The ESE PhD program is designed to provide sufficient structure to help you build a strong foundation and to have sufficient flexibility to accommodate the direction of your creativity. You will collaborate closely with your faculty advisor on the direction of your research and develop skills needed to perform independent research and teaching in an exciting, intellectual environment. Current concentration areas are circuits and computer engineering, nanodevices and nanosystems, and information and decision systems. ESE research is focused on the development and application of systems theory to the design of physical, biological, and socio-technical artifacts that improve the human condition.

Study Electrical and Systems Engineering at University of Pennsylvania, a PhD degree offered at its main campus in Philadelphia, United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 4 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for May 22, 2027.
About PhD in Electrical and Systems Engineering
Disciplines
Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Electrical and Systems Engineering at University of Pennsylvania
Entry Requirements
Our admission decisions are made prior to the announcement of results for many national examinations (such as the A Levels or French Baccalaureate), but applicants are expected to be enrolled in programs that prepare them for these examinations. If you are enrolled in a program that will not release external examination results prior to our application deadlines, you must request that your school send us predictions of external examination results along with your grades.
Where national examinations are required for admission to a pre-university program (such as the IGCSE or the SPM), you should have received high marks on these examinations and should present certified copies of the results with your Penn application.
Students in our diverse global community have a wide range of passions, perspectives, and talents. Beyond academics, we would like to learn about your non-scholarly interests, extracurricular activities, and community service (though we recognize that patterns for non-academic involvement vary from country to country).
English Requirements
- IELTSMin 7
- TOEFLMin 100
Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Electrical and Systems Engineering at University of Pennsylvania
How to Apply for PhD in Electrical and Systems Engineering at University of Pennsylvania
Offline Recommendation
Penn strongly prefers that recommenders submit letters of recommendation online through the admissions system. If, however, your recommender is unable to submit an online recommendation, please follow these instructions:
1) Select the “Recommendation Form PDF Download” and download the form.
2) Complete the first section. Be sure to include the address of the appropriate admissions office — refer to the "Contact Graduate Admissions" list below.
3) Print out the form and provide it to your recommender.
Please note:
- If you are applying to a program in Nursing, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.
- If you are applying to a program in the School of Social Policy & Practice, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.
4) Your recommender should send the form directly to the admissions office you designate, along with the letter of recommendation.

United States of America, Philadelphia