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.
Check the full list of top Electrical Engineering Colleges in India.
Students should complete their Master’s degree with more than 55% marks in the stream of Electronics or Electromagnetics or Electrical Engineering. This is the eligibility criteria followed by most of the colleges and universities.
The admission to PhD Electrical Engineering is based on marks scored by candidates in Entrance Exams. Some of the most popular PhD Electrical Engineering entrance exams are GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET, etc. The average annual fees of PhD in Electrical Engineering is INR 20,000 - INR 3,00,000. It differs with college, places and the marks scored by students in post graduation and entrance exams.
Common job profiles offered to PhD Electrical Engineering candidates can be Project Manager, Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, Research and Development Officer.
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 Electrical Engineering Course Highlights
Given below are the major informations and highlights of the PhD Electrical Engineering course.
| Course Level | Doctorate |
| Full-form | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester wise |
| Eligibility | Post graduation in Electrical or Electronics stream with more than 55% marks. |
| Admission process | GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET |
| Course Fee | INR 20,000 - INR 3,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 4,00,000 - INR 20,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting places | Samsung Electronics, Bajaj, Google, Zydus Cadila group, Cactus Communications, etc. |
| Job Position | Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, System Engineer, etc. |
PhD Electrical Engineering: What is it About?
- PhD Electrical engineering course deals with Electrical Machines, Electromagnetism and Electromagnetic Devices, Generators and Motors, Electric Circuits, etc.
- In this course, the students will learn how to design new electric circuits and improve the quality of electronic gadgets so that they can perform better.
- They will work with Resistors, Capacitors, Transistors, Inductors, Semiconductors, LEDs, etc.
- This program offers you to work with well established personals in research areas such as image and video processing, wireless communications, etc.
- Students conduct research on one of these areas and try to design some new gadgets and circuits.
- The research paper needs to be submitted at the end of the course for evaluation.
Why PhD Electrical Engineering?
- The greatest advantage of PhD Electrical Engineering is that it helps you in gaining experience in carrying out detailed research.
- Your Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees are focused on learning things that are already known, but PhD teaches you to find out new things, to carry out experiments, to report data, and learn from your mistakes.
- During this course, candidates work on a variety of electronic projects, which include working on Computers, Cell Phones, Semiconductor, Diodes, Motors, Generators, AC and DC Machines, Robots, etc.
- After completing the course, the candidates can join Corporate Houses, Teaching profession, or do Research Work.
- They can also conduct their individual research work and discover new electronic gadgets.
- These candidates can also start their own startups and become entrepreneurs.
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.
Read about IIT Bombay Admission Process in detail.
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.
Go through the full list of PhD Engineering entrance exams in India.
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.
| Entrance Exam | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| IIT JAM | Check Here |
| VITMEE | Check Here |
| UGC NET | To be Announced |
How to Prepare for a PhD Electrical Engineering Entrance exam?
- Candidates should know the basics of the topics covered in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and related subjects.
- They should be well versed with the entire UG and PG syllabus of Electrical Engineering so that they can solve any subject related questions.
- Based on the previous year’s paper, lay out a study plan which will allow you to cover the syllabus as well as revise it efficiently.
- Practice as many sample question papers and model tests as possible. These will certainly offer an advantage because the students can assess the question pattern and their time management skills.
- Note down all the important topics from the previous year papers and devote adequate time to each important topic.
Also, read more about the GATE Exam Question Pattern, Syllabus, and Important Tips in detail.
How to get Admission in a Good PhD Electrical Engineering College?
- To secure a seat in a good college for a PhD Electrical Engineering, candidates must hold an exceptional academic record.
- Look out for the eligibility, cut-offs, selection criteria, admission process, application procedure, and other updates to benefit you for better preparation.
- The cutoff of GATE 2020 for Electrical Engineering Paper is 33.4 and that for Electronics and Communication Engineering Paper is 28.8.
- The qualifying cut off marks of UGC NET for General category is 40% in Paper 1 and 2 with 5% relaxation for the reserved categories.
- Candidates should put their time and effort into the entrance test as well as be prepared for a personal interview round.
- They should be well versed with their research topic so that they can impress the interview panel with their research idea.
Go through the entire list of GATE 2020 branch wise cutoff marks.
