Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD Degree requires four courses if a candidate already has a research Master’s degree; otherwise, it requires 8 courses. An original research thesis is also required.

No undergraduate courses are allowed for credit in a Doctoral Degree program.

All classes required to meet the degree requirements are considered essential classes and will be so designated by the Supervisory Committee. Any classes taken in excess of the requirements are subject to approval by the supervisor. These classes will appear on the student’s transcript as regular classes.

All PhD candidates must pass an oral examination of his/her thesis project after it has been submitted in satisfactory form, and in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations.

The thesis shall consist of an original investigation or design carried out under the immediate supervision of a member of the Faculty of Engineering who is also a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

A candidate will be required, as a major part of the program, to submit a satisfactory thesis embodying the results of original scholarship and independent research. See Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations for information pertaining to doctoral theses.

The PhD program typically takes three to five years to complete. 

Candidates must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I need to send original transcripts and diplomas?

A1: At this stage, NO. We just need scanned unofficial copies of them (in PDF format). Make sure they are clear, complete and accompanied by an English Translation if they are in other languages. If you are accepted for admission, your final and official transcripts will be required within 90 days of the start of your program.

Q2: Shall I contact potential supervisors in the department?

A2: Identifying a potential supervisor is NOT required when applying. For MEng students, the Graduate Coordinator is their supervisor by default. PhD and MASc applications are sent to all faculty members in the department, and are accepted only if one or more faculty commit to supervise and fund them. Hence, it is recommended that PhD and MASc applicants contact potential supervisors to increase their chances of being accepted, although it is not necessary.

Q3: When shall I expect to receive a decision regarding my application for admission?

A3:  Once we have the complete application (including all supporting documents), we usually do our assessment and send an admission recommendation (Accept/Reject) to FGS within two weeks. Beyond that, we have no control over the process. But FGS usually makes a decision and communicates it to the applicant within 1-2 weeks.

Q4: Can you tell me the amount of the admission deposit and the cost of attending the program?

A4: Kindly note that student financial matters, including tuitions and fees, are not handled by academic departments. If/when you get accepted, you will receive details about the admission deposit and tuition fees from FGS. Meanwhile, please refer to the FGS' Your guide to the application process webpage for more information.

Q5: What is your mailing address so I can send my supporting documents?

A5: At this stage, you do not to send anything by mail or courier. All supporting documents, including your transcripts, diplomas, proof of language competency, CV/resume and/or SoP, must be emailed (as PDF scanned copies) to admissions.ie.grad@dal.ca.

Please include your full name and B00 number (if you know it) in the email. Since you provided the email addresses of your references when filling the online application, you will receive emails (with links) from our e-reference system inviting you to fill and submit electronic reference forms.