Engineering Design - MEng – Faculty of Engineering

Engineering Design – MEng

The MEng Design degree is a project-based program that develops your skills in designing value-added solutions for industry and society, considering users, customers, economies, and ecosystems.

Length
Full-time and part-time options
Degree
Master of Engineering (Co-op Available)
Type
Project-based
Options

Co-op

Curriculum

Design thinking and engineering methodologies are embedded throughout the curriculum. You will learn to apply a prototyping mindset used by successful designers and engineers.

Flexibility

Recommended 16 months full-time (minimum 12 months and maximum 24 months) or 40 months part-time (domestic only).

Exceptional Teaching Team

The program is led by Robert Fleisig, an award-winning educator, engineering designer and expert in health technology. He is passionate about teaching an empathetic and a human-centred approach to engineering design.

Andrea Hemmerich

Andrea Hemmerich – Andrea Hemmerich is a dedicated educator and global health advocate, with over two decades of experience spanning design, engineering, health, and international development. Passionate about creating inclusive, team-driven environments, she believes that placing people’s aspirations at the heart of collaborative efforts leads to impactful social change.

Alongside Robert and Andrea is a team of former and current Design Thinking (DT) Fellows.

A DT Fellow is an exceptional graduate of the Master of Engineering Design program who joins for a two-year term to mentor students on design projects, to develop the program pedagogically, and to support recruitment.

DT Fellow Areeb Khawaja, 2020 MEng Design graduate, Technology Architect with the TELUS Data and Trust Office

DT Fellow Ammaar Athar, 2022 MEng Design graduate, Associate Product Manager

Past DT Fellow Jon Pusic, 2021 MEng Design graduate, User Experience Researcher, Akendi

Past DT Fellow Avani Kirit Mehta, 2020 MEng Design graduate, Lead User Experience Researcher for an Enterprise Digital Strategy team at CIBC

Past DT FellowAmina Benmessaoud, 2019 MEng Design graduate, Research Coordinator, University of Calgary

Admission requirements

Academic Prerequisites

University Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math).

Anticipated Admission Range
B- (70-72% or 7.0/12) average in last 10 technical courses
Supplementary Application
Required
Student in Design Thinking class

How to apply

In addition to the general requirements for entry into a graduate program in Engineering, students must hold a four-year engineering undergraduate degree or equivalent, with at least a B- average (equivalent to a McMaster 7.0 GPA out of 12) in the final year in all courses in the discipline, or relating to the discipline, in which the applicant proposes to do graduate work.

Students with a degree in Science, Technology or Mathematics will also be considered.

IELTS/TOEFL: International students are required to present a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall (minimum requirements 5.5 in reading and writing and 6 in listening and speaking). Minimum TOEFL score is 88.

Candidates may be enrolled on a full- or part-time basis. Full-time students will complete the degree in twelve consecutive months of study. Students are admitted for September. Part-time students will normally be expected to complete the program in 28 months.

McMaster students may receive advanced standing for up to two courses (note that a maximum of two 600-level courses can count towards a SEPT graduate program) with the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

September 2025 admission
Online portal opens November 1, 2024
March 14, 2025 – International applicants. 
June 30, 2025 – Domestic applicants.

International applicants are encouraged to apply early as the visa application process may take 3 months or more.

30 credit units are required to complete this degree and tuition is paid per credit unit. Please view the per-unit fees here.

Students enrolled in multiple academic years ( e.g. January admission) pay the fees corresponding for the academic year the term is within. The University reserves the right to correct typographical errors or to adjust the Tuition and Fees schedule at any time it deems necessary.

Other Fees:

  • Application Fee: $110.00
  • Online Interview Fee (Kira Talent): $60.00
  • Non-refundable deposit upon acceptance: $500.00

Step 1: Click on the link above to open your application with McMaster University. Alternatively, please click here.

Step 2: Answer all application-related questions.

  • When you reach the question in the application relating to “Research Interests,” please keep this in mind:
    • Design thinking can be applied in any field/industry/sector and our students have addressed many diverse challenges. Please provide up to three areas of design in which you are interested.
    • There are three spaces where you can enter the “research interest” in the Research Interest question. Please use the following convention to enter your interests in Engineering Design):
      Topic Area – Field/Industry/Sector – Technologies applied.
    • Example:
      Virtual Care – The health and wellness of hospital patients – Smart technologies, AI/ML, IoT, virtual reality, etc.

