Admission Requirements

1. Admission from Secondary Schools

All Level I programs have enrollment limits and admission is by selection.

A. Ontario

General Requirements (For all Level I Programs)

To be considered for admission, an applicant must satisfy the general requirements of the university and the specific subject requirements for the program to which they applied plus any specified supplementary application/on-line assessment/audition/portfolio required by some programs at the university.

If you are an applicant from an Ontario secondary school, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. An Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with acceptable standing; AND
2. An overall average in completed Grade 12 U and/or M courses which meets or exceeds the minimum set by the specific program to which you applied; AND
3. Satisfactory completion of six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including the subject requirements for your chosen program.

Note: Co-op courses are not included in any admission average calculations. Music External (Conservatory) 4M is acceptable as a credit and the mark obtained can be included in the calculation of your admission average. Alternatively, you may submit certificates from a recognized conservatory of music in Grade 8 practical and Grade 2 theory to your secondary school for one Grade 12M credit.

Admission Average Range

The Admission Average Range used to determine eligibility is calculated using the best six Grade 12 U and/or M grades, including all required subjects. McMaster calculates averages to two decimal points and does not round up averages.  See Early Conditional Admission and Final Admission below for specific details. Estimated admission average ranges for our Level I Programs can be found at: http://future.mcmaster.ca under Admission Requirements.

Early Conditional Admission

Early conditional admission may be granted annually to qualified applicants with strong academic standing. Early conditional admission is based on:

1. Six appropriate midterm/interim Grade 12 U and/or M grades, OR
2. At least three final Grade 12 U and/or M grades PLUS enrollment in the appropriate additional three Grade 12 U and/or M courses.
3. In some cases, Grade 11 marks may be considered in extending early conditional offers of admission.

Applicants who do not receive an offer of admission in March, will automatically be reassessed for admission until May 15 after additional Grade 12 U and/or M grades are received from secondary schools. Due to enrollment limits, McMaster may not be able to consider additional grade data received after May 15 for admission purposes.

The University reserves the right to withdraw a conditional offer of admission due to any of the following:

1. The minimum final average required was not met; OR
2. The OSSD was not awarded; OR
3. Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including all required subjects were not completed; OR
4. The applicant did not successfully accept the offer of admission at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) by the response deadline indicated on the offer letter; OR
5. Conditions stipulated on the conditional offer of admission were not met; OR
6. A post-secondary institution was attended prior to beginning your studies at McMaster; OR
7. The offer of admission to the university was secured through fraudulent means. Please note the University’s statements regarding application fraud at the end of the Admission section of this calendar.

Minimum Final Average

Secondary school applicants who receive a conditional offer of admission, are required to achieve an overall average (calculated to two decimal points) on six (6) final grades including all program specific required courses. This information is indicated on conditional offers of admission.

If an applicant’s final average falls below this level (or equivalent), the offer of admission will be rescinded/revoked and registration will be cancelled.

The required minimum final average varies from year to year and by program. This average is clearly stated on the offer letter.

Supplementary Application Forms and Extenuating Circumstances

Certain Level I programs including Arts & Science, Automation Engineering Technology 1 (co-op), Automotive & Vehicle Engineering Technology 1 (co-op), Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours), Biotechnology 1 (co-op), Computer Science 1 (regular and co-op), Engineering 1 (regular and co-op), Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed) (regular and co-op), Integrated Business and Humanities (IBH), Honours Integrated Science, Midwifery, and Nursing have mandatory online supplementary application forms or online assessments which must be completed by specific deadline dates. See Application and Documentation Deadlines , for specific deadline dates. Applicants to Business 1 may elect to complete an optional supplemental form prior to February 1.

McMaster does not normally use optional supplementary application forms. Applicants will be notified if the program they applied to decides to use an optional supplementary application form.

Applicants with special circumstances whose average falls slightly below the required admission average range may provide information to the Office of the Registrar, Admissions explaining the nature of their extenuating circumstances.  The Request for Special Consideration form can be found at https://future.mcmaster.ca/apply/pre-application/ouac-101/ under ‘How do I report extenuating circumstances?’. The form is open from November 1 to April 1. In some cases, the university may request letters of recommendation, personal history or other additional information to aid in the admission process. 

Offers of Admission for Secondary School Graduates

Applicants may be eligible for final admission if they have completed their OSSD and have final grades in six Grade 12 U and/or M courses. Applicants who fulfill these requirements by the end of February, may be granted a final admission offer.

The University reserves the right to withdraw an offer of final admission due to any of the following:

1. Failure to accept an offer of admission at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) by the response deadline indicated on the offer letter; OR 
2. Attendance at a post-secondary institution prior to beginning studies at McMaster.
3. An offer of admission to the university was secured through fraudulent means. Please note the University’s statements regarding application fraud at the end of the Admission section of this calendar.

Deferral of Admission

McMaster does not normally grant a deferral of an offer of admission unless special extenuating circumstances exist. Each case is evaluated on its own merits.

All requests for deferral of both admission and scholarship are to be submitted by September 1 of the application year, outlining the reasons for the request. If a deferral is granted, it is conditional upon the student not attending a secondary or post-secondary institution during the deferral period. For additional information, please refer to: https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/events/admission-deferrals/

Subject Requirements for Specific Level I Programs

McMaster University offers the following Level I programs:

Arts & Science I, Automation Engineering Technology 1 (B.Tech.), Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology I (B.Tech.), Biotechnology I (B.Tech.), Business I, Chemical & Physical Sciences Gateway, Computer Science I (regular and co-op), Economics I, Engineering I (regular and co-op), Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway, Honours Health and Society I, Health Sciences I, Humanities I, Honours Integrated Science (Level I), Honours Kinesiology (Level I), Integrated Arts I, Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I (regular and co-op), Integrated Business & Humanities I, Life Sciences Gateway, Mathematics and Statistics Gateway, Medical Radiation Sciences (Level I), Midwifery I, Music I, Nursing I, and Social Sciences I.

