Overview
Students with a Master’s degree are required to take two half courses; both must be at the 700 level. If a student is transferring from the M.A.Sc. to the Ph.D. without completing the Master’s degree, then the courses completed under the M.A.Sc. may be counted towards the Ph.D. Among these two half courses, one can be a non-technical course with approval of the Associate Chair (Graduate). In addition to the minimum of two half courses, Ph.D. candidates are required to complete the mandatory seminar half course ENG PHYS 702.
During their course of study, doctoral candidates will be required to pass a Departmental Comprehensive Examination.
Ph.D. students must present a thesis proposal to their Supervisory Committee, normally at the first Supervisory meeting after completion of one term in their program.
Have questions about the program?
Ph.D. – About This Program
Course Requirements
The general regulations for the degree Doctor of Philosophy appear earlier in the Calendar. Students with a Master’s degree (from McMaster or elsewhere) are required to take two half courses, both at the 700 level. Students transferring from the M.A.Sc. program at McMaster to the Ph.D. program without completing the Master’s degree or students entering the Ph.D. program directly from a Bachelor’s degree without beginning an M.A.Sc. must complete a minimum of one additional half course at the 700 level beyond the M.A.Sc. requirement. In addition to the aforementioned courses, all Ph.D. candidates are required to have completed the mandatory seminar half course ENG PHYS 702. A minimum grade of B− must be obtained for all courses.
Comprehensive Examination
Doctoral candidates are required to pass a Departmental Comprehensive Examination whose purpose is to ensure that the candidate possesses sufficient knowledge and maturity of approach. The examination format is oral and will test the student’s knowledge and understanding of mathematics, physics, and the engineering sciences. The candidate will normally take the examination within eight months and no later than 20 months following admission to the doctoral program. The Comprehensive Examination includes a provision for second opportunity for assessment should the student fail the first attempt. This second assessment is given in place of any “re-read” of a comprehensive evaluation, which is explicitly excluded from the Student Appeal Procedures. Reporting of examination results will be done in accordance with the Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.
Thesis Proposal
Ph.D. students must present a thesis proposal to their Supervisory Committee, normally at the first Supervisory meeting after completion of one term in their program.
Industrial Ph.D. Option
The general Regulations for the degree Doctor of Philosophy appear earlier in the Calendar. This program option offers the candidate the potential to conduct all or a portion of their research at their company or research institute of employment. To be enrolled under the option, the candidate must be a full-time student in the degree program, have previously completed a Masters of Applied Science or its equivalence, and be employed by a company or research institute outside of McMaster continuously until degree completion. A candidate is required to complete the normal course requirements of their enrolled department as well as any milestones, but is exempt from seminar requirements. As a doctoral candidate, they must take the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination that is designed to test the breadth of knowledge and the ability to synthesize and integrate ideas from within and peripheral to the candidate’s research area. The Comprehensive Examination will normally take place between six and 18 months after the candidate initially registers in the Ph.D. program. A Supervisory Committee monitors the progress of a Ph.D. candidate and determines when the candidate is ready to write the thesis. The student is required to defend the thesis at a Final Oral Examination.
Ph.D. – Admission Requirements
Requirements
- GPA of B (73 – 76%) and successful completion of an M.A.Sc. program
- A GPA of A (85 – 89%) is required for direct entry to Ph.D. without an M.A.Sc.
- It is possible to transfer from an M.A.Sc. to Ph.D. after at least two terms and the successful completion of a transfer exam
- 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.
Graduate Studies – How to Apply
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
M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. Studies – Salary Information
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.
Graduate Studies – Areas of Research
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.
Graduate Studies – Request more Information
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.
Ph.D. – Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
ENGPHYS 2CM4 Undergraduate | Computational Multiphysics |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 3NM4 Undergraduate | Numerical Methods for Engineering |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 3SM3 Undergraduate | Statistical Mechanics |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4D03 / 6D03 Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Physics |
|
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4MD3 / 6MD3 Graduate | Nanoscale Semiconductor Devices |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4NE3 / 6NE3 Graduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering |
|
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4P03 / 6P03 Graduate | Nuclear Power Plant Systems and Operation |
|
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4QC3 / 6QC3 Graduate | Introduction to Quantum Computing |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4S03 / 6S03 Graduate | Lasers and Electro-Optics |
|
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4X03 / 6X03 Graduate | Introduction to Photovoltaics |
|
Outline | More |
ENGPHYS 4Z03 / 6Z03 Graduate | Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 702 Graduate | Graduate Seminars |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 706 Graduate | Toward a New Era of Nuclear Energy: Messages from Fukushima |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 713 Graduate | Nuclear Safety Analysis and Reactor Accidents |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 716 Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Heat Transport System Design |
|
More | |
ENG PHYS 723 Graduate | Semiconductor Diode Laser Physics |
|
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 726 Graduate | Optoelectronic Device Physics |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 752 / MECH ENG 752 Graduate | Advanced MEMS Fabrication and Microfluidics |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 704 Graduate | Selected Topics in Engineering Physics (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
|
More | |
ENG PHYS 705 Graduate | III-V Materials and Devices (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 710 Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Dynamics and Control (not offered in 2022-23) |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 714 / UN 0803 Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Safety Design (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
|
More | |
ENG PHYS 715 Graduate | Advanced Nuclear Reactor Thermalhydraulics (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
![]() |
More | |
ENG PHYS 718 Graduate | Reactor Heat Transport System Simulation and Analysis (not offered in 2022-23) |
|
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 721 Graduate | Optical Amplifiers and Lasers (not offered 2022-23) |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 727 Graduate | Advanced Reactor Physics and Analysis (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
![]() |
More | |
ENG PHYS 729 Graduate | Thin Film Growth and Deposition (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 730 / MECH ENG 730 Graduate | Thin Film Characterization (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
|
More | |
ENG PHYS 734 Graduate | Nonlinear Optics (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
![]() |
More | |
ENG PHYS 777 Graduate | Advanced Photovoltaics ( not running in 2022-23) |
|
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 782 Graduate | Solid-State Electronics (not running 2022-23) |
![]() |
Outline | More |
ENG PHYS 783 / UN 0806 Graduate | Nuclear Fuel Engineering (Not offered in 2022-2023) |
|
More | |
ENG PHYS 784 Graduate | Nuclear Fuel Management (not running 2022-2023) |
|
Outline | More |
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL ELECTIVES Technical Elective | Technical Electives |
|
Outline | More |