Why McMaster?
Consider graduate studies at one of the top-ranked engineering schools in Canada.
Located within Canada’s innovation corridor, McMaster Engineering in Hamilton, Ontario, believes diversity of thought can create global change and a brighter world for all.
Collaboration with industry partners and access to a network of leading researchers; support through career planning and professional development are some of the diverse experiences that will fast-track you on a successful career path.
Be part of the change. Be part of McMaster Engineering.
A Global Reputation for Excellence
Ranked as one of the world’s top engineering schools, the Faculty of Engineering plays a significant role in helping McMaster University earn its reputation as one of Canada’s most innovative universities. Our focus on experiential, problem-based learning and our interdisciplinary approach to collaboration results in smarter insights, ground-breaking ideas, and greater optimism.
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#1 Most Graduate Student Research Intensive University in Canada
Research Infosource
Ranked Among Top 100 Universities in the World
Shanghai Rankings (ARWU), 2023
#13 in the World for Global Impact
Times Higher Education, 2023
McMaster Engineering is consistently among the top 10 engineering school rankings in Canada and contributes to McMaster University’s overall ranking as one of the top schools in the world across all rankings. We offer a range of research-based and professional Master’s degrees as well as PhD programs.
Graduate Programs & Schools
School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is comprised of McMaster Engineering’s seven core, world-class academic departments, including Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computing & Software, Electrical & Computer Software, Engineering Physics, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Degrees by Department
- Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) in Chemical Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering
McMaster houses one of the most distinguished and research-intensive chemical engineering departments in Canada. Four of the 20 chemical engineers selected by the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering for making the greatest contributions to chemical engineering in Canada in the 20th century were professors at McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering.
Ranked as one of the top three civil engineering programs in Canada and the top 30 worldwide, we are a vibrant multi-disciplinary research-intensive department focused on building healthier communities to create a Brighter World. Our deep-rooted connections with the industry are evident in our six research chairs and a strong record of successful application-based research funding. Our facilities allow us to conduct world-class research supported by multiple research centres, networks and institutes.
- Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) in Software Engineering
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Computing and Software
- Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Computer Science
- Master of Science (M.Sc.) in eHealth
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Software Engineering
McMaster’s Department of Computing and Software advances the field of computing through education and research. We focus on computing research problems that involve scientific theory, engineering practice, and the interface between the two. We seek to address society’s need for better methods of developing information systems and dependable, safe, secure, high-quality software.
- Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.)
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Electrical & Biomedical Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
McMaster’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department is ranked as one of the best departments of its kind, nationally and internationally. Faculty members are regular award winners, including the prestigious Premier Research Excellence Award (PREA), OCUFA teaching award, McMaster Students Union Teaching Award, Booker Gold Medal, and the Signal Processing Society Education Award.
- Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.)
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in UNENE Nuclear Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Engineering Physics at McMaster is at the forefront of modern physics to better the world through technological advancement. We are solving the grand challenges of the future such as energy supply, human health, renewable energy, digital information and communications technology.
- Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) in Materials Science & Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Materials Science & Engineering
Building strategically on our diverse expertise in materials, in collaboration with local and global partners, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at McMaster University is internationally recognized as a destination of choice, where students, scholars, alumni and employers partner in a journey of learning, discovery and innovation.
- Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is the second largest department in the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University. The research funding per faculty member is among the highest in the country and the department benefits from state-of-the-art laboratories with established international reputations.
W Booth School of Engineering Practice & Technology
The School of Engineering Practice and Technology (W Booth) provides interdisciplinary graduate education through experiential learning, mentorship, and a student-centred learning experience with real-world applications for tomorrow’s leaders.
Master of Engineering Programs
School of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering has made enormous contributions to the advancement of health care. It provides opportunities for major academic, research and development achievements for those who choose to pursue this field at the highest levels.

School of Computational Science & Engineering
The School of Computational Science & Engineering offers graduate programs leading to professional and research Master’s degrees in either Science or Engineering.

The eHealth MSc
McMaster’s eHealth MSc program is a unique healthcare graduate program that immerses you in the world of digital health informatics.