ARTS & SCIENCE I

Applicants must complete a mandatory supplementary application  which must be submitted at (https://artsci.mcmaster.ca/prospective-students/supplementary-application/) by the deadline as specified each year. See Application and Documentation Deadlines , for specific deadline dates. A minimum overall average of 88% is required for application consideration.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. One of Advanced Functions U or Calculus and Vectors U (Calculus and Vectors U is strongly recommended)
3. Completion of four additional U or M courses, to total six courses, of which two must be at the U level

AUTOMATION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY I CO-OP (B.TECH.), AUTOMOTIVE AND VEHICLE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY I CO-OP (B.TECH.), BIOTECHNOLOGY I CO-OP (B.TECH.)

Admission to Automation Engineering Technology I, Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology I, and Biotechnology is by selection. A minimum average range in the low 80s is required for application consideration. Applicants must complete a mandatory on-line assessment by the deadline as specified each year. See Application and Documentation Deadlines , for specific deadline dates.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U
3. Chemistry U
4. Physics U
5. Completion of two additional U or M courses to total six courses

BUSINESS I

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Advanced Functions U
3. Calculus and Vectors U
4. Completion of three additional U or M courses to total six courses

Applicants to Business I may elect to complete an optional supplemental form prior to February 1 to provide the program with more information more about themselves. 

CHEMICAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES GATEWAY

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Advanced Functions U
3. Calculus and Vectors U
4. Chemistry U
5. Physics U
6. Completion of one additional U or M courses to total six courses

COMPUTER SCIENCE I, COMPUTER SCIENCE I CO-OP

Admission to Computer Science I (regular and co-op) is by selection. A minimum average range in the low 90s is required for application consideration. Applicants must complete a mandatory on-line assessment by the deadline as specified each year. See Application and Documentation Deadlines , for specific deadline dates.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U
3. Two of: Biology U, Chemistry U, Physics U, Earth and Space U, Computer and Information Science M (or Computer Science U), or Computer Engineering M (or Computer Engineering Technology M)
4. Completion of two additional U or M courses to total six courses

ECONOMICS I

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Advanced Functions U
3. Calculus and Vectors U
4. Completion of three additional U or M courses to total six courses

ENGINEERING I, ENGINEERING I CO-OP

Admission to Engineering 1 (regular and co-op) is by selection. A minimum average range in the high 80s is required for application consideration. Applicants must complete a mandatory on-line assessment by the deadline as specified each year. See Application and Documentation Deadlines , for specific deadline dates.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U
3. Chemistry U
4. Physics U
5. Completion of two additional U or M courses to total six courses

ENVIRONMENTAL AND EARTH SCIENCES GATEWAY

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. One of Advanced Functions U or Calculus and Vectors U
3. One of Biology U, Chemistry U
4. One of Advanced Functions U, Biology U, Calculus and Vectors U, Chemistry U, Physics U
5. Completion of two additional U or M courses to total six courses

HONOURS HEALTH AND SOCIETY I

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Completion of five additional U or M courses to total six courses

HONOURS HEALTH SCIENCES I

Applicants will be selected based on both their academic qualifications and their scores on the mandatory on-line Supplementary Application (due early February); details at https://bhsc.mcmaster.ca/future-students/how-to-apply/. A minimum overall average of 90% or higher is required for consideration. The Supplementary Application is a very important component of the admission process. Applicants who do not complete the Supplementary Application will not be considered for admission.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. One of Advanced Functions U, Calculus and Vectors U, or Mathematics of Data Management U
3. Biology U
4. Chemistry U
5. One U or M non-math; non-science; non-technology course (Note: courses in technological education, science or mathematics are not acceptable)
6. Completion of one additional U or M course in any subject area to total six courses

HUMANITIES I

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Completion of five additional U or M courses to total six courses

The Faculty of Humanities strongly recommends at least one Grade 12 U or M course from Humanities subjects (Art, Drama, English, French, Français, other languages, History and Music). Note: In addition to Requirement 1 above, Biology U is strongly recommended for students planning to enter the Cognitive Science of Language program.

INTEGRATED ARTS I (iArts)

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Completion of additional U or M courses to total six courses

iArts is a direct-entry Level I program leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. Admission to this program is by selection and requires a mandatory creative submission to the School of the Arts. https://sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate-programs/iarts/apply-now/

For questions, please contact sota@mcmaster.ca.

HONOURS INTEGRATED SCIENCE (Level I)

Candidates are required to complete a mandatory Supplementary Application Form which must be submitted electronically at http://science.mcmaster.ca/sis/undergraduate/isci/isci-admission-requirements.html#admission-review-process. The information provided in the supplementary application is considered during the selection process. Only applicants with high academic standing will be selected. Successful candidates must present a minimum average in the high 80’s.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Advanced Functions U
3. Calculus and Vectors U
4. Two of Biology U, Chemistry U, Physics U
5. Completion of one additional U or M course to total six courses

INTEGRATED BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND HEALTH SCIENCES (IBEHS) I /
INTEGRATED BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND HEALTH SCIENCES (IBEHS) I CO-OP

Admission to Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences 1 (regular and co-op) is by selection. A minimum average of 90% or higher is required for application consideration. Applicants must complete a mandatory on-line assessment as specified each year. See Application and Documentation Deadlines , for specific deadline dates.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U
3. Biology U
4. Chemistry U
5. Physics U
6. Completion of one additional U or M course to total six courses

INTEGRATED BUSINESS AND HUMANITIES I

Admission to Integrated Business and Humanities 1 is by selection. A minimum overall average of 88% or higher is required for application consideration. Applicants must complete a mandatory on-line assessment (© Kira Talent) by February 1 each year. The following are the Minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U
3. Completion of four additional U and M courses to total six courses.

