spot in a good college for a PhD in Electrical Engineering.
Keep an eye out for updates on eligibility, cut-offs, selection criteria, admissions, application procedures, and other information that will help you prepare better.
GATE 2020 has a 33.4 cutoff for electrical engineering papers and a 28.8 cutoff for electronics and communication engineering papers.
In Papers 1 and 2 of the UGC NET, the qualifying cut-off marks for the general category are 40%, with a 5% relaxation for reserved categories.
Candidates should devote time and effort to the entrance exam and be prepared for a personal interview.
They should be well-versed in their research topic so that their research idea can impress the interview panel.

PhD Electrical Engineering: Important Documents Required

Research Proposal
passing/degree certificate of the last qualifying degree examination.
Documentary proof of the date of birth
A character certificate (from the head of the institute from which the student has obtained his qualifying degree)
Mark-list of the last qualifying degree examination
Gap certificate (if applicable)
Migration Certificate (No objection certificate from the university last attended)

Students should be aware that if the aforementioned certificates are not attached to their application, their application will not be taken into account for admission.

PhD Electrical Engineering: Important Entrance Exams

The majority of colleges and universities use entrance exams to determine who gets into the PhD Electrical Engineering program. Below are brief descriptions of some of the most popular entrance exams.

GATE: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, or GATE, is an entrance exam administered by the Indian Institute of Technology Council for admission to postgraduate and doctoral engineering programs. The exam is primarily based on topics covered in undergraduate courses.
UGC-NET: This exam is administered by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grants Commission. Admission to the various doctorate-level courses is granted to qualified candidates. This test is also used to determine whether or not a candidate is eligible for a JRF or Assistant Professor position in colleges and universities.

PhD in Electrical Engineering: Top Institutes

PhD programs in Electrical Engineering are available at all of the major engineering and technology institutes, including IITs, NITs, and IIITs. According to the NIRF Engineering Ranking 2020, we have listed some of the top colleges that offer this course in the table below.

Institute Name	Place	Average Fees (Annually)
IIT Madras	Chennai	INR 19,670
IIT Delhi	Delhi	INR 42,900
IIT Bombay	Mumbai	INR 73,000
IIT Kanpur	Kanpur	INR 64,050
IIT Hyderabad	Hyderabad	INR 25,095
IIT Indore	Indore	INR 70,900
IIT BHU	Varanasi	INR 46,815
NIT Rourkela	Rourkela	INR 51,500
Institute of Chemical Technology	Mumbai	INR 64,500
NIT Warangal	Warangal	INR 47,000

PhD Electrical Engineering: Important Book Recommendations

Here is a list of some well-known books, along with their authors, that every PhD electrical engineering student should read.

Name of the Book	Name of the Author
Network Analysis	M.E. Van Valkenburg.
Electrical Machines	Stephen J Chapman.
Power System Analysis	Grainer and Stevenson
Control Systems Engineering	Norman S. Nise
Power Electronics	Ned Mohan, Undeland and Robbins.

PhD Electrical Engineering: Suitable Candidates

The course is open to anyone who is willing to accept challenges with all of the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in such a job.
Applicants should also have a natural affinity for practical and technical work, as well as excellent problem-solving skills, the ability to complete detailed and precise work, the ability to lead others, and the ability to work under pressure.
They should also have excellent mathematical, scientific, and IT skills, as well as the ability to produce and interpret accurate drawings, analyze complex problems, evaluate potential solutions, and clearly explain design concepts.

PhD Electrical Engineering and PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering: Key Differences

The PhD Electrical Engineering program is compared to the PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering programs in the table below. In many ways, electrical engineering and electronics and communication engineering are similar, but they also have significant differences. The table below summarizes the major differences.