PhD Electrical Engineering Syllabus
PhD in electrical engineering is a 3 year program. Each year contains 2 semesters. Examination held semester wise twice in a year. Here is a semester wise syllabus of PhD in Electrical Engineering.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| 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 | --- |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| 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 |
PhD Electrical Engineering Syllabus Important Books
Here is a list of some famous books with their Authors which every PhD Electrical Engineering student should choose for them to study.
| Books | Authors |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Top Colleges for PhD Electrical Engineering
All the major Engineering and Technology Institutes including IITs, NITs, IIITs, offer PhD Course in Electrical Engineering. In the table given below, we have mentioned some of the top colleges providing this course according to NIRF Engineering Ranking 2020.
| College Name | Location | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: College Websites
College Comparison for PhD Electrical Engineering
Students can get admission in the best colleges or universities by comparing them. They can compare these colleges by overview, cities, average fees, average salary, company recruiting as best parameters to judge or compare them. A table comparing three renowned colleges providing PhD Electrical Engineering is given below.
| Parameters | IIT Delhi | Chandigarh University | IIT Bombay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | IIT Delhi (IIT D) offers B.Tech under 12 specializations, M.Tech under 38 specializations, M.Sc under 5 specializations, MBA under 3 specializations and PhD program under 23 disciplines. They also offer M.Design and M.S (Research) courses. The application process for all the exams conducted by the institute is online. | Chandigarh University is a private university located in Chandigarh. It was established in the year 2012. CU offers multiple courses in different domains including Engineering, Management, Science, Arts and Commerce. It is one of the youngest universities to be ranked by NIRF. | IIT Bombay (IIT B) was established in the year 1958. It is one of the most renowned Engineering colleges in India and has received recognition from all around the world. It has been consistently ranked under top 3 best Engineering Colleges in India by NIRF for quite a few years now. |
| Location | Delhi | Chandigarh | Mumbai |
| Ranking as per NIRF 2020 | 2 | 84 | 3 |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 34,900 | INR 85,000 | INR 73,000 |
| Average Placement Package | INR 16,00,000 | INR 12,00,000 | INR 20,34,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Flipkart, Uber, Microsoft, Saavn, Amazon, Zomato, etc. | IGATE, NIIT, HP Global, TAFE, etc. | Apple, Tata steel, ITC, CAIRN, IBM, etc. |
Source: College Websites
Course Comparison
Two courses which are closest to PhD Electrical Engineering are PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering and PhD Mechanical Engineering. While Electrical and Electronics streams are similar in terms of common topics like Diodes and Circuits, Mechanical and Electrical streams find their similarity in topics like Generators, Motors and Engines.
Below, we have compared the PhD Electrical Engineering course with PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering and PhD Mechanical Engineering courses one by one.
PhD Electrical Engineering vs PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering are related streams in many aspects but they have many differences as well. Major differences have been tabulated in the table below.
| Parameters | PhD Electrical Engineering | PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | PhD Electrical Engineering covers the study of the entire electrical world including AC and DC Machines, Networks and Circuits, and their applications, along with Semiconductors, Diodes and Electrical Products. | PhD Electronics and Communication Engineering is specifically concentrated in the study of Electronic Gadgets, Semiconductors and Diodes, among others. |
| Minimum Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Masters degree in Electrical or Electronics with more than 55% marks. | Masters degree in Electronics with more than 55% marks. |
| Admission process | GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET | GATE, UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET |
| Top colleges | IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, among others. | NIT Trichy, NIT Rourkela, IIT Bhubaneswar, among others. |
| Average fees | INR 20,000 - INR 3,00,000 | INR 50,000 - INR 5,00,000 |
| Job roles | Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, System Engineer, etc. | Computer Architect, Product Engineer, Communication Engineer, Network Engineer, etc. |
| Average salary | INR 4,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 | INR 8,00,000 to INR 30,00,000 |
Source: College Websites
Check the full list of top ECE Colleges in India.
PhD Electrical Engineering vs PhD Mechanical Engineering
Students can compare the two courses on the given parameters like duration, eligibility, admission process, top colleges, average fees and average salary, job roles.
Given below is the information for your reference:
| Parameters | PhD Electrical Engineering | PhD Mechanical Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | PhD Electrical Engineering covers the study of the entire electrical world including AC and DC Machines, Networks and Circuits, and their applications, along with Semiconductors, Diodes and Electrical Products. | PhD Mechanical engineering involves the study of topics like Engineering Physics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, etc. It uses Mathematics principles and Material Science to improve and maintain the various mechanical machines and systems. |
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Master’s degree in Electrical or Electronics with more than 55% marks. | Master's degree in Mechanical with minimum 65% marks. |
| Admission process | GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET | GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET |
| Top colleges | IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IITM, IIT Delhi etc. | Andhra university, Techno India University, Manipal University, etc. |
| Average fees | INR 20,000 - INR 5,00,000 | INR 96,000 - INR 3,60,000 |
| Job roles | Electrical Engineer, Application Engineer, Sales Engineer, System Engineer, etc. | Sales Engineer, Operations Manager, Product Design Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Manager, etc |
| Average salary | 4,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 | INR 4,00,000 - INR 18,00,000 |
Source: College Websites
Go through the full list of top Mechanical Engineering Colleges in India.
