[PhD] Doctoral School of Electrical Engineering [Engineering Science]

Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Hungary, Budapest

Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics

Study location	Hungary, Budapest
Type	Doctoral, full degree studies
Nominal duration	8 semesters (240 ECTS)
Study language	English
Awards	PhD
Course code	Engineering Science

Entry qualification	Master diploma (or higher) MSc results proven by transcript of records, and completion proven by degree / diploma. Sufficient knowledge in electrical engineering, proven at an online test during the admission procedure. Sufficient knowledge relevant to the particular research topic, proven at an oral Skype interview during the admission procedure. Overall B2 (or higher) level knowledge of English language, proven by an appropriate certificate. See the details in the “Entry requirements”. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. All documents should be uploaded BOTH in the original language and in English. You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university.

Entry qualification

Master diploma (or higher)

MSc results proven by transcript of records, and completion proven by degree / diploma. Sufficient knowledge in electrical engineering, proven at an online test during the admission procedure. Sufficient knowledge relevant to the particular research topic, proven at an oral Skype interview during the admission procedure. Overall B2 (or higher) level knowledge of English language, proven by an appropriate certificate. See the details in the “Entry requirements”.

The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English.

Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

All documents should be uploaded BOTH in the original language and in English.

You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university.

Language requirements	English Minimum overall B2 level. ONLY the certificates listed in the “Entry requirements” are accepted.

Language requirements

English

Minimum overall B2 level. ONLY the certificates listed in the “Entry requirements” are accepted.

More information	phd.vik.bme.hu

Program description:
The PhD Program in Electrical Engineering is designed to pursue research in the areas of embedded systems, robotics, control, telecommunication systems, microwave technologies, electron devices, nanotechnology, antennas and propagation, power systems and energetics. There are at least 20-30 research topics announced by the doctoral school for international students every year. This list is available only to applicants qualifying for the oral part of the entrance exam. Accepted applicants are assigned a supervisor, who guide their research work all through the 8 semesters and beyond.

There are doctoral subjects providing the disciplinary background of research, including cutting-edge mathematics in the domain of stochastic processes, functional analysis and linear algebra, also networking and algorithms. Altogether 30 credits of such electives should be completed. The majority of the credits, however, should be collected from research work and the related activities.

The curriculum comprises 2 phases:
1) In the training and research phase, students should take all the required doctoral subjects, while actively working on their research and publications. They should contribute to teaching BSc and MSc students as well. At least 120 credits should be obtained by the end of the 4th semester.
2) In the research and dissertation phase, students should continue and finish their research, produce further publications, and start working on their dissertation. Another min. 120 credits should be obtained, having altogether min. 240 credits by the end of the 8th semester.

Milestones of the program:
1) Complex Review Exam:
- Should be taken at the end of the 4th semester, as an entry to the second phase.
- Aim: to give an account of the knowledge gained from the taught subjects, and of the results already achieved and to be achieved during the research work.
2) Submission of the dissertation for public defence:
- AFTER earning all the 240 credits set in the curriculum, completing the dissertation and passing the in-house defence, and having all the publications required for the degree appeared; BUT
- WITHIN 3 years after the complex review exam.

In order to earn the degree, the dissertation should be successfully defended in a public defence.

The student status ceases at the end of the 8th semester, independently of when the dissertation is submitted and defended!

Entry requirements:
1) Completed MASTER’S studies with an overall result of min. 70%. This should be proven by the DEGREE٭ awarded AND the TRANSCRIPT of all corresponding records.
Applicants still doing the MSc should upload, IN ADDITION to the transcript, an official certificate of the EXPECTED date of graduation.

2) Appropriate knowledge of ENGLISH, proven by EITHER
a) a recent certificate of an internationally recognised, INTERNATIONAL language EXAM of overall B2 level, covering ALL the 4 basic SKILLS (reading, listening, writing, speaking), as detailed below٭٭;
OR
b) an official medium-of-INSTRUCTION certificate of the MASTER’S studies (only if the FULL programme is given in English)٭٭٭.

3) Sufficient background KNOWLEDGE in the field, proven at an online TEST during the admission procedure.

4) Sufficient knowledge related to the selected RESEARCH topic, proven at an oral INTERVIEW via Skype during the admission procedure.

٭ NO PROVISIONAL degree certificate is accepted!

٭٭ ONLY the following language exams and results are accepted:
- IELTS min. 5.5;
- TOEFL IBT min. 80;
- Cambridge FCE min. 162;
- Pearson PTE min. 51.

Exams of LOCAL language schools or educational institutions or NATIONAL organisations are NOT accepted as proof of English proficiency!

LATER uploading of the language exam certificate is accepted ONLY IF at the application, it is substituted by a DECLARATION of the planned exam!

٭٭٭ The medium-of-instruction certificate CANNOT be uploaded later!

Entrance exam:
Yes

Type of entrance exam:
written and oral

Entrance exam location:
Electronic

Entrance exam description:
Selection process:
all applicants should write an online test → pre-evaluation of the submitted documents → qualifying applicants should choose 1 to 3 research topics from the offered list → evaluation of the test results and the submitted documents by the selected supervisor(s) → applicants meeting the criteria should have an entrance interview on Skype → statement of commitment or refusal by the interviewing supervisor(s) → decision by the doctoral school

Selection criteria:
→ appropriacy and quality of the below DOCUMENTS (ALL are required!):
- MSc transcript and (if already awarded) degree: min. 70% overall result required
- language certificate: should be uploaded on time and should be appropriate٭
- research plan / MSc thesis abstract (the latter one preferred)
- motivation letter
- recommendation letters (reference from current or earlier teachers / employers)
→ PERFORMANCE at the entrance exam (written and oral):
- oral language skills (the interview is in English)
- motivation, attitude
- technical preparedness in the selected research field
→ the number of VACANCIES for the topic, and the overall capacity of the supervisor

٭ Accepted language certificates:
a) medium-of-INSTRUCTION certificate of the MASTER’S studies done FULLY in English → only IF uploaded AT THE APPLICATION;
OR
b) EITHER of the below exam certificates → only IF the CERTIFICATE itself, OR a substitute DECLARATION is uploaded AT THE APPLICATION:
- IELTS overall band score min. 5.5;
- TOEFL IBT min. 80;
- Cambridge FCE min. 162;
- Pearson PTE min. 51.