Canada · Public research university
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario · Founded 1887
QS World #189
THE #116
Official site
Acceptance rate
~58%
Total students
37,000
International
~16% (~6,000 of 37,000 students)
Annual tuition
CAD 41,000–63,000 / year (2025-26 non-Canadian UG; Health Sciences higher)
McMaster is consistently the highest-ranked Canadian university for medical research and originated problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education in 1969 — a method now used at Harvard and Stanford. Its Engineering Physics programme has the highest entry GPA of any Canadian engineering programme (low to mid 90s). Hamilton is 60 minutes from Toronto with substantially lower cost of living than Toronto or Vancouver.
Admissions requirements
- Language
- TOEFL iBT 86 with min 20 each band; IELTS 6.5 with min 6.0 each band
- Tests
- Apply via OUAC. CASPer test required for Health Sciences. Math contests (Euclid) recommended for Engineering.
- Deadlines
-
- Undergraduate Via Ouac: January 15 (engineering and health sciences); March 1 most others
- Postgraduate: Rolling, mostly January–February deadlines
- Financial aid
- McMaster International Scholarship — automatic awards CAD 2,500–10,000 based on admission GPA. President's Award. Department-specific awards in engineering and sciences.
Famous for
Health Sciences (problem-based learning)
Engineering Physics
Chemical Engineering
Business (DeGroote School)
Nuclear research
Notable alumni
- Bertrand Russell (visiting)
- Donna Strickland (Nobel Physics 2018, faculty)
- Lincoln Alexander (former Lt. Governor of Ontario)
Cost estimate
$46,000 / year
Tuition $32,000 + living $14,000
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