NEW: Explore our flexible Industrial Ph.D.
McMaster Engineering PhD students now have the option of earning a doctoral degree while staying on the job. The flexible Industrial PhD option enables students to remain in their own company or research institute and use labs at work to complete their research and eventual thesis.
Future Graduate Students – How to Apply
Overview of Application Process
Application deadlines vary between programs. Students must complete their applications by the deadlines in order to be considered admissible.
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Step 1. Prepare your application
Before applying, please refer to the required credentials for your program of interest to ensure your eligibility.
Gather required documents such as official transcripts, academic references, language proficiency examination scores, statement of interest and any additional documents. Please review the program website for details.
Step 2. Submit your application online
Apply to a graduate program through our online application system.
Create an applicant profile and complete forms that request personal and contact information, previous education information, test and language scores, research information, additional documents and references. This guide will walk you through the online application process.
Step 3. Check your application status
Login to your Mosaic account to check your application status online at any time. The admissions timeline varies for each program. Please contact your graduate school for any questions or concerns.
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Language Requirements
If your previous studies were completed in English, you can be exempt from taking a language proficiency test.
Applicants are required to submit evidence of their proficiency in the English language as part of their application. The most common evidence is a score on one of the following exams:
- TOEFL: Faculty of Engineering a minimum score of 88 (internet-based) or 230 on the (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based)
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section
- CAEL: minimum overall score of 70, with at least 60 per band
- MELAB: minimum score of 85
- PTE Academic: minimum score of 63; for the Faculty of Engineering a minimum score of 70
- York University course: YUELI Level 6 with a minimum final grade of B
- University of Toronto course: Academic Level 60 with a minimum final grade of B
If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements to be exempted from the language proficiency tests, please reach out to enggrad@mcmaster.ca
Graduate Studies-Engineering Application Deadlines 2023/4
Updated as of November 3rd, 2023
M.Eng in Systems & Technology (M.Eng S&T) Winter 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- September 30, 2023
- International applicants – July 15, 2023
M.Eng in Systems & Technology (M.Eng S&T) Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- June 30, 2024
- International applicants – April 30, 2024
M.Eng Design Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- June 30, 2024
- International applicants – April 30, 2024
Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering (M.E.M.E.) Winter 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- September 30, 2023
- International applicants – July 15, 2023
Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering (M.E.M.E.) Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- June 30, 2024
- International applicants – April 30th, 2024
Master of Engineering in Public Policy (M.E.P.P.) Winter 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- September 30, 2023
- International applicants – July 15, 2023
Master of Engineering in Public Policy (M.E.P.P.) Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
- Domestic applicants- June 30, 2024
- International applicants – April 30th, 2024
- Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: November 1st, 2023
Winter 2024 Domestic Deadline |
October 31st, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International Deadline |
July 1st, 2023 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Deadline |
May 31st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Deadline |
March 31st, 2024 |
May 2024 International Deadline |
February 28th, 2024 |
May 2024 International Deadline |
November 15th, 2024 |
- Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: November 1st, 2023
Winter 2024 Domestic Deadline |
October 231st, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International Deadline |
July 31st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Deadline |
May 31st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Deadline |
March 31st, 2024 |
May 2024 Domestic Deadline |
March 14th, 2024 |
May 2024 International Deadline |
October 31st, 2024 |
* M.A.Sc & PhD in Chemical Engineering
- Application Opening Date: October 1st, 2023
Winter 2024 Domestic Deadline |
October 1st, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International |
July 1st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Deadline |
June 15th, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Deadline |
March 15th, 2024 |
- Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: November 1st, 2023
Fall 2024 Domestic Masters Deadline |
July 31st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Ph.D. Deadline |
August 20th, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Masters & Ph.D. Deadline |
March 30th, 2024
|
-
Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: September 15th, 2023
September 2024 Domestic Deadline |
January 14th, 2024 (11:59 PM ET) |
September 2024 International Deadline |
January 14th, 2024 (11:59 PM ET) |
- Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: November 30th, 2023
Winter 2024 Domestic Deadline |
October 26th, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International Deadline |
October 5th, 2023 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Deadline |
June 14th, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Deadline |
May 3rd, 2024 |
May 2024 Domestic Deadline |
October 26th, 2023 |
May 2024 International Deadline |
October 5th, 2023 |
- Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: September 1st, 2023
Winter 2024 Domestic Deadline |
November 30th, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International Deadline |
October 31st, 2023 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Deadline |
July 31st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Deadline |
May 31st, 2024 |
May 2024 Domestic Deadline |
March 31st, 2024 |
May 2024 International Deadline |
February 28th, 2024 |
-
Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: October 1st, 2023
Winter 2024 Domestic DeadlineStatus notifications for International students will be given on or before August 1, 2024. Please do not contact the department for status requests. |
October 1st, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International DeadlineStatus notifications for International students will be given on or before August 1, 2023. Please do not contact the department for status requests. |
July 15th, 2023 |
Fall 2024 Domestic DeadlineStatus notifications for International students will be given on or before April 1, 2024. Please do not contact the department for status requests. |
June 1st, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International DeadlineStatus notifications for International students will be given on or before April 1, 2024. Please do not contact the department for status requests. |
March 15th, 2024 |
May 2024 Domestic DeadlineStatus notifications for International students will be given on or before December 1, 2024. Please do not contact the department for status requests. |
February 1st, 2024 |
May 2024 International DeadlineStatus notifications for International students will be given on or before December 1, 2024. Please do not contact the department for status requests. |
November 15th, 2023 |
- Fall 2024 Application Opening Date: November 1st, 2024
Winter 2024 Domestic DeadlineApplications open April 1, 2024 for domestic and international students, |
September 1st, 2023 |
Winter 2024 International DeadlineApplications open April 1, 2024 for domestic and international students. |
September 1st, 2023 |
Fall 2024 Domestic Deadline |
April 14th, 2024 |
Fall 2024 International Deadline |
April 14th, 2024 |
May 2024 Domestic Deadline |
December 29th, 2023 |
May 2024 International Deadline |
December 29th, 2023 |