INTEGRATED BUSINESS AND HUMANITIES I (Beginning September 2023 Entry)

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U

Completion of four additional U and M courses to total six courses. Applicants must complete a mandatory on-line assessment (© Kira Talent) by February 1 each year.

HONOURS KINESIOLOGY (Level I)

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Calculus and Vectors U
3. Biology U
4. Completion of three additional Grade 12 U or M courses to total six courses. Introductory Kinesiology U is strongly recommended.

LIFE SCIENCES GATEWAY

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. One of Advanced Functions U or Calculus and Vectors U
3. Biology U
4. One of Advanced Functions U, Calculus and Vectors U, Chemistry U or Physics U
5. Completion of two additional U or M courses to total six courses

MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS GATEWAY

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Advanced Functions U
3. Calculus and Vectors U
4. Completion of three additional U or M courses to total six courses

MEDICAL RADIATION SCIENCES (Level I)

Students considering the Medical Radiation Sciences I program should refer to the Regulations for License to Practice and Functional Demands in the Medical Radiation Sciences program in the Faculty of Science  section of this calendar.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Advanced Functions U
3. Calculus and Vectors U
4. Biology U
5. Chemistry U
6. Completion of one additional U or M course to total six courses

MIDWIFERY I

Places in the Midwifery program are very limited and the admission process is highly competitive. Admission to the Midwifery Education Program is by selection. Application to the Midwifery program must be completed by January 15. In recent years an average range in the mid to high 80’s has been required to move forward to the admissions interview stage. Interviews are by-invitation only.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Biology U
3. Chemistry U
4. Completion of additional U or M courses to total six courses

​Students must obtain a minimum grade of 75% in each of the three required courses listed in points 1, 2, and 3 above AND a minimum overall average of 75% on grade 12 U or M courses including the required courses. 

Current (Ontario) secondary students may apply if one or more of the three (3) mandatory prerequisite courses are in progress at the time of application; however, the grade 11 prerequisite(s) in the same subjects must be completed at the time of application so that a preliminary assessment of the subject area(s) can be made.  Admission is based on in-progress secondary school subjects for current secondary students only if the grade 11 prerequisite in that subject has been completed with a minimum grade of at least 75%.

Applicants to Midwifery must complete a mandatory Casper (computer-based assessment for sampling personal characteristics) assessment on the dates specified each year and distribute results to Midwifery by February 1. Additionally, all applicants to Midwifery must complete a mandatory Identity and Admission Survey as part of the application to the Midwifery Education Program. The survey must be completed and submitted along with the other requirements and documents by the February 1 deadline.

MUSIC I

The academic requirements are the same as for Humanities I. In addition, applicants to Music I or to the B.A. in Music must successfully complete a music audition/examination consisting of:

1. Demonstration of technique (a level equivalent to at least honours standing in Grade 8 of the Royal Conservatory of Music)
2. Performance (approximately 20 minutes’ duration) of two or three varied pieces of your choice (approximately Grade 8 honours level), including at least one from the past 100 years
3. Ear test appropriate to the Grade 8 performance level
4. Written examination on rudiments of theory (Grade 2 level)
5. Interview

For comprehensive details, visit https://sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca/music/
Auditions take place between February and April. Audition arrangements are to be made with the School of the Arts at sota@mcmaster.ca.

NURSING I

NURSING CONSORTIUM (MOHAWK)

Note: Effective September 2024, all applicants for the two sites apply to the OUAC (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre), selecting McMaster University BScN and the specific site(s) of interest.

Students interested in a McMaster (B.Sc.N.) Nursing degree have two location options: McMaster University or Mohawk College. Each of the two sites offers the four-year program which uses the problem-based learning and small group educational model. For more information about the Mohawk site refer to the B.Sc.N. (A) Stream in the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences  portion of the Calendar. For full application instructions see the School of Nursing  and Application Procedures  sections as well as https://nursing.mcmaster.ca/programs/undergraduate.

Admission to Nursing 1 at all sites is by selection. A minimum overall average of 85% or higher is normally required for application consideration. Additionally, applicants to Nursing must complete a mandatory on-line assessment (CASPer^TM) on the dates specified each year (October-February).

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. One of Advanced Functions U, Calculus and Vectors U, or Mathematics of Data Management U
3. Biology U
4. Chemistry U
5. Completion of two additional U or M courses to total six courses

Health requirements for admission to Nursing 1: During the registration process, you must file with the University information pertaining to your state of health and immunization is required. Detailed instructions will be provided after acceptance into the program.

Students considering the Nursing 1 program should refer to the document Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario at the College of Nurses of Ontario www.cno.org.

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements:

1. English U
2. Completion of five additional U or M courses to total six courses

Advanced Functions U and Calculus and Vectors U are strongly recommended for students planning to enter programs in Economics or Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour. Biology U is recommended for students planning to enter a program in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour.

B. Other Canadian Provinces and Territories

Subject Requirements for Level I Programs

In addition to the minimum requirements below, satisfactory completion of the specified subject requirements for the program is also required. Please refer to http://future.mcmaster.ca for more details.

Averages used to determine eligibility for admission and residence are calculated to two decimal points based on the minimum provincial requirements, including the prerequisite courses for the program.

