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PHD ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
- Qualification
- Philosophiae Doctor Degree
- CAO/MU Apply code
- MHJ02 (FT), MHJ03 (PT)
- Award Type and NFQ level
- Research Ph.d. (10)
- Study Mode
- Part time
Overview
Course structure
Duration: 4 years Full-time, 6 years Part-time
Traditionally the PhD was a 4-year journey deep into a specific topic with the supervisor helping to guide the way. Around 2010, Maynooth University, together with the other Irish universities, decided to adopt a structured PhD programme, whereby the student would still undertake a 4-year research project, but would also be expected to complete 6 taught modules as well, in a range of diverse topics. The motivation here was to avoid a student becoming ‘pigeon-holed’, i.e. to avoid the student becoming expert in a very narrow (but deep) topic, which may be disadvantageous to their future career prospects. The module subjects are designed to expand the student’s horizon, and to equip them with various new skill sets that will benefit the student in their future careers.
In addition to the final thesis, the Structured PhD consists of 6 taught modules
- 3 modules (15 credits) of approved graduate or generic skills /transferable modules that are designed to help develop the student in subjects not aligned with their research project.
- 3 modules (15 credits) of approved subject specific/advanced specialist modules that can support the research topic. Also, see here for more information on these modules.
In addition to a research thesis, the Structured Research Masters (M.Eng.Sc) requires
- 1 module (5 credits) of approved graduate skills /transferable modules.
- 1 module (5 credits) of approved subject specific/advanced specialist modules.
If you click on the links above, you will notice that some of these modules are marked as flexible and can be classified under either of the two categories, subject to supervisor approval. Some modules can span multiple semesters and years, but students must register for the modules in the semester they wish to be assessed. Each module can only be taken once during the programme of study and credit cannot be achieved for the same material in two different modules.
Each student will be assessed annually, for satisfactory progress in both the taught and research elements of their degree. There is no requirement for any minimum number of credits to be achieved in any one year, however students who have not successfully achieved the minimum number of credits in both sets of modules will not be allowed to submit their final thesis.
Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually.
Careers
Graduates of the PhD programme in Engineering at Maynooth University enjoy an outstanding track record of success, with a 100% employment rate. Many pursue rewarding careers in cutting-edge research roles within industry or academia, leveraging their advanced expertise to drive innovation and solve complex challenges. Opportunities abound in sectors such as renewable energy, medical technologies, wireless communications, robotics, and artificial intelligence, aligning with the department's diverse research strengths.
Beyond academia, our graduates secure influential roles in leading multinational companies, startups, and research institutions, contributing to advancements in areas like sustainable systems, satellite communications, and advanced imaging. Whether designing next-generation medical devices or spearheading pioneering IoT solutions, Maynooth Engineering PhD graduates are well-equipped to shape the future of technology and innovation.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for a PhD in Electronic Engineering is at least a 2:1 Bachelor in Electronic Engineering or a similar disciple applicants - weaker academic results or a different discipline will be considered where there are other beneficial factors, such as work experience.
Minimum English language requirements:
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.
Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850
Research Interests
Below you will find a list of the Principal Investigators in the Engineering Department and their research areas. If you are interested in pursuing a PhD, please feel free to contact these staff members directly to explore the opportunities.
Dr Bryan Hennelly Dr Hennelly specializes in optical engineering and optoelectronics, focusing on advanced microscopy, computational imaging and AI, and spectroscopy techniques for clinical and biological applications. His research seeks to develop innovative optical systems for diagnosing diseases at the cellular level using holography and Raman spectroscopy.
- Raman and Nonlinear spectroscopy for clinical diagnostics and automated pathology.
- Quantitative phase imaging and Optical Diffraction Tomography for 3D imaging of biological cells.
- Interferometry and image processing for precision metrology.
- Hyperspectral Imaging for biological applications.
- Deep Learning Methods in Imaging and Signal Processing
Contact:¿bryan.hennelly@mu.ie
If you are passionate about optical engineering, advanced imaging systems, or biophotonics, please feel free to contact me to discuss potential PhD opportunities.
Prof Gerard Lacey Prof Lacey works on robotics and human-machine systems, with a particular focus on real-time computer vision applications in healthcare and agriculture. His expertise includes robotics for augmented reality, surgical simulation, and hospital hygiene training systems.
- Robotics for healthcare and agricultural applications.
- Real-time computer vision systems.
- Augmented reality surgical simulators.
- Automated hand hygiene training systems.
- Human-machine physical interaction.
Contact:¿Gerry.Lacey@mu.ie
If you are interested in Agricultural robotics, augmented reality, computer vision for healthcare or human-machine systems, I would be happy to discuss opportunities for PhD research.
Dr John Dooley Dr Dooley’s research focuses on digital signal processing for wireless communications, with emphasis on power efficiency and high-frequency system design for terrestrial and satellite communications.
- Digital compensation for high-efficiency RF power amplifiers.
- Optimisation of cellular network power efficiency.
- Distributed PAs for massive MIMO and beamforming.
- Ku and Ka band satellite communications.
- E-band wireless system design and testing.
Contact:¿john.dooley@mu.ie
If you have an interest in wireless communication systems or high-frequency signal design, I would be delighted to discuss PhD opportunities with you.
Prof Ronan Farrell andnb
How to apply
To enrol in the Engineering PhD programme, there are several requirements including a 2.1 in an Engineering degree. You can see full details on the entry requirements here: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/electronic-engineering/our-courses and see this link for more info from Maynooth University:¿https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/postgraduate-studies/how-apply. You will notice from the latter link that English literacy is a requirement.
The biggest obstacle to doing a PhD is often the fees, details of which can be found here: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/student-fees-grants/postgraduate. While we welcome students that can fund these fees themselves, we acknowledge that most students cannot. For these students various scholarships are available through the IRC (open in Q3/Q4 each year) and our own MU internally funded scholarship, the John Hume programme as well as some others, but these all require the support of a supervisor (member of staff) who will help to plan for a suitable research project in advance of the application. There is usually a 6-12-month lag in application to starting a postgraduate if successful. In some cases, the supervisor may already have funding through a research grant - in this case they will advertise the positions on our website, here: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/electronic-engineering/current-vacancies. If you see a PhD project you like, please email the supervisor with your CV and a cover letter.
If you wish to apply for funding, please look at the RESEARCH INTERESTS tab to the left and seek a suitable supervisor and e-mail them your CV. We suggest you try to find a supervisor whose interests overlap with your own and to contact them directly either seeking an existing funded PhD opportunity or seeking their support in applying for a scholarship. If you wish, you can get more information on the staff in the department on our staff page: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/electronic-engineering/our-people.
If you plan to approach a potential supervisor regarding a possible scholarship application, you may wish to align your proposed project with Maynooth University’s Research Beacons announced in Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2023-2028 as well as Maynooth University’s Five-Year Focus in its strategic plan. You are more likely to receive scholarship funding in these areas.