A candidate for the M.A.Sc. degree is required to complete a minimum of three half courses and a thesis; one of the three half courses may be at the 600-level; another one may be a non-technical course with written approval from the Supervisor.  In addition to the minimum of three half courses, M.A.Sc. candidates are required to complete the seminar half course ENG PHYS 702.  A minimum grade of B− must be obtained for all courses.  The thesis topic is chosen in consultation with the Supervisor and must result in a written thesis. 

Students currently enrolled in the M.A.Sc. program may request advance credit for one course based on courses taken in their undergraduate degree at McMaster. The Advanced Credit Option is open to students who were undergraduates in the Engineering Physics program at McMaster University who graduated with an overall average (CGPA) of at least B. The Advanced Credit Option allows graduate credit for one 600-level course taken in the final undergraduate year. 

An Accelerated Option is also available to students currently enrolled at McMaster as undergraduate students in the Department of Engineering Physics. The accelerated credit and thesis-related research work completed under the Accelerated Option are expected to reduce time to completion of the M.A.Sc. program. In exceptional circumstances, students from other Engineering departments in McMaster applying for entry into the M.A.Sc. program in Engineering Physics may apply for the Accelerated Option with the permission of the Department Associate Chair (Graduate). Application for entry into the Accelerated Option occurs in the penultimate year of undergraduate studies. Applicants must have an overall average (CGPA) of at least B at the time they are applying for the option. The Accelerated Option requires students to complete the equivalent of at least one term of their thesis-related project with a Supervisor from the Department prior to completion of their undergraduate degree. For students enrolled in the Accelerated Option, research conducted in ENGPHYS 3H04, 4H04 or the equivalent may count towards the Accelerated Option and therefore towards partial fulfillment of the graduate M.A.Sc. thesis work. A 600-level course offered by the Department is required under the Accelerated Option in the final undergraduate year for graduate credit. Students must enter into the M.A.Sc. program under the Accelerated Option less than one year after they complete their undergraduate degree and they must meet the same requirements for admission as other candidates. The Advanced Credit Option may not be used in conjunction with the Accelerated Option.

Transfer to the Ph.D.

After a minimum of one year in the M.A.Sc. program, a student may transfer to the Ph.D. program without completion of the Master’s, upon successful completion of a transfer examination. The transfer examination will be completed with the intended Ph.D. Supervisory Committee. The transfer exam will count towards the requirement of the Ph.D. thesis proposal.

A written report must be submitted prior to the transfer exam, which itself is oral and includes a presentation.

Biomedical Engineering

• Biosensors
• Biophotonics

Nuclear Engineering and Energy Systems

• Intense positron beam used to probe defects in materials
• Investigation of irradiated materials from nuclear power reactors
• Nuclear safety analysis, nuclear fuel and waste management, nuclear physics

Nanotechnology, Nano- and Micro-Device Engineering

• Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)
• photovoltaics
• organic electronics
• optoelectronics
• materials and devices

Photonics Engineering

• Silicon photonics
• displays
• laser applications
• sensors
• ultrafast lasers

Smart Systems

• Smart systems integrate various sensors and actuators to analyze and control a process.

A strong baccalaureate degree with an average of at least B (equivalent to a McMaster GPA of 8.0) in engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences is normally required for admission to the M.A.Sc. program.

Requirements

• GPA of B (73 – 76%)
• TOEFL score minimum requirement is 550 paper based, 88 iBT and 213 computer based
• IELTS minimum is 6.5
• MELAB -85 overall
• CAEL –  70 overall
• PTE Academic- 70 overall
• Interim English Language Proficiency (ELP) Score Policy in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic:
  Duolingo English Proficiency test scores (Effective from March 13, 2020 to October 30, 2021):
  • Duolingo English Test minimum = 120
  • Test report forms must be completed/uploaded before submitting application, if applicable.
  • Test reports are also to be sent to: 
    Graduate Administrative Assistant
    Department of Engineering Physics
    John Hodgins Engineering Building (JHE) A315
    McMaster University
    1280 Main St. W.
    Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L7
  • The Duolingo scores will be accepted only for the purpose of review by the Graduate Admissions Committee and for making an initial offer to applicants. Enrollment in our graduate programs will be contingent on completing a satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS test. If an applicant is admitted to the program in Engineering Physics, the applicant has to complete a TOEFL or IELTS that meets the standards above no later than 30 days before the start of the admitted term. In the case of failure to clear the TOEFL/IELTS condition 30 days before the term, in additional to all other conditions as stated in the offer letter, the offer will be considered as a declined offer status.
  • Details on The Faculty of Engineering Website here.