Early Conditional Admission

Applications are reviewed for conditional admission as soon as all required documents, with sufficient course and grade data, are received by the Office of the Registrar, Admissions. All Canadian applicants should upload interim/midyear school grade reports showing marks for all courses taken during the Grade 11 and 12 years as well as all course registrations for the current academic year, as soon as available. The terms and conditions of the offer of admission are stated clearly on the offer letter. The Provincial Ministry final transcript confirming final grades and graduation status will be required at the end of the school year. Students from all other provinces where transcripts are issued by their high schools should have their schools forward the appropriate final transcripts confirming graduation directly to the Admissions Office.

Applicants are required to meet the following minimum requirements including the specified subject requirements (not listed below) for their chosen program. For a complete listing of our specific course requirements by province and Level I program you may refer to our web site: https://future.mcmaster.ca/.

Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

Grade 12 high school diploma with five acceptable academic courses numbered 30 or 31, including English Language Arts 30-1.

British Columbia and Yukon

Grade 12 high school diploma with six acceptable Grade 12 academic courses (or equivalent), including one of English Studies 12, English 12, or English 12 First Peoples.

Manitoba

Grade 12 high school diploma with five acceptable Grade 12 academic courses numbered 40S, including one of English 40S.

New Brunswick

Grade 12 high school diploma with five acceptable Grade 12 academic courses numbered 120, 121, or 122, including one of English 121, English 122, or English as a Second Language 22411.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Grade 12 high school diploma with eleven acceptable Grade 12 academic credits at the 3000 level, including English 3201.

Nova Scotia

Grade 12 high school diploma with five acceptable Grade 12 academic or advanced courses, including English 12.

Prince Edward Island

Grade 12 high school diploma with five acceptable Grade 12 academic courses numbered 611 or 621, including English 611 or 621.

Québec

Grade 12 Diploma with six acceptable Grade 12 academic courses in the 600 series including English

OR

Year I CEGEP with twelve appropriate academic courses, including two English/Anglais 603 or two English 604 courses. Students completing Year II or III CEGEP who will or have achieved the DEC may be considered for advanced credit in their chosen program. The côte de rendement (R Score) is used for admission consideration.

Saskatchewan

Grade 12 high school diploma with five acceptable Grade 12 academic courses numbered 30, including both English A30 and B30.

C. International Baccalaureate Diploma

Applicants who have completed or will be completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma will be considered for admission to Level I, provided the completed diploma program includes the subject requirements of the program desired. Advanced credit of up to 18 units of study will be considered for Higher Level (HL) courses based on the achievement of final IB Diploma grades of 5 or greater.

For more information please refer to https://future.mcmaster.ca/.

D. Advanced Placement (AP) Courses/Examinations

Applicants who have completed AP courses will be considered for admission to a Level I program. Applicants who have completed A.P. exams through the College Board in acceptable courses and achieve a minimum grade of 4 will be considered for up to 18 units of advanced credit upon request, after acceptance of the offer and receipt of official results. For all students who have completed AP examinations through the College Board, an official copy of the final Advanced Placement Examination Results Report from the College Board is required as part of the admission and advanced credit evaluation process. For more information please refer to https://future.mcmaster.ca/.

E. Other International Secondary School Qualifications

Admission requirements for applicants from the more common international educational systems are noted below. For all other education systems, please visit our website country-specific requirements. Required subjects are the same as required for Ontario and other Canadian students: https://future.mcmaster.ca/. 

Applicants must upload high school transcripts as part of the application process. The equivalent of first-class standing will be required for admission consideration. Documents in a language other than English should be accompanied by notarized English translations. Applicants are considered for admission on an individual basis and you will not be allowed to attend the University until all conditions specified in the admission offer have been fulfilled.

McMaster University may require students presenting admission documents from schools outside of North America, to have those documents authenticated via WES Canada https://www.wes.org/ca/. This requirement, if applicable, will be specified in the official Offer of Admission letter.

American High School Curriculum

American Curriculum High School applications are reviewed for admission based on McMaster’s own calculation of the admission average. McMaster’s calculations may vary from those used at other institutions.
Applicants from an American high school curriculum must satisfactorily complete a secondary school diploma with a minimum overall average of at least 80% in a Grade 12 academic program from an accredited American high school/International American Curriculum high school AND must present all prerequisite courses for their chosen program(s).

Admission is competitive and many programs will require grades/averages well above the minimum 80% for admission consideration. For complete requirements for American Curriculum applicants, please visit our website: https://future.mcmaster.ca/.

General Requirements

High school diploma from an accredited school with prerequisite subjects including English completed at the AP or Senior Grade 12 academic level.
Students may be required to satisfy our English language proficiency requirements: https://future.mcmaster.ca/english-proficiency/
McMaster will consider a minimum of five Senior Grade 12 academic courses including all prerequisite subjects for the applicant’s selected program(s). Students applying to programs in Engineering, Science, Health Sciences, Economics and Business programming that have mandatory Science and/or Mathematics prerequisites should note the following requirements for each subject:

• Biology - 2 years/ 2 full credits (Junior and Senior) or AP Biology (or equivalent)
• Physics - 2 years/2 full credits (Junior and Senior) or AP Physics (or equivalent)
• Chemistry - 2 years/ 2 full credits (Junior and Senior) or AP Chemistry (or equivalent)
• Calculus - 4 years of high school Mathematics including Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus or equivalent.

Results of an equivalent AP challenge examination will be accepted in lieu of ONE of the science/math prerequisites.  A minimum score of 4 or 5 is required for AP challenge exams.

Upon request, students presenting AP courses to fulfill program requirements (or requisites) may be required to present official AP Examinations results with minimum results of ‘3’ via the College Board to finalize their admission. 

For claimed course equivalencies, detailed syllabi including all topics covered, total hours and textbooks used are required for our evaluation and should be submitted alongside official high school transcripts/reports.

For Fall 2023, SAT/ACT results (if submitted), will be considered if they benefit the student and strengthen their application. Students who do not submit a score will not be penalized. The institutional code for SAT/AP is 0936. The institutional code for ACT is 5326.

