Skip to main content
Degree Options:

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (Ph.D. Co-op Optional)

Engineering Physics

The Ph.D. degree is thesis-based, where students are required to take courses, complete comprehensive exams and write & defend a thesis.

Current Student Inquiries:

Email:
Phone:
+1 905.525.9140 x 27925
Office:
JHE-A315
Apply Now View Calendar
Future Student Information

Overview

Students with a Master’s degree are required to take two half courses, at least two of which must be at the 700- level. Students entering into the Ph.D. program directly from a Baccalaureate degree, or transferring into the Ph.D. program without being required to complete the Master’s degree are required to take a total of two half courses at the 700-level. Among these two half courses, one can be a non-technical course with approval of the Associate Chair (Graduate). For those students transferring to the Ph.D. without completion of the Master’s degree, courses completed during the Master’s at McMaster’s Engineering Physics M.A.Sc. or M.Eng. program may be transferred to McMaster’s Engineering Physics Ph.D. program. In addition to the minimum of two half courses, Ph.D. candidates are required to complete the mandatory seminar half course ENG PHYS 701 .

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.

Important information:

Degree Type

Graduate Degree

LENGTH

4 years

ACADEMIC Requirements

Minimum B+ standing (McMaster’s GPA – 9.0)

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

View Calendar

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 are required to take two half courses, at least two of which must be at the 700- level. Students entering into the Ph.D. program directly from a Baccalaureate degree, or transferring into the Ph.D. program without being required to complete the Master’s degree are required to take a total of two half courses at the 700-level. Among these two half courses, one can be a non-technical course with approval of the Associate Chair (Graduate). For those students transferring to the Ph.D. without completion of the Master’s degree, courses completed during the Master’s at McMaster’s Engineering Physics M.A.Sc. or M.Eng. program may be transferred to McMaster’s Engineering Physics Ph.D. program. In addition to the minimum of two half courses, Ph.D. candidates are required to complete the mandatory seminar half course ENG PHYS 701 .

Comprehensive Examination

During their course of study, doctoral candidates will be required to pass a Departmental Comprehensive Examination. The purpose of this examination 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 8 months and no later than 20 months following admission to the doctoral program. The examination may, at the discretion of the Department, be repeated once. 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

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 till 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 6 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 he/she is ready to write the thesis. The student is required to defend the thesis at a Final Oral Examination.

Admission Requirements

The Department of Engineering Physics offers programmes of study leading to the M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Physics. For admission to the M.A.Sc. degree programme, a strong baccalaureate degree with at least a B standing (equivalent to McMaster’s GPA – 8.0) in engineering, mathematics or the physical sciences is required.

Entrance Scholarship

For all domestic students applying from September 29, 2017 onwards a $5000.00 one time entrance scholarship will be awarded to these students from their Undergraduate Degree Program. The domestic applicant must have a minimum GPA of B to receive this scholarship.

Admission Deadlines

  • For September – April 30
    •  International/Visa deadline - February 28
  • For January – November 30
    • International/Visa deadline September 30
  • For May – March 31
    • International/Visa deadline-January 31

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

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.

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

Salary Information

Full-time graduate students admitted to the Masters 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.

A one-time Entrance Scholarship in the amount of $5,000 will be awarded to domestic M.A.Sc. or Ph.D. students who meet the admission requirements.

You will receive a minimum of $16,000* plus tuition per year. International students receive a higher overall salary due to higher tuition fees.

Approximate annual salary:*

Canadian students – Master’s

$21000 + $5000 entrance scholarship

Canadian students - Ph.D.

$30000 + $5000 entrance scholarship

International students – Master’s

$27000

International students – Ph.D.

$34000

*Subject to change. This is valid only for 2017-18 academic year. Specific financial details will be provided in your offer letter.