Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (PhD)

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a closely related field, which is equivalent to the M.Sc. degree in Computer Science (thesis option) or the M.A.Sc. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at York University. A minimum average grade of B+ on all coursework is required. For applicants to the fields of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Software Engineering, the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) general test is strongly recommended, especially for applicants who did their studies outside of Canada and the United States.

Applicants must also satisfy specified requirements set out by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), such as demonstrating competence in the English language. The following are the minimum English Language test scores (if required): TOEFL: 90-91 (iBT) or IELTS 7.

The above requirements are the minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission. The admissions committee will consider all evidence in the file and decide.

The Candidate must identify a member of the graduate program who is willing to act as the Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisor.

In their second year, PhD students are expected to have mastered a general understanding of the area in which they plan to complete their dissertation. Students are encouraged to complete their qualifying examination in their fourth term. This examination should be taken at the latest in the fifth term. This examination can be taken at most twice.

Under the supervision of their supervisory committee, the student prepares a written report summarizing the literature in the candidate’s chosen research area. Students should discuss the expected content of the written report with their supervisory committee. Normally, the written report consists of an introductory/motivation section, a survey of relevant literature with critical analysis, and an open questions/promising directions section. Normally, the written report consists of 20-60 pages. The supervisory committee will provide the students with samples of written reports. It is the responsibility of the student’s supervisory committee to ensure that the report covers the chosen research area in sufficient depth and breadth.

In order to demonstrate the student’s understanding of their chosen research area, the student gives an oral presentation based on their report to their supervisory committee. Other members of the graduate program are invited to attend this presentation. The student is examined orally by their supervisory committee. Other members of the graduate program can ask questions as well.

Upon completion of the oral examination the supervisory committee will determine the outcome:

Pass: candidate is permitted to continue on towards their dissertation proposal

Conditional pass: candidate must either:

a. take additional courses at the next offering before proceeding towards their dissertation proposal or
b. complete additional readings before proceeding towards their dissertation proposal or
c. complete remediation, as determined by the supervisory committee, in addition, retake the qualifying examination within six months.

Fail: the candidate has not passed the qualifying examination and is required to withdraw from the program.

The Candidate presents a written proposal to their Dissertation Supervisory Committee outlining the anticipated results of their dissertation. The purpose of this proposal is to assess the scope and relevance of the problems the student plans to solve and to ensure significant content to the dissertation. A substantial portion of research should have been successfully completed, and a clear plan for completing the remainder should be included in the document. Ideally, the Candidate will have presented some preliminary results from their Dissertation in some external formal setting such as a conference publication, and reprints of these results should be included in the Dissertation Proposal document.

All Ph.D. Candidates are required to enrol in either an Industrial Internship or a Teaching Practicum. Under the Industrial Internship option, the Candidate will spend a 3 to 6 month period working in an appropriate research position in the industry. The position must be formally approved by the Graduate Program Director. Companies such as IBM, Hydro One, AECL, MDA Space Missions, etc., would be considered for possible Industrial Internships. Under the Teaching Practicum option, the Candidate will spend 3 to 6 months assisting an instructor in the preparation and delivery of a course, and possibly instructing an introductory or service course for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

It is the responsibility of the Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee to ensure the academic integrity of the industrial internship/teaching practicum. The Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee must approve the internship/practicum before it begins and the committee will monitor the Candidate’s progress during the internship/practicum.

Industrial Internship: Many graduate students plan to follow careers in industry, rather than in academia. This option provides students who plan to seek industrial employment after completion of their Ph.D. a chance to experience an industrial research setting. With the assistance of their supervisor, Candidates will identify an industrial position and industrial liaison willing to monitor the Industrial Internship.

Before beginning the internship, the Candidate must prepare a document describing the expected duties and requirements of the internship. This document will be signed by the Candidate, the Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee and an industrial liaison who will be willing to monitor the Candidate during the internship. This document must be approved by the Graduate Director before the start of the Industrial Internship.

The time spent taking part in an Industrial Internship will not be counted towards a Candidate’s time taken towards graduation.