For SAT/ACT admission requirements for Fall 2024, please visit https://future.mcmaster.ca/ for updated information as it becomes available.

• Detailed school profile including grading scale may be requested
• 2nd quartile results can be used for consideration for a conditional offer of admission provided at least 2 of the 5 required courses have been completed with grades presented.
• Grade 9, 10, 11 and Grade 12 2nd quartile results are required for an admission review
• SAT results must be sent directly from the College Board. 

General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.)

Applicants from the General Certificate of Education system require a minimum of five G.C.E. subjects, at least three of which must be at the Advanced A2 Level with the balance of the subjects at the IGCSE/GSCE (Ordinary Level). Advanced Level subjects must be appropriate to your chosen program.

For program specific requirements please refer to https://future.mcmaster.ca/.

Other Countries or Educational Systems

For admission requirements from other education systems, please visit https://future.mcmaster.ca/ to view our country-specific Admissions Requirements.

F. Home Schooled Applicants

Home schooled applicants who in addition to their home schooling experience have completed six Grade 12 U and M courses at an Ontario Ministry of Education inspected and approved school, or equivalent courses from another recognized academic jurisdiction may be considered for their program of choice providing they present the appropriate prerequisite courses and required admission average on official transcripts from accredited schools. McMaster University is the sole arbiter of what is considered as equivalent level education and equivalent courses.

All other home schooled applicants may apply for admission consideration to Humanities I or Social Sciences I by presenting the following:

1. List of home school credentials including but not limited to structured curriculum completed through ACE (Accelerated Christian Education Program) or other such programs.
2. Portfolio of written work; normally, evidence of appropriate intellectual maturity.

​Results of standardized tests such as SAT, ACT. Applicants must also present results from the Critical Reading and Mathematics components of SAT I with a minimum combined score of 1200 (minimum 580 Critical Reading, 520 Mathematics) OR a minimum combined score for the Redesigned SAT result of at least 1200 as a combined score with a minimum of 600 in each section OR from ACT with a minimum composite score of 27.

​Interested applicants should contact the Office of the Registrar for further information regarding admission criteria.

G. Prior-Year Secondary School Graduates

Applicants who have previously completed a secondary school diploma and have not attended a post-secondary institution since graduation, may be considered for admission by presenting satisfactory standing in six required Grade 12 U and M courses (or equivalent) as identified in the Subject Requirements For Specific Level I Programs section in this calendar.

Having attended a post-secondary institution after high school graduation disqualifies applicants from being considered as an applicant from secondary school. See Admission/Transfer From Post-Secondary Institutions section in this calendar.

2. Admission/Transfer from Post-Secondary Institutions

A. From Universities

McMaster programs have enrollment limits and admission is by selection. Achievement of the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission will be considered on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed.

Transfer applicants will normally receive credit for courses in which a grade of at least a C- (as per the McMaster grading scale) has been achieved. Assessment of courses for transfer credit is subject to the guidelines of the individual Faculties.

Transfer students must also satisfy the Residence Requirements set out in the General Academic Regulations section of this Calendar. The University will not accord to you privileges which would not be granted by your own university.

Grades obtained in courses taken at another university will not be included in McMaster’s Grade Point Average, and, therefore, cannot be used to raise your standing.

If you have been required to withdraw from another university and have fulfilled your period of suspension, you may apply for admission. The Admissions Committee may request a letter of explanation and clarification concerning your past academic performance. You may also be asked to provide academic documentation for proof of further academic achievement which is both current and relevant. For full transfer information see our website: https://future.mcmaster.ca/admission/transfer-student-information/.

B. From Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology

McMaster programs have enrollment limits and admission is by selection. Achievement of the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission will be considered on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed.

For information regarding the amount of available transfer credits when transferring from a College of Applied Arts and Technology and to view the minimum admission requirements, please visit https://future.mcmaster.ca/college-transfer-student/.  

C. University Graduates Applying for a Second Bachelor’s Degree

All programs have enrollment limits and admission is by selection. If you have a first non-Honours degree, you may apply to take an Honours second degree in the same subject area or a second degree in another discipline. Please note the following exceptions: B.Arts Sc.(Arts & Science), B.Com. (Bachelor of Commerce), B.Com. (Honours), B.H.Sc. (Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)), B.Sc. (Honours) in Integrated Science (ISCI), Honours B.Sc. Kinesiology, Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, and Integrated Business and Humanities, and Social Psychology cannot be done as second degree programs. Honours Music is only available as a second degree to students whose first degree is not a BA in Music. The requirements are set out in the General Academic Regulations  section of this Calendar.

If you wish to enter a Second Bachelor’s Degree in a subject area from the Faculty of Science, please note that admission to all limited enrollment programs, with the exception of Medical Radiation Sciences I, may not be possible. Second Degree applicants to all Science programs, except Medical Radiation Sciences I, are not eligible for admission to any of the other first year Science programs. Second Degree applicants must have already completed all first year requirements for the second year program they wish to apply to, with the exception of Medical Radiation Sciences I. See Limited enrollment Programs in the Faculty of Science  section of this Calendar for a list of programs. Please contact the Office of the Associate Dean of Science (Academic) for further information (see the Application Procedures  section).

If you are a McMaster graduate or potential graduate, you may be able to use the McMaster University Returning Student Application (see the Application Procedures  section).

D. Continuing Students

At McMaster, a Continuing Student is defined as a graduate from an undergraduate program, who wishes to take more undergraduate courses. To be eligible to take courses as a Continuing Student applicants will need to be completing or have completed an undergraduate university degree with a minimum GPA of a C average, with no failures in the final year of study, (or equivalent, in the case of a degree taken through part-time studies), and academic records which are satisfactory to the Department and the Office of the Associate Dean of the appropriate Faculty. *Please Note: not all courses are available to Continuing students and course prerequisites for selected courses must be met. Also note that admission as a Continuing student does not guarantee registration in courses of interest to the student.

