Ph.D. Admissions
Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. Program Information
Become an expert and continue breaking boundaries.
At the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois, we empower our students to break boundaries in knowledge, research and innovation. Admission to our Ph.D. program will place you among mentors and peers who are continuously setting new records in academic and research excellence. Discover how you can join our collaborative and interdisciplinary community.
How to Apply
- Review minimum admission requirements, listed by country.
- Complete the online application through The Graduate College. Select "Electrical and Computer Engineering—PHD." Students who are unable to apply online must contact graduate admissions.
- Submit an ECE Graduate Applicant Preferences Form to indicate your areas of research interest. Forms are available two days after submitting applications.
Important Admissions Dates
Applications are submitted through the Graduate Application Portal. Please select "Electrical and Computer Engineering—PHD." All materials, credentials, and test scores must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Applications are due:
- January 15 for the fall semester (Apply by December 15 for complete consideration for fellowships and awards)
- September 1 for the spring semester.
Admission decisions for ECE Ph.D. programs are typically announced by April 2 for summer/fall admissions. In some cases, however, decisions may be reached much earlier.
Fields of Specialization
- Machine Learning, AI and Data Science
- Networking, Mobile and Distributed Computing
- Robotics, Autonomy, Control and Cyber-Physical Systems
- Computer Architecture, Circuits and Systems
Find detailed information on ECE research areas and cross-cutting themes.