Future Undergraduate Students

McMaster's undergraduate Engineering program, with a common first year, allows students to explore all of our degree path options before choosing a focus discipline. 

During the McMaster's common first year program, known as Engineering 1, students develop an understanding of all the engineering disciplines and gain a solid foundation in math and science. It also positions students to develop a broad personal network of peers before moving into an area of specialization.

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Beyond First Year

The Honours Computer Science program offers courses designed to develop students into highly knowledgeable and skilled systems analysts, database specialists, software developers, and system administrators.

The new Computer Science curriculum takes experiential learning to the next level. In five practice and experience courses, the emphases will shift from lectures to lab-based exploration and discovery, including expanded coverage of practical topics. These new courses are in addition to the final year thesis and optional Software Entrepreneurship projects that are chosen and developed by students.

Co-op is an option you can add to your degree.

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The W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology offers the Bachelor of Technology Combined Degree/Diploma Program and Degree Completion Program in response to industry needs.

Combined Degree/Diploma Program - for Graduating Secondary School Students

In the B.Tech. program, students enter the first year of a four year degree in one of three disciplines:

Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology

Biotechnology

Automation Engineering Technology

Graduates earn a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree from McMaster University and an Ontario advanced diploma in technology and business management certificate from Mohawk College.

Co-op is mandatory for B.Tech. students.

Degree Completion Program - for College Graduates

This unique “diploma to degree” program is tailor-made for college graduates wishing to upgrade their education and further their careers. All eligible program entrants receive two years of advanced credit from their previously completed college diploma or university degree. Disciplines offered are:

Civil Engineering Infrastructure Technology

Power & Energy Engineering Technology

Manufacturing Engineering Technology

Software Engineering Technology

Technology Certificate - for Technologists in the Industry

Many technologists find, after working in industry for a few years, that they need additional education and training in order to be more effective in their positions and to advance professionally. These additional needs are concerned with both general leadership and supervision skills (i.e. management) and advanced technical knowledge and skills. If you would like to supplement your career with additional education but do not want to upgrade to a degree, the diploma or certificate program is for you!

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At McMaster University, we’re transforming healthcare challenges into a new learning experience with the Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed) program. We’re bringing together the best of our top-ranked health sciences and engineering programs into a hands-on, project-based program with a strong focus on entrepreneurship and learning to solve real-world problems by doing.

The iBioMed program will give students a strong foundation in both engineering and health sciences. Students will have a common first year before choosing to specialize in either health sciences or engineering in their second year.

Co-op is an option you can add to your degree.

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We have 4 programs offered under the Faculty of Engineering:

1. Combined Degree/Diploma Bachelor of Technology Programs. This program rewards graduating students with a Bachelor of Technology from McMaster University, an Advanced Diploma and a Business Certificate from Mohawk College. Offered in three streams:
1. Automation Engineering Technology
2. Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology
3. Biotechnology
2. Computer Science. This program rewards graduating students with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences.
3. Engineering I. This program rewards graduating students with a Bachelor of Engineering. Students go through a general first year and choose their second year stream of interest at the end of their first year. The second year streams are listed in the question below.
4. Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences. This program rewards graduating students with a Bachelor of Engineering and a specialization in Biomedical Engineering or Bachelor of Health Sciences and a specialization in Entrepreneurship. Similar to Engineering I, students go through a general first year and choose their second year stream of interest at the end of their first year.

• Chemical Engineering
• Chemical and Bioengineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Physics
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Software Engineering

With the exception of Chemical and Bioengineering, any of these programs can also be combined with the Society or Management options.

iBioMed students cannot select Chemical and Bioengineering, Computer Engineering, or the Society or Management options. 

B.Tech. students enter directly into one of three interdisciplinary streams: 

• Automation Engineering Technology
• Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology
• Biotechnology

To learn more about the engineering disciplines offered at McMaster, click here.

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Please see here for more information!

Once you apply on OUAC, you should receive an email shortly with information regarding you Mac ID and student number. If you have not received this email, please email us at thinkeng@mcmaster.ca with your full name, the email you registered with and your OUAC reference number. We will then look into this for you!

Nope, it does not matter! We do not factor your OUAC program choice into our admissions decisions.

What is involved?

Supplementary Application (mandatory) - $40 Fee | Submission Deadline: Friday, January 29th (12:00pm - noon)

The supplementary application is a mandatory part of the admissions process for Engineering and Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed). Only one application is required if you are applying to both programs.

The supplementary application will consist of 4 questions (3 video response and 1 written response) and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.  Unlimited practice sessions are available for video responses, however, once you begin your formal video interview, you will only get one opportunity to answer each question.

For each video response: you will receive 1 minute to prepare your answer and 2 minutes to verbally respond to your question.
Written Response: you will have 10 minutes to complete your answer from when you receive the question.