Basis of Comparison	PhD Electrical Engineering	PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering
Highlight	PhD Electrical Engineering is concerned with the study of all aspects of the electrical world, including AC and DC machines, networks, and circuits, as well as semiconductors, diodes, and electrical products.	Electronic Gadgets, Semiconductors, and Diodes, among other topics, are studied in depth in PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering.
Duration of Course	3 years	3 years
Eligibility Criteria	Masters degree in Electrical or Electronics with more than 55% marks.	Masters degree in Electronics with more than 55% marks.
Process of Admission	GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET	GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET
Top Institutes	IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, among others.	NIT Trichy, NIT Rourkela, IIT Bhubaneswar, among others.
Average Annual fees	INR 20,000 – INR 3,00,000	INR 50,000 – INR 5,00,000
Roles of Job	Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, System Engineer, etc.	Computer Architect, Product Engineer, Communication Engineer, Network Engineer, etc.
Average Annual Salary	INR 4,00,000 to INR 20,00,000	INR 8,00,000 to INR 30,00,000

PhD Electrical Engineering: Top Foreign Institutes

Doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering are available from a variety of universities around the world. When looking for a university to attend for this course, look into the research opportunities and academic faculty who will be guiding you throughout your degree to ensure that you get the most out of it. The following are some of the most well-known universities that offer PhD programs in Electrical Engineering:

The University of Waterloo
Curtin University
The University of Tennessee
RMIT University
Northwestern University
The University of Glasgow
The University of Florida
The University of Dayton
The University of Strathclyde
University of Canterbury
The University of Exeter
The University of New South Wales

PhD Electrical Engineering: A Comparison among Institutes

By comparing colleges and universities, students can gain admission to the best ones. They can judge or compare these colleges using the following criteria: overview, cities, average fees, average salary, and company recruiting. Below is a table that compares three prestigious colleges that offer PhD Electrical Engineering programs.

Basis of Comparison	IIT Delhi	Chandigarh University	IIT Bombay
Highlight	IIT Delhi (IIT D) offers a B.Tech program with 12 specializations, an M.Tech program with 38 specializations, an M.Sc program with five specializations, an MBA program with three specializations, and a PhD program with 23 disciplines. M.Design and M.S. (Research) programs are also available. The application process for all of the institute’s exams is done online.	Chandigarh University is a Chandigarh-based private university. In the year 2012, it was founded. CU offers a variety of courses in areas such as engineering, management, science, the arts, and commerce. It is one of NIRF’s most recent university rankings.	In the year 1958, IIT Bombay (IIT B) was founded. It is one of India’s most prestigious engineering colleges, with accolades from all over the world. For several years, NIRF has consistently ranked it among India’s top three engineering colleges.
Place	Delhi	Chandigarh	Mumbai
Ranking by NIRF	2	84	3
Average Fees (Annually)	INR 34,900	INR 85,000	INR 73,000
Average Salary Per Annum	INR 16,00,000	INR 12,00,000	INR 20,34,000
Top Hiring Firms	Flipkart, Uber, Microsoft, Saavn, Amazon, Zomato, etc.	IGATE, NIIT, HP Global, TAFE, etc.	Apple, Tata steel, ITC, CAIRN, IBM, etc.

PhD in Electrical Engineering: Areas of Specialization

A PhD in Electrical Engineering and related specializations are available in a variety of course formats around the world, including:

PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Advanced Electrical Systems	Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronic Engineering	PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Centre for Microsystems and Photonics
PhD in Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering	PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Centre for Intelligent Dynamic Communications	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
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering	PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering- Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Conversion	Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

PhD Electrical Engineering and PhD Mechanical Engineering: Key Differences

Students can compare the two courses based on criteria such as duration, eligibility, admissions process, top colleges, average fees and salaries, and job roles.For your convenience, the following information is provided:

Basis of Comparison	PhD Electrical Engineering	PhD Mechanical Engineering
Highlight	PhD Electrical Engineering is concerned with the study of all aspects of the electrical world, including AC and DC machines, networks, and circuits, as well as semiconductors, diodes, and electrical products.	PhD mechanical engineering studies topics such as Engineering Physics, Fluid Mechanics, and Thermodynamics, among others. It improves and maintains mechanical machines and systems by applying mathematics and material science principles.
Duration of Course	3 years	3 years
Eligibility Criteria	Master’s degree in Electrical or Electronics with more than 55% marks.	Master’s degree in Mechanical with minimum 65% marks.
Process of Admission	GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET	GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET
Top Institutes	IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IITM, IIT Delhi etc.	Andhra university, Techno India University, Manipal University, etc.

PhD Electrical Engineering: Top IITs

Admission to the PhD program in electrical engineering is determined by the results of entrance exams. GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET, and others are some of the most popular entrance exams. A PhD in Electrical Engineering is offered by almost all engineering colleges in India.

