McMaster University in Canada: Admission, Costs and Scholarships

McMaster University is one of Canada’s best known research universities, and it takes in thousands of students from around the world every year. It runs a wide range of programs across science, engineering, health, business, humanities and social sciences, in a research-heavy environment.

If you are looking at a Canada student visa and want a university with strong teaching and modern facilities, McMaster University in Canada is worth a close look. This article covers the campus, the faculties, admission requirements, how to apply, tuition and living costs, and the scholarships and funding on offer, so you can judge whether it fits your plans.

Where McMaster University is located

McMaster University sits in Hamilton, Ontario, a city between Toronto and Niagara that is roughly an hour’s drive from both.

McMaster website: www.mcmaster.ca
Campus address:
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada

McMaster University on Google Maps:

The main campus is in Westdale, a quiet, green neighbourhood. Residential streets run along one side and the Cootes Paradise wetland along the other. That mix of nature and academic space is one of the reasons students describe the McMaster campus as calm and easy to live in.

Faculties at McMaster University

McMaster has six faculties, which between them cover a broad set of subjects. Each one is research-led:

McMaster University rankings

McMaster’s focus on research, innovation and teaching quality has earned it a high position in the main international rankings. The table below sets out its global position, its subject-level standing and its research performance.

Programs at McMaster University in Canada

McMaster is one of the more popular Canadian universities among international applicants, and it offers a wide spread of programs and degree levels. Whether you are applying for a bachelor’s degree or planning a master’s or a PhD, there are options here. Below is a closer look at the levels and the programs on offer.

From Aval Visa: read our guide to renting a home in Canada as a newcomer.

Undergraduate programs

At the undergraduate level, McMaster offers programs in science, engineering, health, technology, humanities, social sciences and business. Most take three to four years, though some, such as engineering and co-op programs that include paid work terms, run to five.
Popular undergraduate programs include:

• Health and medical sciences: Bachelor of Health Sciences, nursing, midwifery, physician assistant
• Engineering: mechanical, civil, electrical and computer engineering, and the well-known iBioMed program, which combines engineering with health sciences
• Basic sciences: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology
• Business and management: Bachelor of Commerce, with streams such as finance, marketing and strategy
• Humanities and social sciences: sociology, political science, philosophy, linguistics, history
• Applied technology: the Bachelor of Technology, which combines a university degree with a technical diploma.

Graduate programs, master’s and PhD

If you are planning to study at a higher level, McMaster offers master’s degrees (MA, MSc, MEng, MBA) and doctoral programs. Some are research-based, others are professional and project-based.
Graduate options include:

• The MBA and the Master of Finance at the DeGroote School of Business
• Master’s degrees in engineering, science, humanities and social sciences
• Specialised programs such as:
  Master of Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization (MBDC)
  Master of Global Health
  Water Without Borders, run jointly with international institutions

That range, together with the standard of teaching, is a large part of why McMaster is a common choice for international students.

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McMaster University admission requirements

If you want to study at McMaster, there are a few admission points to understand. The university sets rules for each level, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral, and you have to meet them.
Undergraduate:

• You need a high school diploma with strong results in the subjects that matter to your program, such as mathematics, chemistry or biology. Competitive averages are usually quoted as percentages and often start around 80 per cent, with higher cut-offs for popular programs. Each program sets its own prerequisites.
• If English is not your first language, you have to sit a language test such as IELTS or TOEFL and reach the required score. Typical undergraduate minimums are IELTS 6.5 and TOEFL 86, but check the figure published for your program.
• Undergraduate applications go through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), where you also submit your documents.

Graduate, master’s and doctoral:

• You need a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree with a good academic record, usually a B+ average or better.
• You need reference letters from professors or other credible referees, plus a CV covering your studies and work. Some programs also ask you to describe your intended research.
• Language requirements are usually higher at this level, for example IELTS 6.5 and above and TOEFL from 92.

You submit your application and upload documents through the McMaster University website.

How to apply to McMaster University

This section walks through the main steps in applying to McMaster. They are broadly the same at every level, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral, with a few differences noted below.

1. Check the requirements and choose your program
Start on the McMaster website and search the programs that interest you. Read the admission requirements closely. Some programs have specific prerequisites, such as named subjects, a minimum average or work experience.

2. Prepare your documents

• Official academic records: diploma, transcripts, degree certificates
• English test results such as IELTS or TOEFL, meeting the minimum for your program, which is usually lower at undergraduate level and higher for graduate study
• A CV, particularly for graduate applications
• Reference letters, for master’s and doctoral applications
• A research proposal or statement of purpose, usually for graduate applications

3. Register and submit your application
Undergraduate applications go through OUAC, the central Ontario universities application portal.
Graduate applications are submitted directly through McMaster’s own portal.

4. Pay the application fee
Application fees are set by McMaster and by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre and are reviewed each cycle. Check the current amount on the OUAC or McMaster page before you apply.

5. Track your file
After you apply, upload or send anything still outstanding and wait for a decision. The university may ask for extra documents or, more often at graduate level, an interview.

An offer of admission is not a visa. Once you hold a letter of acceptance you apply to IRCC for a study permit, usually online, and give biometrics at a visa application centre. Most study permit applicants also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter, and you have to show you can pay tuition and living costs. IRCC decides every study permit application on its own merits. If you apply from a country with no Canadian visa office, your file is handled by an office elsewhere in the region: see our guide to the Canadian visa office in Istanbul.

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Cost of studying at McMaster University

Tuition and living costs at McMaster for international students depend on the level, the program and how you live. All figures are in Canadian dollars and are reviewed by the university each year.

McMaster University scholarships

McMaster offers several forms of financial support to international students:

1. Entrance awards: when you first apply, a strong academic record can bring an automatic award. You do not have to apply separately, and the value comes off your tuition.
2. Merit-based awards: strong results during your degree, or achievement outside the classroom, can qualify you for further awards.
3. Need-based support: if your financial situation is difficult, you can apply for assistance. McMaster does fund students with demonstrated need.
4. Bursaries and work opportunities

• Bursaries: these reduce part of the tuition or living costs for students who need help.
• On-campus work: study permit holders may work on campus at the institution where they study, subject to the conditions printed on the permit and a valid Social Insurance Number. Off-campus work is capped by IRCC, and the cap has changed more than once, so check the current limit before you take a job.

McMaster University: facilities and teaching quality

McMaster runs a broad set of programs across many subjects and levels, in a setting built for both study and research. Its teaching, its facilities and its funding options make it a common choice for international students. Admission requirements are published clearly and follow international norms, and the application steps are easy to track.

The range of scholarships and bursaries at McMaster can take real pressure off a student budget. If you want a well-regarded Canadian university with good facilities, McMaster belongs on your shortlist. The more detail you gather before you apply, the better the decision you will make about where to study.

Frequently asked questions

1. Which McMaster program is hardest to get into?
   The Bachelor of Health Sciences is among the most competitive undergraduate programs in Canada, not only at McMaster.
2. What average do you need for McMaster?
   McMaster publishes required admission averages program by program and revises them each cycle. Check the published admission average for the program you are applying to. The academic average is the single most important factor.
3. Do you need an SAT score for McMaster?
   For most McMaster programs the SAT is not required, because admission is based on your academic record and program prerequisites. International applicants may submit SAT scores voluntarily to support an application, though no target range is published.