How you respond to these questions is an opportunity for you to show us how you project yourself in person and in written formats under a time restraint.You will receive an invitation by email to access the supplementary application portal within 10 business days of completing your application through OUAC. Once you have access, you can practice as many times you want before you start your actual interview. Please note that once you begin your actual interview, you will have 30 minutes to complete the entire process.

What are some sample questions? 

Examples of practice supplementary application questions (practice questions will be different from real interview questions):

• What does being resourceful mean to you, and why is it important?

• Tell us about a time management strategy you used. Why does it work?

• How do you create a balance for yourself when working in a stressful environment­?

• Give us an example of a time you acted with integrity.

I have not received the email with login information.

Please wait 10 business days for the email to be sent to you. If it has been more than 10 business days, please email thinkeng@mcmaster.ca with the issue and your OUAC reference number.

 I am having technical problems with my KIRA application.

Please email KIRA directly at support@kiratalent.com 

I'm having issues with payment.

Please email us at thinkeng@mcmaster.ca so that we can further assist you.

Please click here for the most up-to-date information regarding admission requirements.

Along with your admissions average, we also take your performance on the supplementary application into account for Engineering and iBioMed. 

You can check your application status on your Mosaic student centre. This is the first place you will be able to see an offer. We will email you as well shortly after Mosaic is updated!

Free choice is granted to incoming Engineering students with a high admissions average. With free choice, you are guaranteed your first choice of program after first year. Exceptions to the free choice are: Chemical & Bioengineering, as well as the Management and Society options. If you are granted free choice, it will be stated on your offer of admission. Please note that even without free choice, many of our students are admitted into their first choice of program after first year.

For the Fall 2020 intake, the cut-off for Free Choice is 95%. If you have been granted Free Choice, it will say so on your offer letter. If you do not receive Free Choice on your offer, but your final average increases to above a 95%, you will be granted Free Choice.  If you were granted Free Choice on your conditional offer, but your final average falls below 95%, you will retain Free Choice, provided that you satisfy the conditions of your offer.

You will not be at a disadvantage if you take a required course in the summer, night class or online. We will only consider the grades you’ve received for required courses.

Please note that you must complete all required courses by the end of your Grade 12 year to maintain your offer of admission (i.e. you can’t take a required course over the summer after Grade 12).

No, you will not be at a disadvantage.

Please see the admissions page here.

Offers of admission for Computer Science, B.Tech., and Engineering are sent out in two rounds: the first round of offers will be sent out within the first two weeks of March, and the second round in early May.

iBioMed offers are sent out in early May (one round only).

You will not be considered for Engineering 1 automatically if you are not accepted into the iBioMed program. There are different programs with different requirements. You will have to apply to Engineering 1 separately if you are also interested in that program. The supplementary application need only be completed once if you are applying to both Engineering 1 and iBioMed.

Please see here for international admissions requirements: https://future.mcmaster.ca/admission/requirements/. Please input "Attending a Secondary School outside Canada" and input your country. You can view the specific admission requirements there.

Please see here for instructions on submitting international transcripts: https://future.mcmaster.ca/admission/documents/. Please see the section titled "Official Transcripts" for details.

Additionally, please see here for McMaster English Language proficiency (including required documentation and deadlines): https://future.mcmaster.ca/admission/language-2/

When you submit your transcripts, please include a school profile which includes the grade scale. The Admissions Office would need to review that information when they assess your application.

Lectures are the primary method for teaching and learning, where the professor explains various concepts for (usually) an hour. Labs and tutorials are more hands-on and have fewer students, which allows you to apply concepts learned in lecture and learn by asking more specific questions.

Each lab is approximately 3 hours long and tutorials are 1 or 2 hours long. Depending on the class, they will either be weekly or biweekly.

The average lecture size varies depending on the program you are in. Engineering students can expect an average lecture size of 250 - 400 students in their first year. Tutorials and labs range from 25 – 50 students depending on the course. Class sizes will decrease significantly as you progress through the program.

B.Tech. students can expect lectures to be no more than 90 students, with the average size being closer to 40-60 students. Lab sizes will not exceed 20 students throughout all levels of the program.

The biggest class size a first year student can have is 600 students. This lecture is usually for the first year maths or chemistry. These lectures take place in MDCL 1305 which is McMaster University’s biggest lecture hall!

Every Faculty of Engineering program has a dedicated Academic Advisor and a team of administrative staff that are more than happy to assist you. 

Professors and teaching assistants host weekly office hours where you can visit them to ask for help with homework problems and assignments, or a further explanation of challenging concepts. Additionally, many subjects have “drop-in centres” that usually take place more than once a week. There are multiple teaching assistants available here to answer any questions you may have about the course material.