PhD Electrical Engineering Jobs and Career Options
- Many Career options are available for PhD Electrical Engineering candidates.
- They can work as Electrical Engineer, Electro Mechanical Engineer, Sales Engineer, etc.
- Companies like WIPRO, ABB, Coal India Limited etc. regularly hire Electrical Engineers.
Here are some of the jobs offered to PhD Electrical Engineering candidates.
| Job Profiles | Role | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Engineer | Sales Engineers work in both retail and non retail settings. They are responsible for management of sales activities. | INR 4,49,000 |
| Computer Architects | Computer Architects are responsible for building and designing Computer Systems and Hardware. | INR 3,50,000 |
| Electrical Engineers | Electrical Engineers are responsible for solving electrical issues and troubleshooting the various circuit and system related problems. | INR 3,40,000 |
| Project Manager | Project Managers supervise and organize activities of an entire project and assure achieving the company's goal. | INR 8,00,000 |
| Applications Engineer | Applications Engineer is responsible for designing and creating software applications which are in demand with the consumers. | INR 5,48,000 |
| Research and Development Officer | Research and Development Officers are the Head of the Research and Development division of a company. They are responsible for every new Research being conducted and every new product being designed by the company. | INR 11,93,000 |
| Systems Engineer | Systems Engineers are responsible for maintaining the hardware and software systems of an organisation. | INR 3,83,000 |
Source: College Websites
PhD Electrical Engineering Future Scope
- These engineers are concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
- Electrical Engineers are much in demand in India. From Construction to Corporate Companies and Industries, there is a necessity of electricity to function and this offers them good job opportunities.
- PhD Electrical Engineering candidates can go for the teaching sector jobs as Professors at universities.
- They have wide research options. They can go for higher studies like DSc.
- Companies like Coal India Limited, ABB, Oil and Natural gas Corporation, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited, Reliance Power Limited, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, etc regularly hire Electrical Engineers.
Check the full list of top Universities offering DSc Degrees in India.
PhD Electrical Engineering FAQs
Ques. Can I apply for an MS and PhD at the same time?
Ans. No, because both are completely different from each other. You have to decide what you want to do. If you are ready to spend the next several years then choose a PhD.
Ques. Is it important to contact faculty before applying to this course?
Ans. No, it is not important to contact members because the decision for admission is in the hands of the admission committee. It is your choice to meet members.
Ques. Which field is best for electrical engineering?
Ans. They can make their career in these fields:
- Systems engineer
- Test engineer
- Network design engineer
- Electrical application engineer
- Senior electrical engineer
Ques. What is a part time PhD?
Ans. A part time PhD means when you complete your degree in six to eight years, even if you have a master's degree. You will study and complete academic credits as much as full time students do.
Ques. Which is better: a full time or part time PhD?
Ans. Part time PhD is better as a PhD because you can learn and study by doing a job side by side.
Ques. Can a PhD in Electrical Engineering be completed in 4 years?
Ans. Yes, Some colleges and universities have 4 year courses. Otherwise, It is a 3 year course. If you choose part time then you may complete it in 6-8 years.
Ques. Why should I choose a PhD in Electrical Engineering?
Ans. This course helps us to enhance our ability to solve issues, our persuasive powers, experiment lab skills . This subject develops a creative person.
Ques. Is it hard to get admission in top institutes of PhD in Electrical Engineering?
Ans. No, It is not hard to get admission in top institutes, you have to score marks in Master’s degree of Electrical stream according to the eligibility of the college. Sometimes, it depends on your entrance test. If you are aware of proper syllabus, then you will get a good college.
Ques. What skills do we require to become a better Electrical Engineer?
Ans. Skills you require to become a better Electrical Engineer are:- Ability to be creative and think outside the box, learning the new ways in thinking, experimental lab skills, etc.
Ques. When will the registration process of PhD Electrical Engineering start in India?
Ans. Due to Covid -19 pandemic, registration has been postponed. After lockdown, further information will be notified for registration processes.
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