Ranking by NIRF	Institute Name	Process of Admission	Average Fees (Annually)	Average Annual Salary
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

PhD Electrical Engineering: Top Job Profiles

PhD Electrical Engineering candidates have a variety of career options.They can work as an Electrical Engineer, an Electro Mechanical Engineer, or a Sales Engineer, among other positions.Electrical Engineers are frequently hired by companies such as WIPRO, ABB, and Coal India Limited.

Some of the jobs available to PhD Electrical Engineering candidates are listed below.

Profiles of Job	Job Role	Average Salary Per Annum
Sales Engineer	Sales engineers work in a variety of settings, including retail and non-retail. They are in charge of overseeing sales activities.	INR 4,49,000
Computer Architects	Computer Architects are in charge of developing and designing computer hardware and software.	INR 3,50,000
Electrical Engineers	Electrical engineers are in charge of resolving electrical issues as well as troubleshooting circuit and system issues.	INR 3,40,000
Project Manager	Project managers oversee and organize all aspects of a project to ensure that the company’s objectives are met.	INR 8,00,000
Applications Engineer	The Applications Engineer is in charge of designing and developing consumer-oriented software applications.	INR 5,48,000
Research and Development Officer	A company’s Research and Development division is led by a Research and Development Officer. They are in charge of every new research project and every new product that the company develops.	INR 11,93,000
Systems Engineer	Systems Engineers are in charge of maintaining an organization’s hardware and software systems.	INR 3,83,000

PhD Electrical Engineering: Benefits and Scope

Students will benefit from the course if they want to work in industry, research institutions, universities, or government agencies doing research or teaching.
A doctorate degree allows you to keep up with the ever-expanding frontiers of knowledge and provides research training that is relevant to the country’s current social and economic goals.
The degree qualifies a person to open their own business/workshop that manufactures, assembles, or repairs electrical goods, parts, and components.
The most significant benefit of a PhD in electrical engineering is that it allows you to gain experience in conducting detailed research.
Your Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees are designed to teach you how to learn new things, conduct experiments, report data, and learn from your mistakes, whereas a PhD teaches you how to discover new things, conduct experiments, report data, and learn from your mistakes.
Candidates work on a wide range of electronic projects during this course, including computers, cell phones, semiconductors, diodes, motors, generators, AC and DC machines, robots, and so on.
Candidates can work in corporate houses, teach, or conduct research after completing the course.
They can also conduct their own research and learn about new electronic devices.
These individuals can also launch their own businesses and become entrepreneurs.

FAQs

Is it possible to apply for both an MS and a PhD at the same time?

No, because they are diametrically opposed to one another. You must make a decision about what you want to do. Choose a PhD if you are prepared to invest several years.

Is it necessary to contact professors prior to enrolling in this course?

No, contacting members isn’t necessary because the admissions committee makes the final decision. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you want to meet other people.

What is the best field for electrical engineering?

They can pursue careers in the following fields:
Systems engineer
A network design engineer
Senior electrical engineer
Test engineer
Application engineer

What is a part-time PhD, and how does it differ from a full-time PhD?

Even if you already have a master’s degree, a part-time PhD means you can finish your degree in six to eight years. You’ll study and earn academic credits in the same way that full-time students do.

Is it better to pursue a PhD full-time or part-time?

Part-time PhDs are better than full-time PhDs because you can learn and study while working.

Is it possible to complete a PhD in electrical engineering in four years?

Yes, 4-year courses are available at some colleges and universities. Aside from that, it’s a three-year program. If you choose part-time, you may be able to finish it in 6–8 years.

What are the advantages of pursuing a PhD in electrical engineering?

This course will help us improve our problem-solving abilities, persuasion skills, and experiment lab skills. This subject helps you become more creative.

Is it difficult to gain admission to prestigious PhD programs in electrical engineering?

No, getting into top universities is not difficult; you simply need to obtain a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and meet the college’s eligibility requirements. It is sometimes contingent on the results of your entrance exam. You will get into a good college if you are aware of the proper syllabus.

What skills do we need to improve our electrical engineering skills?

To become a better electrical engineer, you’ll need the following skills: the ability to be creative and think outside the box, learning new ways of thinking, experimental lab skills, and so on.