Admission Deadlines

• For September Admission:
  • Domestic Students Deadline: April 30
  • International/Visa Students Deadline: February 28
• For January Admission:
  • Domestic Students Deadline: November 30
  • International/Visa Students Deadline September 30
• For May Admission:
  • Domestic Students Deadline: March 31
  • International/Visa Students Deadline: January 31

Please note: McMaster is currently updating its admission application system.  As such, if you come across any errors in your application, or you find you are unable to submit your application, please email engphys@mcmaster.ca and we will contact you.

Admissions Questions? Click Here 

A complete application will consist of:

• Official transcripts
• Two academic references
• English language proficiency test results
• Statement of Interest
  • Tell us which professor you are interested in.
  • Do your homework – tell us which specific project you are interested in and with whom. Do some research in the area, read some of the professor’s papers, and present an interest in a specific project related to the professor’s research. Demonstrate that you have some initiative and provide the professor with some demonstration that you’ve actually read their work and thought about a project that interests you.
  • Why should we hire you? What courses, skills, and experiences do you possess that are relevant to the project. Prove that you have the background to do well in a specific project.
  • Ask any specific questions you may have about the professor’s work, based on what you’ve read in one of their papers or on their website. Show that you are curious about the subject you are proposing to work on for the next few years. 

Please visit the School of Graduate Studies website, for more information and detailed instructions on How to Apply: http://graduate.mcmaster.ca/academic-services/how-apply

Students currently enrolled in their final year of an Engineering Physics undergraduate program at McMaster University may apply for an Advanced Credit Option. The Advanced Credit Option is open to undergraduates who have an overall average (CGPA) of at least B at the time they are applying for the option. The Advanced Credit Option allows undergraduate students to take one 600-level course during their final undergraduate year for graduate credit. The Advanced Credit Option may not be used in conjunction with the Accelerated Option which similarly allows an undergraduate student to count one 600-level course taken during their final year towards their degree requirements of the M.A.Sc program. In exceptional circumstances, students from other Engineering departments in McMaster applying for entry into the M.A.Sc. program in Engineering Physics may apply for the Advanced Credit Option with the permission of the Department’s Associate Chair (Graduate). Entry into the M.A.Sc. program under the Advanced Credit Option must occur less than one year upon completing one’s undergraduate degree and must meet the same requirements for admission as other candidates.

An Accelerated Option is also available to students currently enrolled at McMaster as undergraduate students in the Engineering Physics Department whereby the M.A.Sc. degree may be completed in 12-16 months of full-time study. Application for entry into the Accelerated Option occurs in the final year of undergraduate studies. Applicants must have an overall average (CGPA) of at least B at the time they are applying for the option. The Accelerated Option requires students to complete at least one term of their thesis-related project with a supervisor from the department prior to completion of their undergraduate degree. A 600-level course offered by the department is required under the Accelerated Option in the final undergraduate year for graduate credit. For students enrolled in the Accelerated Option, research conducted in ENGPHYS 4H04 may count towards the Accelerated
Option and therefore towards partial fulfilment of the graduate M.A.Sc. thesis work.

In exceptional circumstances, students from other Engineering departments in McMaster may apply for entry into the Accelerated Option by contacting the department’s Associate Chair (Graduate). Entry into the M.A.Sc. program under the Accelerated Option must occur less than one year upon completing one’s undergraduate degree and must meet the same requirements for admission as other candidates.

Full-time graduate students admitted to the Master’s and Ph.D. programs in Engineering Physics will receive financial support in the form of a teaching assistantship, a departmental scholarship, and a research scholarship. The minimum level of support varies from year to year. Students who are recipients of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Scholarship or other external/internal scholarships will receive increased levels of support.

Thank you for your interest in McMaster University Faculty of Engineering. Please fill out the form below, and we will connect with you to answer all of your questions.