PhD Electrical Engineering

Program Info

The Ph.D. Electrical Engineering program at UCP was launched in Fall 2014 and has been running successfully ever since, with a growing network of proud alumni serving in various industries and organizations both in Pakistan and abroad. The program, offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering at UCP, is tailored to keep young electrical engineers up to date with the latest developments in the field.

In today’s industrial landscape, an electrical engineer is required to possess expertise across multiple domains to effectively understand and solve complex engineering problems. Advances, particularly in electronics and computational engineering, have enabled the simulation of sophisticated engineering systems, thereby requiring knowledge in more than one specialization within electrical engineering.

The Ph.D. Electrical Engineering program provides advanced understanding of modern electric power systems, electronic materials, the design and operation of electronic devices, circuits, and embedded systems. It offers a platform for higher learning that prepares students to meet the challenges of the evolving electrical engineering field. With the aim of imparting knowledge on par with international standards, the program is supported by faculty members qualified from renowned international universities, bringing both academic expertise and practical experience to the classroom.

Outline

The Department of Electrical Engineering is dedicated to continued innovation through its vibrant dynamic environment and competitive research. The department offers PhD program in Electrical Engineering which covers a wide spectrum of fields keeping up with their fast pace of technological advancement. Its carefully designed PhD program aims at producing researchers in the areas of Telecommunications, Control Systems, Signal and Image Processing, Power Systems, Networks and Computer Systems. To achieve this goal, the department has got a team of highly qualified and dedicated faculty members while establishing a strong liaison with research and development organizations and industry.

This interdisciplinary approach prepares students for doctoral studies, academic research, and technical leadership roles in both public and private sectors. The program equips graduates with the necessary skills and tools to solve complex, real-world engineering problems using modern analytical and computational techniques.

Eligibility Criteria

At least 3.00/4.00 CGPA in MS or equivalent degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

All candidates are required to pass the UCP Admission Test with a 60% score or a test equivalent to GRE/HAT General, conducted by testing bodies accredited by HEC with a passing score of 60% followed by an interview by the Graduate Admission Committee

Selection Criteria

Weightage of Previous Academic	Weightage of Admission Test	Weightage of the Interview	Total
60%	30%	10%	100%

Fee Structure with Scholarship

Program Name: PhD Electrical Engineering

Per Credit Hour Fee: 9,570

Admission Fee: 25,000

1st Semester Total Fee	1st Installment Including Admission fee	1st Installment with 50% PGC Scholarship	1st Installment with 25% Merit/PGC/Legacy Scholarship	1st Installment with 50% Merit Scholarship	1st Installment with 75% Merit Scholarship	1st Installment with Gilgit-Baltistan 30% Scholarship	Total Credit Hours	Total Fee(incl Admission fee)
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	48	484,360

Disclaimer

The above-mentioned fee structure is for illustration purpose only. UCP reserves the rights to make changes in the Fee Structure whenever deemed necessary or appropriate.

Tentative Study Road Map

A student has to fulfill the residency requirement of at least 02 years at the university. The timeline of various milestones is defined in the table given below.

The program consists of total 48 Credit Hours.

18 Cr. Hrs. Course Work with minimum CGPA 3.00/4.00
Comprehensive Examination (written and oral)
Synopsis Defense
30 Cr. Hrs. Research Work
Publication of at least one research paper in HEC approved journal
Dissertation Foreign Reviews
Dissertation Final Defense

The minimum and maximum period for completion of Ph.D. is 3 years and 7 years respectively.

Students can also study advance courses from other departments and faculties of the University of Central Punjab. A student can study a maximum of three interdisciplinary courses of Graduate level programs. In this regard, a written application endorsed by program coordinator should be submitted to HoD before the start of the semester. A student can register in a maximum of three courses during any semester.

Ph.D. Student becomes eligible for Ph.D. (Thesis) after completion of six courses provided his / her CGPA is 3.0 or more and he/she has passed the comprehensive exam. Thesis carries a weightage of 30 credit hours.

Roadmap for Ph.D. Electrical Engineering is displayed below,

Activity	Preferred Time	Maximum
Course Work	2 Semesters	3 Semesters
Comprehensive Exam	3 Semesters	4 Semesters
Synopsis Qualification	4 Semesters	6 Semesters
Thesis Submission	6 Semesters	14 Semesters (7 Years)

Career Opportunities

A Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering opens doors to high-level academic, research, and industry roles both in Pakistan and internationally. This advanced qualification signifies deep expertise in areas like power systems, electronics, communications, signal processing, control systems, AI, and embedded systems.

Global Career Opportunities for Ph.D. Electrical Engineers

Academic Faculty & Research Positions
- Roles: Assistant/Associate Professor, Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Employers: MIT, Stanford, ETH Zurich, NTU Singapore, KAUST, and other top universities
Research and Development (R&D) Engineer
- Industries: Semiconductors, AI, communications, power electronics
- Companies: Intel, Qualcomm, IBM Research, Huawei, Siemens
Electrical Design Engineer / Principal Engineer
- Design and analysis of advanced electrical systems in aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics
Data Scientist / AI Researcher
- Applying signal processing and ML to solve data-driven problems in fintech, healthtech, and robotics
Power Systems Engineer
- Advanced grid integration, smart grids, renewable energy modeling
- Companies: GE, ABB, Schneider Electric, Tesla Energy
Postdoctoral Fellowships
- At top labs and universities in Europe, US, China, and Middle East
Product Manager / Technical Consultant
- Translating technical knowledge into product innovation and strategy
Entrepreneurship
- Launching startups in robotics, IoT, energy tech, or AI-driven systems

Career Opportunities in Pakistan for Ph.D. Electrical Engineers

University Faculty / Researcher
- Positions: Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, HOD, Dean
- Institutions: NUST, PIEAS, GIKI, UETs, FAST, ITU
HEC Approved PhD Supervisor
- Supervise MS/PhD students and lead funded research projects
Public Sector Research Organizations
- Roles: Senior Scientist, Director R&D
- Organizations: NESCOM, SUPARCO, PAEC, PCSIR, NUST RIC
Power Sector & Utilities
- Research roles in NTDC, WAPDA, K-Electric, DISCOs on grid modernization, renewable integration, SCADA, etc.
Technology Startups and Incubators
- Leadership in R&D or technical advisory roles (NICs, Ignite-funded projects)
Consulting & Regulatory Bodies
- NEPRA, PTA, or independent power/telecom consultants for policy and technical evaluations
Industrial Automation and Smart Grid Development
- Siemens Pakistan, Descon, Engro Energy, etc., especially in emerging sectors like energy storage and AI for power systems

Criteria for Award of Degree

For the award of MS Electrical Engineering, a student should complete 18 CHs of course work + 30 CHs of thesis within minimum duration of 3 years and maximum of 7 years.