Doctor of Philosophy in Electronic Engineering
Full Time
The Doctor of Philosophy in Electronic Engineering is a research-intensive programme comprising an independent research project and dissertation under academic supervision, aimed at making an original contribution to the field. The department's research interests spans four key areas:
• Computer and Control Systems: Control, automation, and system identification for platforms such as UAVs, satellites, and underwater vehicles; real-time computing, FPGA-based architectures, biomedical electronics, and process control.
• Electrical Energy Systems: Electric energy conversion and control, multi-level power converters, permanent magnet machines, high-voltage insulators, power system dynamics, with applications in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency.
• Electronics and Electromagnetics: High-frequency electronics, RADAR, antennas, superconductors, electromagnetic interference, filters, and nonlinear circuits. Includes computational electromagnetics and contributions to South Africa’s Square Kilometre Array.
• Signal Processing and Machine Learning: Pattern recognition, automatic speech processing, digital radar and broadcasting systems, statistical decision-making, and sensor data analysis using hardware and software platforms.
Contact information
Programme overview
More information
When applying
Please note that selection for postgraduate programmes is highly competitive, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Research Master’s and PhD applicants are strongly advised to consult the relevant department before applying to discuss their proposed research topic and confirm the availability of a suitable supervisor.
Minimum admission requirements
Admission requirements and continued admission after your first year of study
To be considered for admission to the PhD-programme you must:
• hold at least an MScEng, MSc, MEng, or MTech degree, all with a significant research component; or
• have reached (in another manner) a standard of competence in your field of study which is deemed sufficient for this purpose by the Senate.
Within your first year of PhD studies, you must get permission to continue your registration. To get this permission you must:
• complete a formal assessment of your research proposal to the satisfaction of the Faculty Board and,
• after completing this assessment, receive the Faculty Board’s approval of your dissertation topic and supervisor(s).
Selection
Irrespective of the admission requirements above, you must be selected for the PhD programme by the home department of the relevant field of study.
Supporting application documents
Curriculum vitae (CV)
A document that outlines your educational level, employment history, description of work experience, especially that is relevant to your application to study and contact details of three referees.
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Curriculum vitae (CV)
Departmental form
Download and fill in the following departmental form, and submit with your application:
https://files.su.ac.za/public/postgraduate-studies/documents/2025-09/ph…
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Dept-PhD(Electronic Engineering) Full Time
Statement of research interest / Outline
This is a brief summary of the doctoral research proposal (1-3 pages in length) which outlines your area of research, aims of the research project and the research methodology you plan to use.
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Research project / Outline / Proposal
Summary of Master's research
A structured, formal document summarising the research question that was stated, hypotheses that were tested, research methodology and results/recommendations presented (3-5 pages in length).
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Evidence of work / Copy of thesis / Summary of research
Programme structure
Programme composition and requirements for obtaining the PhD degree
The PhD programme comprises 360 credits of research on NQF level 10 that leads to a dissertation.
The University can award the PhD degree to you if you have, in addition to meeting the minimum registration
requirements:
• done original research in the field of engineering sciences:
o under the supervision of a supervisor; and
o to the satisfaction of the University.
• submitted a satisfactory dissertation which in the Senate’s view shows that:
o you have made a specific contribution that enriches knowledge in the particular subject area,
and
o that you have exhibited independent critical judgement.
Also note that along with the dissertation you must submit a declaration stating that the dissertation
has not already been submitted at another university for the purpose of obtaining a degree, and that
it is your own work.
• satisfactorily completed an oral examination, except in special circumstances where the Senate has
approved exemption from the oral examination; and
• submitted proof at your oral examination that you have already submitted a journal article to a
journal of acceptable standard. The article must report the research of your dissertation. If the
dissertation is classified as confidential or secret, you must submit the journal article to the
examination committee at the oral examination.
You must normally be present at your host department when the oral examination is conducted.