In addition to being a resource for professional development, the Student Success Centre offers workshops throughout the year on how to study more effectively, take better notes, and do well on tests. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides academic accommodations and supports to students with disabilities. You can find more information about SAS here.

If you feel that you would benefit from extended one-on-one instruction, the McMaster Engineering Society (MES) also subsidizes a peer tutoring service, which means that for every $5 you pay to a peer tutor through this program, the tutor receives $15!

In Winter term, first year engineering students will be able to access the program selection system on Mosaic. You’ll need to rank your top 12 choices of programs. You will receive communication of the program you’ve received been assigned to over the summer.

To help you make an informed decision, the different engineering departments will be hosting information sessions in the Winter term where you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and upper-year students in that program, as well as learn about the courses you would take and potential career opportunities.

Programming experience is not necessary for admission to the Engineering, B.tech., or iBioMed programs. First year Engineering students take a computing course that specifically teaches you how to code in Python and is taught from the ground up (i.e. assuming you have no experience in this area). If you would like to get some practice in advance or are curious about coding, check out Codecademy, a site that teaches you how to code (for free!) in a variety of languages.

Co-op is only mandatory for the Bachelor of Technology Program.

It is optional for the Engineering, iBioMed and Computer Sciences programs. However, in order to achieve the co-op designation on your degree, you are required to complete at least 12 months of co-op experience.

For the Bachelor of Technology Program, you are required to complete a 4 month co-op term after the summer of your second year and an 8 month co-op term during your 3rd year.

For our other three programs, it has a flexible structure which enables students to design their own work-study sequences.You can complete a 4, 8, 12, 16 month co-op placement depending on your preference at any time of your undergraduate career.

The Engineering Co-op and Career Services (ECCS) offers a wide variety of resources such as Mock Interviews, Networking Events, Resume Critiquing, etc. to help students in their search for a Co-op placement. For more information on the ECCS, please click here.

McMaster's Faculty of Engineering has over $1,000,000 in entrance awards available!

Only one application is required to be considered for all the eligible awards due Friday, February 14, 2020.

APPLY NOW

Additionally, every incoming student is automatically considered for the McMaster Honor Awards. These entrance awards do not require a separate application. Scholarship values are based on a student’s final admission average to program.

Please click here for information on Bursaries, the Work/Study Program, Loans (OSAP) and more!

International applicants are now eligible to receive select Faculty of Engineering scholarships. Engineering 1 applicants may be eligible for up to $2,500 and B.Tech. applicants may be eligible for up to $2,000. Please see here for more information!

Other automatically assessed entrance awards are listed here!

Additionally, our International Student Services website has a Section on “Money Matters” which you can find here.

The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) is essentially the engineering student government. Some of the things they do include improving student life by planning social events, increasing academic resources, and funding clubs and teams. To learn more about the MES, visit macengsociety.ca.

McMaster Engineering has many engineering clubs, teams and societies you can join to enhance your practical knowledge and soft skills, provide support, or give you the chance to explore new activities. Clubs are an enjoyable way to enrich your student life and contribute to your social development and academic success. Learn more here! 

Here are some of the Engineering specific groups that you can join:

• BAJA Racing Team
• Chem E-Car
• Heavy Construction 
• Formula Electric
• Concrete Toboggan
• Design League
• Custom Vehicle Team
• EcoCAR3
• Rocketry Team
• Seismic Design Team
• Solar Car Project
• Sumobot
• Mechanical Contractors Association Hamilton Niagara
• Interdisciplinary Satellite Team
• Engineers without Borders
• EngiQueers
• Hockey Team
• Mac Eng Musical
• Phase One
• National Society of Black Engineers

In addition, there are over 300 clubs that you can get involved in through the McMaster Student Union. Find out more here. 

A gym membership is included with your student fees. This gives you access to indoor and outdoor running tracks, a swimming pool, and a cardio & weight facility.

For organized team sports, McMaster has multiple varsity teams and sports clubs (more information here). There are also intramural sports offered throughout the year and at various levels of competition.

Fun fact: the McMaster Engineering Society (MES) will fund your intramural team if it is 80% engineering students (including B.Tech., Computer Science, and iBioMed) or more!

One of the Living Learning Communities offered through McMaster's Residence Life Office in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering is specifically dedicated to first year Engineering students that offers a community focused on Innovation & Society. Students in this community will have access to programming aimed at building critical thinking, creativity and communication skills.

First-year engineers in the Innovation and Society LLC will learn a variety of practical skills essential to engineering. Through workshops, guest speakers, and competitions, students will become better problem solvers, critical thinkers, and effective communicators. At the same time, you will live in a community that will foster interdisciplinary relationships and multicultural views to help you thrive.

Read more about the LLC here.