Future Graduate Students – Research
McMaster Engineering has a well-established reputation as one of Canada’s most research-intensive faculties in a range of disciplines from advanced manufacturing, materials, automotive, and nuclear research. We continue to push the boundaries of discovery in emerging areas, such as bio-innovation, micro-nano technology, smart systems, energy and environmental sustainability.
Learn more about our research clusters:
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Additive Manufacturing Research Group
July 15, 2022

Emily Cranston, Department of Chemical Engineering
July 15, 2022

Leading experts in materials science research
July 15, 2022

McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute
July 15, 2022

McMaster's leading hybrid electric vehicle research
July 15, 2022

Saiedeh Razavi, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
July 15, 2022

Todd Hoare, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
July 15, 2022
Future Graduate Students – Co-op
McMaster Engineering offers a comprehensive professional skills development program for engineering graduate students.
Graduate students interact with a variety of people within the academic, government and private sectors. It provides a great opportunity to develop a strong network of professional connections but also personal friendships.
Many new graduate programs today are geared toward helping students gain new expertise or to complement an existing one. At McMaster, we want to ensure all of our students leave prepared for their future career path by offering co-op experiences, career planning, and online professional skills development modules.
“Master’s and PhD students have so much to offer companies, with ground-breaking knowledge and techniques from their research. Affording students the unique opportunity to gain work experience will be enriching for students and the industries they will be contributing to.”
–Dr. Michael Thompson, Associate Dean: Graduate Studies
Opportunities for Graduate Students
A term of work experience is a great addition to your master’s or doctoral studies. Students benefit by gaining valuable industry experience with leading engineering employers. Employers benefit by having access to a highly qualified talent pool of graduate students eager to put theory into practice.
Students can develop professional skills in areas such as interview preparation, cracking the market, career planning (industry and academia) and communication.
McMaster Engineering PhD students now have the option of earning a doctoral degree while staying on the job. The flexible Industrial PhD option enables students to remain in their own company or research institute and use labs at work to complete their research and eventual thesis.
The new option will cut down on the time it takes to complete a PhD for those trying to balance a career and studies. Currently, doctoral students who remain on the job take about seven to 10 years to complete their degrees or about twice the time it takes their full-time peers.
McMaster Engineering will readily equip students with the support to commercialize their research.
Information Box Group