McMaster Graduates

Graduates of a McMaster undergraduate degree program who wish to become a Continuing Student do not need to apply for admission. Graduates who have not attended courses for more than two years will need to contact the Office of the Registrar prior to attempting to enrol for courses.

Graduates from Other Universities

Continuing Students with a non-McMaster degree, must apply for admission through OUAC. In subsequent academic terms, students will only be required to enrol.

Acceptance as a Continuing Student carries no implications with respect to acceptance in the School of Graduate Studies. Those who plan to proceed to a graduate degree should apply directly to the specific program of interest.

E. From Six Nations Polytechnic

McMaster University, along with five other universities, partnered with Six Nations Polytechnic to offer university courses in the community of Six Nations. The courses offered are eligible for transfer credit at any of the universities within the consortium. For more information please contact the Indigenous Student Services at 905-525-9140, ext. 27459 or indigsc@mcmaster.ca.

F. From Post-Secondary Institutions with Religious Affiliation

Undergraduate general academic studies taken at colleges with religious affiliation that are member institutions of specific accredited associations will be considered for admission and transfer credit on a case by case basis. Applicants from a non-accredited postsecondary institution with religious affiliation will be considered for admission based on completion of a Grade 12 high school diploma.

3. Other Categories of Admission

A. Part-time Admission

Applicants interested in beginning studies on a part-time basis should review the requirements and information found in the following sections of this Calendar:

• Admission Requirements
• Application Procedures
• General Academic Regulations
• Sessional Dates
• Program descriptions found in the specific Faculty sections

Applicants must meet one of the admissions criteria outlined in the sections above. If applicants do not meet any of these criteria, they may qualify for Mature Student Admission as outlined under the heading Mature Student Admission below.

 Detailed information can be found on our website: http://future.mcmaster.ca/.

B. Mature Students (Admission)

Applicants who do not qualify for admission under one of the above categories, may be assessed for eligibility as a mature student, provided the following criteria are presented:

1. The applicant has not attended secondary school or college on a full-time basis for at least two years.
2. The applicant has never attended university.

Applicants admitted as mature students will not be granted transfer credit. Programs in the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences have no specific course requirements for mature student admission. The following Level I programs have specific course requirements that mature applicants must present from secondary school:

• Business I: requires satisfactory completion of Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors U (or equivalent).
• Chemical and Physical Sciences Gateway: requires satisfactory standing in four Grade 12 U mathematics and science courses (or equivalent) as specified under the heading Subject Requirements For Specific Level I Programs.
• Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway: requires satisfactory standing in three Grade 12 U mathematics and science courses (or equivalent) as specified under the heading Subject Requirements For Specific Level I Programs.
• Life Sciences Gateway: requires satisfactory standing in three Grade 12 U mathematics and science courses (or equivalent) as specified under the heading Subject Requirements For Specific Level I Programs.
• Mathematics and Statistics Gateway: requires satisfactory standing in Grade 12 U Advanced Functions U and Calculus and Vectors U (or equivalent) as specified under the heading Subject Requirements For Specific Level I Programs.
• Midwifery I does not offer mature admission directly to the program.  However, students interested in Midwifery may be admitted as a mature student to another program in order to complete a minimum of six university courses (18 units) in their program of admission before applying to the Midwifery Education Program. 
• Nursing I does not offer mature admission directly to the program. However, students interested in Nursing may be admitted as a mature student to another program in order to complete university prerequisite courses for later consideration for admission to Nursing I. Presenting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an offer of admission. Contact the School of Nursing for more details.

The following programs do not admit under the category of Mature Students: Arts & Science I, Automation Engineering Technology I (B.Tech.), Automotive and Vehicle Technology I (B.Tech.), Biotechnology I (B.Tech.), Computer Science I, Engineering I, Health Sciences I, Honours Integrated Science (Level I), Honours Kinesiology (Level I), Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I, Integrated Business and Humanities I, Medical Radiation Sciences (Level I), Midwifery I, and Nursing I.

Mature students may register for up to 18 units of course work (normally Level I courses) during the Fall/Winter session with no more than nine units per term (three courses). Within the first 18 units, mature students will be limited to taking three units (one course) per term of the Spring/Summer session.

Upon completion of 18 units, academic performance is reviewed according to the general academic regulations of the university. (See Level I Registration and Academic Standing Requirements under General Academic Regulations ).

C. Visiting Students (Letter of Permission - For Credit at Another University)

Students currently attending another university, may apply to take McMaster courses for credit at their own/home institution. Please note, not all courses are available for credit outside McMaster and all are subject to enrollment limits. Applicants must adhere to McMaster application deadlines.

Applications are made through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). The Letter of Permission and an official transcript are required. Transcripts are reviewed to ensure prerequisites courses have been completed. Approval of a Visiting Student application does not guarantee your enrollment in a course.

Subsequent requests to take courses on a Letter of Permission do not require another application; however an updated Letter of Permission and updated official transcript must be sent to the Office of the Associate Dean of the Faculty offering the course at McMaster. If interested in registering in courses offered by more than one Faculty, approval from each Office of the Associate Dean must be obtained.

D. Graduates of McMaster Certificate/Diploma Programs

Applicants who have completed certificate or diploma programs from McMaster may be granted advanced credit up to maximum specified by Undergraduate Council. Faculties review the subject matter of both the certificate and degree programs. Credit granted will normally be applied against elective courses. For more information regarding advanced credit, please refer to the Certificate and Diploma Programs   section of this Calendar.

