Doctorate in Electrical Engineering (Ph.D.)

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is a key discipline, at the heart of the technology frontier. It deals with the design and analysis of electrical, magnetic and optical devices, and the processing, control, and transmission of information and energy.

The tools used in electrical and computer engineering include electrical, electromagnetic and optical phenomena, systems theory, and computational hardware and software. The discipline can be divided in the fields of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.

Specifically, Electrical Engineering is a broad field that covers many diverse areas of study such as microelectronics, digital communications, wireless systems, optical systems, power systems, signal and image processing, computer technology, microprocessors, automation and control, computational intelligence and robotics, microwaves, antennas, computer networks, etc. Students and faculty in Electrical Engineering also develop synergies with disciplines outside of engineering; for example, with medicine and the life sciences that can lead to education and research in biomedical engineering.

The main objective of the PhD program in Electrical Engineering program is to advance the existing knowledge in the various areas of Electrical Engineering and enable students of exceptional ability to undertake advanced study and conduct original research. The program focuses on technology issues for cutting-edge technologies. Students can conduct research in an area of concentration that is related to one, or more, areas of Electrical Engineering offered at the department such as:

• Power and Renewables
• Telecommunication Systems and Networks
• Biomedical Engineering
• Signal and Image Processing
• Electromagnetics, Microwaves, Antennas, and Optics
• Intelligent Systems and Control
• Electronic Devices, Instrumentation, Sensors and Nanotechnology
• Electronics

Structure

• Compulsory: 184 ECTS
• Recognition of prior studies: 32 ECTS
• Restricted Elective: 24 ECTS
• Total ECTS: 240 ECTS

Graduation Requirements

• Successful completion of the requirements of the Program

• Up to 60 ECTS may be exempted from postgraduate courses

The University of Cyprus is the only Cypriot university that achieves for the fourth consecutive year to be included in the list of Shanghai 2021 and, specifically among the 601-700 top universities in the world (ShanghaiRanking-Univiersities). The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) was established in 2001. It is an ecosystem where scientists and engineers from different fields work together to solve the most challenging scientific problems. The research focus areas of ECE are control, robotics and autonomous systems, well-being and a smart living environment, industrial electronics and informatics, and power systems and conversion. In a relatively short period of time, ECE managed to establish high quality research, teaching, and outreach activities and this is reflected in the fact that UCY is ranked 201-300 worldwide in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in Academic Rankings of World Universities (Shanghai Rankings) for 2021.

When graduating from the Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering, students should have the following abilities and skills:

• Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate, and solve electrical engineering problems.
• Advanced knowledge of electrical and electronic components and their use in analog and digital systems.
• Ability to model, design, analyze and evaluate components and systems.
• Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
• Use modern engineering tools and techniques to successfully practice the electrical engineering profession in a broad spectrum of areas.
• Use oral and written communication to convey technical concepts and research results to engineers and non-engineers, in the form of conference papers, journal papers, and/or oral presentations.
• Achieve and demonstrate a deep knowledge of the discipline and significantly advance the state of art through original research.
• Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems using techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
• Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs and to design, conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data.
• Ability to address advanced engineering problems.
• Ability to function in, and lead multidisciplinary teams and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to identify emerging trends and challenges in Electrical Engineering, and apply the acquired knowledge in mathematics, science, and engineering, to address the technological challenges of the future.
• Adhere to the highest professional and ethical responsibility standards.
• Broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context. Recognition of the need for and ability to engage in lifelong learning.

The program has been approved by the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK - the statutory Technical Advisor to the State and is the umbrella organization for all Cypriot Engineers). Graduates of the Department can register with ETEK either as Electronic Engineers or Electrical Engineers and this gives them the right to work as engineers.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is considered to be one of the most active departments at the University of Cyprus due to (a) the number and level of Cypriot students that it attracts annually and (b) its developed teaching and research activities. The ECE department offers a wide range of knowledge and specialization to its students through a) highly-qualified academic staff, and b) a course of study that is organized as per international standards of leading academic institutions abroad.

Specialized knowledge in the fields of Electrical and Computer Engineering is a powerful tool for the graduates of the department in their efforts for professional success, within a constantly changing working environment at a global level. In particular, the trend towards more intelligent systems, through specialized hardware and software, the increase in the connectivity of all devices on the Internet, the imminent arrival of smart power and the penetration of renewable energy networks, etc., highlight a series of challenges that future Electrical Engineering graduates will be called upon to address and offer workable solutions to emerging issues. For example, according to Eurostat, in the European Union

Despite the fact that the Cypriot market is at an embryonic stage in creating such jobs (according to the same Eurostat survey, the corresponding high-tech jobs in Cyprus fluctuated to around 1% in 2016), the combination of the high expenditure of the Cypriot government in the field of Education with the recent increase in Research and Development funding allocation and with the rising employment rate of recent graduates, is expected to provide a big push to Cyprus's effort to create a knowledge-based society.