Mike Chatzidakis
Master's Student, Materials Science & Engineering, McMaster Engineering
“When I used some of very abstract theoretical stuff from my degree into a very applied purpose. I’ve never really done that before. It was very surreal.”
Where did you do your co-op? The company I worked for is called Shoebox and it’s a small Toronto based startup. I did a fourth month co-op this past summer. Tell me about your experience? I was a data scientist, so I used machine learning algorithms for image recognition. For me, it was a little different from my masters, because my masters was very academia focused and very much abstract. [In my co-op] I got a lot of applied experience in something similar to my thesis, but in a real company, solving real problems. Why did you decide to do a co-op in your graduate studies? When I was an undergraduate, I decided to do a research term every summer, because I thought the route I wanted to go was academia and just do that. As a result, I never really got an industry co-op experience. So, when I got to grad school, I kind of realized that and I remember through career services (Jessica Farrell and Adam Pepler) they talked about the importance of a more diversified experience. What was your greatest fear pursuing a co-op experience? I think my greatest fear was, that I didn’t have enough applied experience. All I had was research experience and I was going to jump into a very fast paced startup. I thought I wouldn’t have what it took. I was very much thrown into the wolves, but I still managed. It was interesting to be in an environment that was much more results driven. What was a defining experience during your co-op period? When I used some of very abstract theoretical stuff from my degree into a very applied purpose. I’ve never really done that before. It was very surreal. From your experience, what is the most important thing you learned? There isn’t just one path. Especially in engineering or science, you kind of just think, “I’ve got to do my bachelors, masters then PhD.” However, there are many different paths you can take. It’s very easy to lose touch with all the options you may have, mostly because everyone you ask for advice is in academia, so they have a little bit of a bias. I really enjoyed branching out and exploring what’s out there. It can even trickle back and give me a perspective about my research. By working in industry it informs my research in terms of knowing what industry needs today. Why do you think a co-op is important? I think a co-op experience is important, because it is a foot in the door within a company. The company may want to hire you afterwards, they wanted to hire me. It’s hard, especially in today’s market to get a job right after graduation. Everyone is always struggling, you can see it in everyone’s faces. Having co-op experience and having more under your belt makes you much more competitive against other schools.
Mike Chatzidakis
Master's Student, Materials Science & Engineering, McMaster Engineering