Teaching Practicum: Graduate students who plan to follow careers in academia may wish to consider the Teaching Practicum option. Under this option, the Candidate will receive considerable exposure to the preparation and delivery of instructional material to undergraduate students. Students interested in taking part in the Teaching Practicum option will work with an instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (The Teaching Practicum Supervisor) in the preparation and delivery of an undergraduate course. The student, in collaboration with the Instructor, will prepare a document describing the duties and requirements of the teaching practicum.

Before beginning a Teaching Practicum, the Candidate will prepare a document describing the proposed practicum. This document, signed by the Candidate, the Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and the Teaching Practicum Supervisor must be approved by the Graduate Director before the Teaching Practicum may begin.

Evaluation: At the completion of the Industrial Internship/Teaching Practicum, the Candidate must submit a written report describing the Internship or Practicum to the Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee. The Industrial Liaison (in the case of the Industrial Internship) or the Teaching Practicum Supervisor (in the case of the Teaching Practicum) will also be asked to submit a written description of the Candidate’s performance. The Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee will consider the proposal, the Candidate’s report, and the written comments by the Liaison/Teaching Practicum Supervisor, plus any supporting documentation such as course evaluations to determine if the Candidate has met the requirements of this checkpoint. At either the committee or the Candidate’s option, the Candidate may make an oral presentation to the committee which may then conduct an oral examination of the Candidate.

As a result of this presentation, the committee may decide that:
– That the Candidate has met the requirements of this checkpoint, or
– That the Candidate has not met the requirements of this checkpoint (under this decision the Candidate would normally be required to withdraw from the program), or
– That the committee would prefer not to make a decision at this time and that the Candidate should perform some additional work within a specified period of time before deciding between either of the first two options.

All entering Ph.D. Candidates plan a research program with their supervisor at the start of their degree studies, and must successfully complete a significant body of original research of high calibre in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Software Engineering, under the general direction of a Supervisor and the Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and describe it in an appropriate dissertation. The research must be of such calibre that it satisfies departmental standards. Dissertation research should be of such quality that it would be publishable in prominent journals within the field. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held, centred on the dissertation research. In addition to the defence of their dissertation before the Dissertation Examining Committee, the Candidate is required to present their dissertation research to a Departmental Colloquium. The colloquium will be held at least one week prior to the oral examination.

The Dissertation Examination Committee is selected by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Candidate’s Supervisor and includes at least:

– 3 Faculty Members, at least one of whom has major research interests outside of the area of the Candidate’s dissertation (typically the Dissertation Supervisory Committee)
– 1 Faculty Member from outside the Program but within the University (representative of the Dean of Graduate Studies).
– 1 Representative from outside the University (the External Examiner).
According to the University Regulations, the External Examiner will submit a written appraisal of the dissertation before the Oral Examination.

Research progress is monitored by meetings of the Candidate’s Dissertation Supervisory Committee. In the event of failure to achieve satisfactory progress, the Candidate will normally be required to withdraw from the program. In exceptional circumstances, the Dissertation Supervisory Committee may petition the Graduate Program Director on behalf of the Candidate for additional time to complete a particular checkpoint. Should the petition be successful, the extension would be for a limited and specified period of time.

Students must maintain continuous registration in the Program. A year (12 months) consists of three terms: fall, winter, and summer. Students are expected to complete the Masters Programs in no more than five terms (20 months) and will be automatically converted to part-time status thereafter. The Doctoral Program is expected to be completed in no more than six years (18 terms, 48 months). PhD students will be withdrawn from the program if completion is not reached by the term 18 limit. Leaving for more than 4 weeks a term requires the permission of both the Program Director and the Dean of FGS.

The PhD program covers a wide variety of sub-disciplines. For more information, see our Research Areas page.

Graduate Program Director: Professor John Lam
Graduate Program Coordinator: Ciara Campbell
Graduate Program Associate: Susanna Talanca
Our main office is located in the Lassonde Building, room 1012T.

Telephone: (416) 736-2100 extension 66183 
Fax: (416) 736-5872

By email: eecs-gradasst@yorku.ca

By Mail:
Graduate Programme in EECS, LAS 1012T
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada