McMaster University Admission Guide (Official Process)

About McMaster University

McMaster University is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, roughly an hour from Toronto. It is one of Canada's most research-intensive universities and is especially well known for health sciences, engineering, business and the pioneering "problem-based learning" model developed at its medical school.

McMaster appears among the world's leading universities in the QS and Times Higher Education (THE) rankings. Rankings differ by methodology and are re-published every year, so treat any position as attributed to that ranking body for that edition rather than a fixed fact.

For international students, McMaster offers a broad range of undergraduate degrees across its faculties of Health Sciences, Engineering, Science, Humanities, Social Sciences and the DeGroote School of Business.

How to apply: the OUAC route

Undergraduate applications to McMaster are submitted online through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), not directly to the university. Students who are not current Ontario high-school students — which includes most international applicants — generally use the OUAC 105 application, while current Ontario high-school students use OUAC 101.

After you apply through OUAC, McMaster gives you access to an applicant portal ("checklist") where you upload transcripts, complete any required supplementary applications, and track your status. Keep your OUAC reference number safe, as it links your application to the documents you submit.

• Explore programs and their specific admission requirements first
• Submit your application through OUAC (105 for most international applicants)
• Complete your applicant checklist and upload documents in McMaster's portal
• Complete any supplementary application your program requires
• Accept your offer and clear any conditions

Supplementary applications (a McMaster-specific step)

A defining feature of applying to McMaster is that several competitive programs require a supplementary application in addition to your OUAC form. This is an extra set of written responses, tasks or assessments that the program reviews alongside your grades.

Programs that have used supplementary components include Health Sciences, Nursing, Engineering and iBioMed, Arts & Science, Integrated Business & Humanities, and Midwifery, among others. Some use short-answer questions; some (such as Nursing) have used a situational-judgement assessment (CASPer).

Each supplementary application has its own deadline — often earlier than the general application deadline — so check the exact requirement and date for your specific program on McMaster's official supplementary-applications page well in advance.

• Supplementary applications are program-specific — not every program has one
• Deadlines are often earlier than the main deadline
• Some programs assess written responses; some use additional assessments
• Confirm the current requirement and date on the official program page

The Bachelor of Health Sciences and other competitive programs

McMaster's Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) is one of the most sought-after undergraduate programs in Canada, and its supplementary application is a major part of admission — it is assessed together with your academic average rather than grades alone.

Because demand for such programs greatly exceeds the number of seats, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer. Focus on doing your genuine best on both your grades and the supplementary responses, and have realistic backup program choices.

We don't publish cut-off averages or seat counts here because they are not fixed and change year to year. Always confirm the current, official requirements for your program directly with McMaster.

English language requirements and pathways

If English is not your first language or your prior schooling was not in English, you will usually need to prove English proficiency. McMaster accepts IELTS, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test, among other measures. Minimum scores are set per program, so check the exact requirement for your program on the official English-proficiency page.

Students who do not yet meet the English requirement may be able to enter through McMaster's academic English bridging options (for example, its transition and preparation programs) before or alongside starting a degree. These are a recognised way to build academic English, but availability and terms change, so verify them officially.

• IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo English Test are accepted
• Minimum scores vary by program — check the official page
• Academic English bridging/transition options may be available if you fall short

Intakes, timelines and study permit

McMaster's main undergraduate entry is the Fall (September) term, and the admission cycle runs through the preceding autumn and winter. Because supplementary applications and document deadlines can fall early in the year, start well ahead — ideally the autumn before you want to begin.

Once you receive and accept an offer, you will need a Canadian study permit to study in Canada. This is general information, not immigration advice: study-permit rules — including the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) now required for most applicants, proof-of-funds expectations, and processing — are set by the Government of Canada and change frequently. Verify everything on the official IRCC / canada.ca source, and consider a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or lawyer for your individual case.

• Primary intake is Fall (September); plan around the earliest supplementary deadline
• A study permit is required to study in Canada — apply after you accept your offer
• Most study-permit applications now require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
• Verify all study-permit rules on canada.ca / IRCC (rules change often)