Qiang Xu
Department of Computing and Software, McMaster University
“The most important thing I learned is the difference between doing academic research and research in the industry. When you are doing research at the university, the output is in a bunch of papers. ”
Where did you do your engineering graduate co-op? Last year, I was a research intern at Microsoft Research, Redmond, Seattle in USA. My project there was a location awareness project. I had the chance to work with a few awesome guys to develop end-to-end GPS system to provide very energy efficient location awareness system. It was an awesome experience. Every year, Microsoft recruits 200 research interns and most of them are PhD students. [These PhD students] are doing pretty much research jobs and some prototyping. It was really fun there. From your co-op experience, what is the most important thing you learned? The most important thing I learned is the difference between doing academic research and research in the industry. When you are doing research in the university, the output is in a bunch of papers. However, when doing research in the industry the output is a product. At the end of the day, the product will be applied to day to day living. Why did you decide to do a co-op in your graduate studies? Four years ago, when I was applying for PhD opportunities in China and Canada, I decided on Canada because I enjoyed the colder weathers. For McMaster, the engineering graduate studies is very like around the world. Also, I was particularly interested in the research my supervisor was doing and her research was very relevant to my interests. Why do you think a graduate co-op is important? I think a co-op or internship program is very important, especially for engineering students. You know engineering is about development and developing something in an university environment is very different from developing something in the “real world”. You get an understanding of what the real world engineering process looks like. Most importantly, this experience is very valuable for your future career development and the chance to meet other professionals in the industry.
Qiang Xu
Department of Computing and Software, McMaster University
“When I used some of very abstract theoretical stuff from my degree into a very applied purpose. I’ve never really done that before. It was very surreal.”
Where did you do your co-op? The company I worked for is called Shoebox and it’s a small Toronto based startup. I did a fourth month co-op this past summer. Tell me about your experience? I was a data scientist, so I used machine learning algorithms for image recognition. For me, it was a little different from my masters, because my masters was very academia focused and very much abstract. [In my co-op] I got a lot of applied experience in something similar to my thesis, but in a real company, solving real problems. Why did you decide to do a co-op in your graduate studies? When I was an undergraduate, I decided to do a research term every summer, because I thought the route I wanted to go was academia and just do that. As a result, I never really got an industry co-op experience. So, when I got to grad school, I kind of realized that and I remember through career services (Jessica Farrell and Adam Pepler) they talked about the importance of a more diversified experience. What was your greatest fear pursuing a co-op experience? I think my greatest fear was, that I didn’t have enough applied experience. All I had was research experience and I was going to jump into a very fast paced startup. I thought I wouldn’t have what it took. I was very much thrown into the wolves, but I still managed. It was interesting to be in an environment that was much more results driven. What was a defining experience during your co-op period? When I used some of very abstract theoretical stuff from my degree into a very applied purpose. I’ve never really done that before. It was very surreal. From your experience, what is the most important thing you learned? There isn’t just one path. Especially in engineering or science, you kind of just think, “I’ve got to do my bachelors, masters then PhD.” However, there are many different paths you can take. It’s very easy to lose touch with all the options you may have, mostly because everyone you ask for advice is in academia, so they have a little bit of a bias. I really enjoyed branching out and exploring what’s out there. It can even trickle back and give me a perspective about my research. By working in industry it informs my research in terms of knowing what industry needs today. Why do you think a co-op is important? I think a co-op experience is important, because it is a foot in the door within a company. The company may want to hire you afterwards, they wanted to hire me. It’s hard, especially in today’s market to get a job right after graduation. Everyone is always struggling, you can see it in everyone’s faces. Having co-op experience and having more under your belt makes you much more competitive against other schools.
Mike Chatzidakis
Master's Student, Materials Science & Engineering, McMaster Engineering
“The most important thing I learned is the difference between doing academic research and research in the industry. When you are doing research at the university, the output is in a bunch of papers. ”
Where did you do your engineering graduate co-op? Last year, I was a research intern at Microsoft Research, Redmond, Seattle in USA. My project there was a location awareness project. I had the chance to work with a few awesome guys to develop end-to-end GPS system to provide very energy efficient location awareness system. It was an awesome experience. Every year, Microsoft recruits 200 research interns and most of them are PhD students. [These PhD students] are doing pretty much research jobs and some prototyping. It was really fun there. From your co-op experience, what is the most important thing you learned? The most important thing I learned is the difference between doing academic research and research in the industry. When you are doing research in the university, the output is in a bunch of papers. However, when doing research in the industry the output is a product. At the end of the day, the product will be applied to day to day living. Why did you decide to do a co-op in your graduate studies? Four years ago, when I was applying for PhD opportunities in China and Canada, I decided on Canada because I enjoyed the colder weathers. For McMaster, the engineering graduate studies is very like around the world. Also, I was particularly interested in the research my supervisor was doing and her research was very relevant to my interests. Why do you think a graduate co-op is important? I think a co-op or internship program is very important, especially for engineering students. You know engineering is about development and developing something in an university environment is very different from developing something in the “real world”. You get an understanding of what the real world engineering process looks like. Most importantly, this experience is very valuable for your future career development and the chance to meet other professionals in the industry.
Qiang Xu
Department of Computing and Software, McMaster University
Future Graduate Students – Funding & Awards
Many graduate students at McMaster are eligible for financial support, such as teaching assistantships, research funds, University graduate scholarships, external scholarships, and bursaries.
Financial Support
McMaster ensures that full-time graduate students in Ph.D. programs and in many Master’s programs receive scholarships (awarded annually). A Ph.D. student is normally funded for four years. Students in Master’s programs are usually funded for their first three to six terms depending on the department.
The Faculty of Engineering has adopted a policy that ensures all full-time Ph.D. students, both domestic and international, receive a funding package in the amount of their tuition fee plus $17,500 per year. Many programs have support levels in excess of this amount. Please contact the graduate recruitment office to find out more.
