Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have an Online Application system?

Yes. With this new online application system applicants can check the status of their application via their computer. To access our online application system, please visit our Prospective Students for Masters and Ph.D. Degrees webpage.

Where do I send my application documents to?

If you are mailing any documents to us please send them to the following address:

McMaster University
Department of Civil Engineering - JHE 301
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7
Canada

Do you accept Visa or MasterCard for the payment of the application fee?

Yes, we do. Applications must be accompanied by the required $100 application fee. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a credit card payment or a cheque drawn on a Canadian bank made payable to McMaster University. Cheques drawn on Canadian banks should also include a $15 processing fee for a total of $115.

If I meet the minimum requirements for admission, will I be offered admission?

No, competition is very high for the number of positions available each year. Only the top students with the strongest references will be accepted.

May I waive the application fee until I am given admission and pay when I arrive?

No, the application fee is part of the application process and must be included with the application form. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a cheque drawn on a Canadian Bank or a World Money Order made payable to McMaster University.

What Scholarships are available and do I require an application form to apply for them?

Scholarships are internal and if you are offered admission and you do qualify for a scholarship, the Department will make the submission on your behalf.

What is the deadline for applying?

The deadline for receiving a complete application for the Master's and Ph.D. Programs can be found here.

Must I have a TOEFL if my native tongue is other than English?

As indicated in the McMaster University School of Graduate Studies Calendar 2011 - 2012 section, 2.1.8 English Language Requirements:

"English is the language of instruction at McMaster, except in the M.A. program in French. Hence it is essential that all students (except in the French program) be able to communicate effectively in English. Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language. Such applicants are required to supply this evidence as part of their application. The most common evidence is a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), administered by the Educational Testing Service (Princeton, N.J., USA). In Engineering, a TOEFL (iBT) score of 80 (550 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL test) is necessary; in other Faculties a minimum of 92 (580 or 237) is required. The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB), conducted by the Testing and Certification Division of the English Language Institute, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 USA), is, however, the preferred test. A score of 85 is considered acceptable in the Faculties of Science and Engineering; 90 in the other Faculties. Other evidence of proficiency in English will also be considered."

Back to the top