E. Post-Degree Students

University graduates or a persons with professional qualifications who wishes to take one or more graduate courses but not proceed to an advanced degree, may apply to McMaster as a post-degree student. To enroll as a post-degree student, apply to the appropriate department(s) and have your admission and registration approved by the School of Graduate Studies for each session in which you wish to take courses. You will register and pay fees as a graduate student.

Acceptance as a post-degree student carries no implications with respect to admission to advanced degrees, and even if such admission is granted subsequently, credit toward the advanced degree will not normally be granted for the work previously taken.

F. Listeners

If uncertain about taking degree courses, registering as a listener in a degree course may be of interest. Listeners attend all classes, but do not complete any of the essays, tests or other formal requirements and do not receive a grade or credit. Some students have eased their way into degree study with this option, subsequently applying for admission and enrolling in further courses for credit. Please note not all courses are available to Listeners. Please see https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/fees/ for any applicable fees. For more information please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Written permission to attend must be obtained from the instructor delivering the course. An I.D. card cannot be issued until permission has been obtained.

G. Enrichment Program for Secondary School Students

Outstanding Grade 12 students who wish to enroll in a university-level course while completing Grade 12 U and M courses in their final year of study, may apply for the Enrichment Program. For more information contact the Office of the Registrar https://future.mcmaster.ca/contact-us/.

H. Former McMaster Degree Students (Returning Students)

Readmission

Former McMaster students who voluntarily withdrew from an undergraduate program more than five years ago (and have not attended another university or completed a college diploma elsewhere) and wish to return to studies, must apply for Readmission. Students from the School of Nursing or the Physician Assistants program must apply for Readmission regardless of time elapsed following voluntary withdrawal.

Those enrolled (have a record of course enrolment) within the last five years and who left the university in good academic standing (and have not attended another university or completed a college diploma elsewhere), do not require an application for readmission.  Students will be permitted to enrol in their previous program or another program for which they qualify. Students must contact the Office of the Registrar directly to request registration access prior to enrollment.

Reinstatement

See the General Academic Regulations  section in this Calendar.

Second McMaster Degree

See University Graduates Applying for a Second Bachelor’s Degree  in this section of the Calendar.

Continuing Studies

See Continuing Students  in this section of the Calendar.

4. Transfer Credits

A. General Policy on the Transfer of University Course Credits

To facilitate program completion by undergraduate students seeking to transfer course credit from an accredited university to McMaster, the University has implemented the following principles:

1. Acceptance of transfer credits from accredited universities shall be based on the recognition that, while learning experiences may differ in a variety of ways, their substance may be essentially equivalent in terms of their content and rigour. Insofar as possible, acceptance of transfer credit shall allow for the maximum recognition of previous learning experience in university-level courses;
2. Subject to degree, grade and program requirements, any course offered for credit by an accredited university shall be accepted for credit by McMaster when there is an essential equivalency in course content. However, no course for which a grade of less than C- (60%) has been achieved will be considered.
3. Evaluation of all possible transfer credits available at the time of admission must be completed within one year of the date of admission to the University.

B. From Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology

Normally, well-qualified graduates of a three-year program where the college work is appropriate to the chosen university program, may receive up to 30 units of transfer credit. Graduates of two-year programs will be reviewed for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis.

Credit beyond this may be given on an individual basis where the college and university programs are in similar areas, and where the academic record warrants special consideration.

In the granting of credit, attention will be given to:

1. Performance in the college program;
2. The duration of the college program;
3. The program taken at the college and the program to which entry is sought;
4. The applicant’s secondary school record.

Each case will be considered on its own merits for the program desired.  Further information is available at https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/build-degree/college-transfer/. Requirements may be subject to change.

C. Advanced Credit

Subject to the discretion of the Faculty, advanced credit may be granted for a completed: International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Diploma, the Advanced Placement (A.P.) Program and the College Board examinations; or the General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) the minimum requirements prescribed have been achieved. Advanced credit may shorten degree program length at McMaster.

D. Credit in Courses by Special Assessment (Challenge Examinations)

Applicants who have acquired knowledge at a different type of institution or in a manner that makes assessment of their qualifications difficult are permitted to seek degree credit through special assessment (Challenge for Credit).

Challenge for credit is not intended to give credit for skills or knowledge gained through high school, college or previous university instruction. The special assessment may include one or more of the following: written examinations, papers, essays, submissions of a substantial body of work, portfolios, or laboratory tests. Credit can be granted only for those courses listed in the current McMaster calendar. Not all courses in all disciplines are available for challenge. Faculties and departments are free to determine which, if any, of their courses are open for special assessment. Challenges are assessed on a pass/fail basis. The passing grade for a challenge appears on the transcript as COM (Complete) and is not used in computing averages or evaluating honours or scholarship standing, but is counted as a course attempt. Unsuccessful attempts will be noted on the transcript as a grade of F/below 50%. Special Assessment is not available for a course taken previously and a course may be attempted only once by special assessment. Once you have registered for a course by such means (known as challenge exams) the registration may not be cancelled and you may not withdraw from the course.

Waivers of prerequisites only (ie. no degree credit) will be at the discretion of the department.

5. English Language Proficiency

Applicants asked to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement, must demonstrate English language proficiency by achieving the minimum requirements as specified by McMaster. The university reserves the right to require applicants with an English Language Proficiency score disparate from their English prerequisite subject grade to present further evidence of achievement.  Acceptable tests of English Language Proficiency and minimum score requirements are specified on our web site https://future.mcmaster.ca/english-proficiency/. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make all arrangements regarding the writing of the English Language Proficiency tests and to have the official score report submitted to the Office of the Registrar, Admissions in a timely manner.