TA positions are provided to many graduate students who are offered admission to regular full-time programs. Depending on the program, duties can consist of conducting tutorials, lab demonstrations, or marking. A full teaching assistantship consists of 260 hours over two terms.
A list of these awards is found in the School of Graduate Studies Calendar. These awards have various amounts and conditions associated with them.
Many scholarships awarded by granting councils can be held at McMaster University. These include the following:
- Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRCC) doctoral fellowships
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) postgraduate scholarships
VALUE OF THE AWARD
- $3000 – $3500
ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION
- Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 Entrance
- Canadian or a Permanent Resident of Canada
- All full-time programs are eligible
- Master in Public Policy (MEPP)
- Master in Engineering Design (MED)
- Master in Manufacturing Engineering (MEME)
- Master in Systems and Technology (MEST)
- Master in Engineering/Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MEEI/MTEI)
- A/A+ ($3,500) and A- ($3,000) averages – all students who meet the average qualify
- MEME and MEST: Minimum GPA requirement must be met in each of Levels 2, 3 and 4. Cumulative GPAs are not considered.
- MEPP, MED and MEEI/MTEI: Cumulative GPA from Levels 2-4.
- For residents of Canada who have degrees from foreign universities, we will use the same calculations as the School of Graduate Studies when checking the GPA of the applicants.
AWARD ADMINISTRATION
- The award will be deposited into the student’s MOSAIC account at the start of the first term of study. The award value is to be used against tuition and may not be withdrawn from the student account. This is a one-time, non-renewable award. For more information, please contact enggrad@mcmaster.ca
Indigenous and Black Engineering/Technology (IBET) Ph.D. Fellowship
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Indigenous and Black Engineering/Technology (IBET) Ph.D. Fellowship
The IBET Momentum Fellowship aims to address the urgent need to encourage and support the pursuit of graduate studies by underrepresented groups.
The Fellowship is valued at up to $25,000 per year for up to four years for doctoral students in the Faculty of Engineering and is available annually.
This initiative aims to change the academic landscape within the next five to 10 years by increasing the number of Indigenous and Black engineering professors teaching and researching in universities across Ontario.
It will also create the next generation of students who will increase diversity in Canadian technology industries as they enter the workforce with graduate degrees from STEM programs.
Future Graduate Students – Tours & Events
Future Graduate Students – FAQs
Expandable List
No, you do not need to have a supervisor to apply for admission to McMaster Engineering’s research-based graduate programs. In fact, we encourage you to apply prior to having a supervisor.
No. McMaster Engineering does not require a GRE score.
The application fee is $110 CAD.
Applicants who have completed a university degree where the official language of instruction is English, do not need to submit a language proficiency test.
McMaster Engineering requires a language proficiency test to be completed for all other applicants, detailed here.
Applicants are required to submit evidence of their English language proficiency as part of their application. The most common evidence is a score on one of the following exams:
- TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based), minimum of 20 per band; for the Faculty of Engineering a minimum score of 88 (internet based) or 213 on the (computer based) or 550 (paper based)
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section
- CAEL: minimum overall score of 70, with at least 60 per band
- MELAB: minimum score of 85
- PTE Academic: minimum score of 63
- York University course: YUELI Level 6 with a minimum final grade of B
- University of Toronto course: Academic Level 60 with a minimum final grade of B
Each program may set additional/higher requirements. Please review the program website for details.
Students are required to submit two references in their application. We suggest that all students provide references from the academic setting. However, if you have been out of school for 5 or more years and cannot find an appropriate academic reference, you may provide one from an employer/supervisor/manager. Please remember that we are looking for a reference who can attest to your ability to be successful within the academic setting. Your reference does not have to have an official institutional email address.
Generally No. For research studies, a letter of admission may mention a financial package to be distributed over the duration of the 2-years (Masters) or 4-years (Doctoral) degree program. The majority of the funding will be given as a scholarship while the student remains enrolled and in good standing with the program. The only employment salary that may be mentioned in the package is a teaching assistantship(TA). A minimum level of remuneration is guaranteed for doctoral candidates (except for those under the Industrial PhD option or if the student refuses or loses the TA). The funding package may not be sufficient to cover all living expenses while studying.
All research-based graduate degrees are based on a mentor-style learning model and so each enrolled student must work under a specific professor to remain in the program. The mentioned prospective supervisor has offered you a position in the university under their guidance and your research will be determined by that supervisor. By accepting the offer of admission you are agreeing to study under this person for the duration of the degree program. In general, a student can not change their supervisor during their studies.
As a graduate student in a research degree program, no you don’t. McMaster’s policies require the equal sharing of intellectual property rights between the students and supervisors involved on a project. In addition, many research projects in the Faculty of Engineering are covered by research agreements and/or non-disclosure agreements with participating companies sponsoring the studies and those agreements automatically apply to all members of the university, including any student currently participating or joining the project. Ask your prospective supervisor if you have concerns about how a research agreement will affect your research progress.
When submitting your application please be sure that all requested material is uploaded to your file.
At any point during the application process, you can check the status of your application in Mosaic. Please note that due to the volume of applications received the checklist may be updated right away as it is done manually.
We understand that you are eager to obtain an admission decision. Our goal is to issue a decision as quickly as possible. However, the time required for our admission team to complete our review process and make an informed decision could vary depending on the volume of applications we receive. We ask that you refrain from contacting us for an update on your application status. Students should allow until at least 10 weeks after the application deadline for the term for which they have applied for admission before expecting an admission decision.
If you have applied to a research program (MASc or PhD program), then a faculty member must be willing to act as your supervisor in order for you to receive an offer of admission. Once you submit your application it will be made available to all faculty members within the department to which you have applied. They can access and review all of your application documentation and can contact you to interview you or to speak to you about their research group. If you would like to submit an application to multiple departments you may. Please note that you must submit a new application for each and every department you wish to apply to.
Once an admission decision has been made, applicants will receive an email to the address provided in their application.
No. If you have an Honours Bachelor’s degree (4-year) in Engineering or Sciences you are encouraged to apply.