The PhD Programme in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PDEEC) integrates the 3rd cycle of higher education, according to the Bologna Agreement. It complements the basic formation of the 1st and 2nd cycles (Licenciatura and Master) in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering - PDEEC

Students in the PDEEC are provided a research intensive study of the fundamentals of electrical or computer engineering. Students will create and disseminate knowledge of electrical and computer systems during the course of obtaining the Doctoral degree. With the help of a faculty advisor, students define an education and research program that is consistent with their backgrounds and is best suited to their own academic goals.

PDEEC Requirements

Students with a B.S. or a M.S. degree in ECE (or equivalent/similar area) may apply to the PDEEC for a research intensive study of the fundamentals of electrical and computer engineering. In general, students with a B. S. degree may have to take a maximum of three courses (master/ 2 nd cycle level) to complete a bridging program.

Completion of the PDEEC degree usually takes about four to five years of study.

To obtain the PDEEC degree the student must demonstrate technical breadth, steady progress in research, and contribute to the body of knowledge in electrical and computer engineering and disseminate this knowledge through the oral and written form. Each of these abilities are tested using a variety of requirements, and are detailed below.

Students demonstrate breadth by taking graduate courses. All incoming PDEEC students are required to fulfill the PDEEC Course Requirements , i. e., to complete a minimum of 30 ECTS or 5 advanced (graduate/ doctoral level) courses. Each student may choose his or her own course and research schedule with the approval of his or her advisor. Graduate courses include any of the courses listed in the PDEEC approved graduate course list.

Students may demonstrate their ability to disseminate knowledge through completing the Teaching Internship . All PDEEC students are strongly advised to register for and must complete a one semester internship in university teaching. This teaching internship is equivalent to a graduate course (Teaching Assistance) and it contributes with 6 ECTS to the PDEEC Course Requirements. It may be completed at any time during the student's enrollment in the PDEEC.

Each PDEEC student must prepare a thesis proposal within four semesters following his or her admission in the program. The proposal is an informal written description of the problem to be investigated and the expected accomplishments of the investigation. The proposal is presented (orally) in a public session to the Thesis Accompaniment Committee (CAT) for its review and recommendations. This committee consists of at least three members, including the student's advisor.

Following the completion of the proposed research, a doctoral thesis documenting the research is required. The doctoral thesis should be a report of the work done, its relation to previous work in the area, and the conclusions drawn from the results. The thesis should include a section describing how the student's research has contributed to the body of knowledge in electrical and computer engineering.

After the thesis is written, a final public oral defense is held to determine whether the thesis is acceptable. Approval of the thesis is by majority decision of the Thesis Committee (normally five members including in general the members of the CAT). Following the final approval the candidate is then expected to prepare the technical contributions arising from the thesis defense for publication.

Optionally, and involving a separate application, the students may choose to pursue their PhD degree in one of the international collaborations in which IST takes part:
• IST-EPFL Joint Doctoral Initiative;
• CMU-Portugal ICTI Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering;
• CMU-Portugal ICTI Program in Language Tecnology.