At the discretion of the university, applicants may be exempt from this requirement if meeting one of the following requirements:

1. Attended, in full-time academic studies (non-ESL), an accredited Secondary School (High School) or Post-Secondary College in an English-speaking country for at least four years immediately prior to your anticipated start date at McMaster, OR
2. Attended, full-time academic studies (non-ESL), at an accredited English medium Secondary School (High School) or Post-Secondary College for at least four years,* immediately prior to the anticipated start date at McMaster OR
3. Attended full-time academic studies (non-ESL), at an accredited English medium University for at least one year, immediately prior to the anticipated start date at McMaster OR
4. Resided in an English-speaking country for at least four years immediately prior to anticipated start date at McMaster.

*Please note that the Undergraduate MD program requires a minimum of three years of study at an English-medium university. More information about the admission requirements for Medicine at McMaster can be found at: https://mdprogram.mcmaster.ca/.

Statements for Application Fraud

If McMaster concludes based on reasonable grounds that the applicant has falsified any information presented to the University as part of his or her application, without limiting any other rights of McMaster available at law, McMaster reserves the right to revoke the offer and, subject to applicable law and University Policy, to terminate a student’s registration.

Without limiting McMaster’s General Statement on Collection of Personal Information and Protection of Privacy, please take note that McMaster University collects and retains personal information of applicants for admissions to McMaster University under the authority of The McMaster University Act, 1976. This information may be used for the administration of admissions and registration and, subject to McMaster University policies (as may be amended or revoked from time to time), McMaster may disclose any evidence of misrepresentation, fraud or falsification of admissions documentation to other educational institutions, to government agencies, to law-enforcement agencies and to other relevant third parties. The information you provide on any application for admissions will be protected and used in compliance with Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSO 1990) and will be disclosed only in accordance with this Act. Questions regarding the collection and use of this information may be directed to the University Registrar, University Hall, Room 209, Student Records, Gilmour Hall, Room 108, or the University Secretary, Gilmour Hall, Room 210, McMaster University.
 

McMaster English Language Development Diploma (MELD)

Department of Linguistics and Languages (Faculty of Humanities)
Phone: (+1) 905.525.9140 Ext. 23718

Email: meld@mcmaster.ca
Web: https://meld.humanities.mcmaster.ca/diploma/
Students who meet the academic admission requirements for their choice of Level 1 program, but do not meet McMaster’s English Language Proficiency requirement may be admitted to the MELD bridging program which has been developed for international students, providing them with a supportive environment in which they can succeed. The diploma is a two-term, full-time intensive bridging program in English language development, acculturation and engagement. Students accepted into MELD are given a conditional offer of admission to their program of choice, pending successful completion of the MELD diploma. Once the diploma in MELD has been successfully completed, the student may register in the program to which the student was given conditional admission and will have completed 6 units of degree credit courses in Linguistics that may be applied as electives to that program. In exceptional circumstances, MELD will consider transfers from other McMaster programs.

Please visit https://meld.humanities.mcmaster.ca/diploma/ for more information or email meld@mcmaster.ca.

Fall Term

(September - December)
• LINGUIST 1E03   (degree credit course)
• MELD 1M00   - Mentorship Lab 1
• MELD 1Q03   - Critical and Analytic Reading
• MELD 1QQ3   - Grammar, Structure and University Writing
• MELD 1R03  - Aural Communication and Academic Culture
• MELD 1RR3   - Oral Communication for Academic and Social Interactions

Winter Term

(January - April)
• LINGUIST 1EE3   - Introduction to English Linguistics II (degree credit course)
• MELD 1MM0   - Mentorship Lab 2
• MELD 1S03   - Critical Reading, Research and Academic Vocabulary
• MELD 1SS3   - Academic Writing, Reporting and Research 14
• MELD 1T03   - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Language and Language Learning
• MELD 1TT3   - Oral Communication for Academic Discourse      

McMaster English Readiness for Graduate Excellence Certificate

https://meld.humanities.mcmaster.ca/merge/

MERGE (the McMaster English Readiness for Graduate Excellence Certificate) is an intensive six-week summer certificate program for current or prospective graduate students from any institution who are looking to improve their English-language skills. The MERGE program offers over 200 hours of language training; 35 hours per week. Admission requirements include successful completion of an undergraduate degree and English language proficiency minimum requirements of TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 6.5 (with minimum category requirements). Target English proficiency upon program completion will be an IELTS score of 7-7.5 or Common European Framework Reference for Languages (CEFR) level C2.1, in keeping with graduate English proficiency admission requirements.

The MERGE program goes beyond essential training in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It has been designed to support the integration of these skills as applied to real world contexts students will encounter during graduate school and beyond. The MERGE certificate does not require current or conditional admission to a McMaster University graduate program and program completion does not guarantee admission to a graduate program of study in and of itself. As a stand-alone program, the MERGE certificate coursework cannot be utilized for advanced standing or credit towards degree studies.

Certificate Requirements

Each of the program’s six weeks will be divided into modules that will focus on a different set of skills. These modules will approach the development of these skills from the point of view of both cultural understanding and practical implementation, with an emphasis on teaching and practising the language skills needed to be successful in each domain. The six modules are:

•  Module 1 - General social interactions: conventions and strategies for everyday social encounters students face
•  Module 2 - Academic feedback and critique: the role of critique in academia along with tools for both giving and receiving feedback or peer review
•  Module 3 - Academic reasoning: identifying, understanding, and summarizing arguments and evaluating supporting evidence in both reading and listening
•  Module 4 - Academic interactions: navigating relationships with supervisors, teams, and other faculty in person, through email, at conferences, and in seminars
•  Module 5 - Career preparation: best practices for CVs/resumes, job interviews, elevator pitches, and online brand building
•  Module 6 - Teaching: principles of effective teaching including developing lessons, interacting with students, and grading