Electrical Engineering—PhD

From Energy to Innovation, Electrical Engineers Build Tomorrow

At Michigan Tech, graduate opportunities in Electrical Engineering prepare you to build tomorrow’s innovations today. When you are with us, you join a close-knit academic community with accomplished faculty dedicated to mentoring students. The Department’s research is funded by multiple agencies and corporations, including the NSF, the US Army and Air Force, American Electric Power, Consumers Energy, and more. Your success is our priority.

Hone Your Focus

The department supports research thrusts in computer engineering, energy systems, signals systems, and solid-state electronics. Our faculty research areas include nanotechnology circuit design, renewable electricity energy sources, and wireless communications—just to name a few.

Be part of a working laboratory where students and faculty collaborate in pursuit of answers to some of our world’s most relevant questions. Also enjoy the convenience of taking some of your courses online.

It All Begins With a Plan

For all plans, note that the approval of your Advisor is required, particularly for out-of-department courses (for example, ED5100 is not allowed), and all Graduate School requirements must be met.

There are two plans available for the PhD: entering with or without an MS.

A full explanation of requirements can be found on the Graduate School's Doctor of Philosophy requirements page.

PhD Requirements: Electrical Engineering

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation including at least one academic reference (all waived for Michigan Tech undergrads)
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
No GRE required
Priority will be given to students with interest in existing departmental research areas
No Additional Documents Accepted

International Students

TOEFL: Required Score of 100 iBT
IELTS: Required Overall Band Score of 7.0

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadlines

The department tries to match advisors with funding for PhD candidates. To improve their chances of receiving funding, PhD applicants should apply by:

Fall semester: February 15

Spring Semester: August 15

Summer: Please contact the Graduate Program Director

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.