can you get a phd in electrical engineering

PhD Electrical Engineering is a research-based doctoral course in Electrical Engineering. The course syllabus generally involves researching new technologies in the fields of Electric Machines, Semiconductors and Diodes, Electric Circuits, etc. The course is of minimum 3 year duration but can be stretched up to 5 years depending on the duration of the research. 

• Full-Form: Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering.
• Duration: Minimum 3 year, can be stretched up to 5 years (depends on the length of the research). 
• Minimum Eligibility: Masters in Electrical Engineering along with an aggregate of 55% marks.
• Admission Process: Entrance Exam followed by Interview. 
• Top Entrance Exam: GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET. 
• Top Colleges: IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay. 
• Average Annual Fees: INR 20,000 to INR 3,00,000. 
• Top Career Prospects: Project Manager, Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, Research and Development Officer, etc.
• Average Annual Salary: INR 4,00,000 to INR 20,00,000.

Common job profiles offered to PhD Electrical Engineering candidates can be Project Manager, Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, Research and Development Officer, etc.

Average salary package per annum for these candidates will range between INR 4,00,000 – INR 20,00,000. It depends on the level of the company, organization, and also on skills, experience and expertise of the candidates.  

Some of the top recruiting companies are Samsung Electronics, Bajaj, Google, Zydus Cadila group, Cactus Communications, etc.

If the candidates wish to do further research, they can become independent researchers, discover new gadgets and publish their research papers. They can also earn a DSc (Doctor of Science) degree in this domain in future. 

PhD in Electrical Engineering Admission Process

• Most of the colleges and universities follow Entrance Exams and Personal Interviews for final selection. 
• Top most colleges like IIT Bombay and some other colleges take a written test after shortlisting some candidates according to entrance exam ranks. 
• Some colleges or universities select students depending on their post graduation marks. 
• The minimum marks required in the qualifying examination ranges between 55% to 65%.
• Direct admission after Graduation in Electrical or Electronics Engineering is also granted. 
• For direct admission after graduation, the candidate must have commendable research experience and should have scored more than 75% or 7.5 GPA at the graduation level. 

Entrance Based Admission

Most of the colleges and universities offer admission to PhD Electrical Engineering on the basis of entrance exams like GATE, UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC-NET.

The stepwise procedure followed is discussed below. 

• Step 1: Students have to register on the official website.
• Step 2: After examination, a cutoff list will be provided on the site. Seats will be allotted to candidates on the basis of entrance exam scores. 
• Step 3: Some colleges conduct personal interviews and written tests for final selection.
• Step 4: After a student is found eligible, admission will be offered to the student.

Merit Based Admission

A few colleges offer admission to this course on the basis of marks scored in the qualifying examination. The stepwise admission process is discussed below. 

• Step 1: Students have to fill the application form through an online process according to their eligibility.
• Step 2: Cutoff list will be given on the official website of the college. 
• Step 3: Students will be called for a Personal Interview Round where many subject related questions will also be asked. 
• Step 4: Shortlisted candidates will be offered admission to the course. 

PhD in Electrical Engineering Eligibility Criteria

• The candidates will have to score more than 55% in their post-graduation in the stream of Electronics, Electrical or any other related discipline.
• Some of the colleges like IITs also demand for 65% marks in the postgraduate level.
• There should be no backlog in any subject in both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• The students must clear the entrance exam and personal interview conducted by colleges or universities.

PhD in Electrical Engineering Entrance Exams

Most of the colleges and universities follow entrance exams to offer admission to the PhD Electrical Engineering course. 

Some of the most popular Entrance Exams are briefly explained below. 

• GATE: The Gratitude Aptitude Test in Engineering, better known as GATE, is an entrance exam conducted by the IIT Council for admission to postgraduate and doctorate level engineering courses. The exam is mainly based on the topics taught at the undergraduate level. 
• UGC-NET: The National Testing Agency conducts this exam on behalf of the University Grants Commission. Qualified candidates are granted admission to the various doctorate level courses. This test is also used for  deciding the eligibility for JRF or post of Assistant Professor in colleges and universities. 

Important details related to some of the popular PhD Electrical Engineering Entrance Exams are given in the table below.