Step 3: Register for your online interview (Kira) and ensure that you complete the $60 payment. Note that the $60 is in addition to your $110 application fee. They are separate charges.

  • The registration and payment link are embedded in your application questions.

Step 4: Gather, and upload all required documents.

  • Your current resume or CV, including academic and professional experience
  • Your clearly written Statement of Interest (This is a letter explaining your interest in the program, at a maximum of 2 pages).
  • Recent IELTS or TOEFL scores (within the last 2 years) required for international students. Minimum IELTS score 6.5 overall (minimum requirement 5.5 in reading and writing and 6 in listening and speaking). Minimum TOEFL score is 88. Note that if your medium of instruction was English and this is documented on your transcripts, you do not need to submit an ELP test.
  • Transcripts from all post secondary institutions you have attended.
  • Please note that all documents must be uploaded before application submission. CV, SOI, IELTS/TOEFL and Transcripts are uploaded in the same section of the application.

Step 5: Add Academic Referee contact information.

  • Contact information for 2 Academic References must be entered in online application. Referees will be contacted via our electronic referencing system
    • Academic references are to come from instructors most familiar with your academic work.
    • In cases where an applicant has been away from academic study for 5 or more years, we will consider one professional reference.
    • Please note that we do not accept reference letters uploaded by the applicant.

Step 6: Pay $110 application fee, and submit application.

  • Only submit your application once all the above documents have been uploaded, you have entered contact information for both academic references, and you have paid your Kira fee.
  • *Applications will not be reviewed unless all items noted above are submitted at the time of application*.

Step 7: Complete your Kira interview.

  • Applicants will be sent a link to complete their Kira interview within one week of application submission and Kira fee payment.
  • Applicants will not receive a link unless they have fully submitted their application, and have submitted the $60 Kira fee payment.

Step 8: You will be contacted if there are any issues with your application. Please do not email about the status of your application. Applicants will be contacted once a decision regarding the application has been made.

  • Please note that if you are accepted to one of our programs, you will be required to pay a non-refundable $500 deposit. This deposit is non-refundable if you withdraw your acceptance.

Important Notes:

  • Applications will not be reviewed until all required documents are uploaded, the referees have responded, and the Kira online interview has been completed. All applications must be completed in full in advance of the application deadlines in order to be considered.
  • Official transcripts are not required unless an applicant is granted an offer of admission. Documentation sent via post will not be considered for your application.
  • Applications will not be considered until we receive copies of transcripts noting grades up to at least Term 7 of your undergraduate studies.
Students taking notes in Design Thinking class

Program structure

The Master of Engineering Design is a practice-based program rooted in design fundamentals.

The Master of Engineering Design program requires completion of 30 units in courses including a major design project equivalent to six units. You will complete the design project over several months as part of a team. You will work closely with a community partner under the mentorship of faculty members to guide you through the design process and incorporate technology and engineering practice to solve real-world design challenges. A two-part seminar series is also required to complete the program.

Full-time students are expected to complete the program in 16 months. The actual duration of studies may be shorter (not less than 12 months) or longer (not more than 24 months), for students who work faster or slower.

Domestic students (Canadian citizens or permanent residents) may complete their MEng Design degree on a part-time basis and establish their schedule according to time they can devote to their studies. It is recommended that part-time students complete the program in 32 to 40 months.

You will have the support of professors and mentors throughout the journey as you develop your skills as a human-centered designer.

Design, particularly Human-Centred Design, can transform the world in ways that satisfies people’s unmet needs. Product design can refer to a physical product or a service or experience. By researching and analyzing the experiences of the end-user, designers aspire to offer a solution that goes above and beyond the end-users imagining.

A total of 8 courses and a design project (30 units) must be completed.

Required courses: 3 half-courses

  • SEP 760 – Design Thinking (3 units)
  • SEP 761 – Design Thinking II (3 units)
  • SEP 773 – Leadership for Innovation (3 units) OR SEP 6EL3 / Leading Innovation

Required Project Course: 2 parts in two terms

  • SEP 700 – MEng Project in Engineering Design, Part I (3 units)
  • SEP 700 – MEng Project in Engineering Design, Part II (3 units)

Cross-Disciplinary Elective Courses: 1 half-course

One cross-disciplinary course may be selected from the following approved cross-disciplinary elective list. Additional cross-disciplinary courses may be taken and applied to the Technical Elective course requirement.

  • SEP 6EP3 – Entrepreneurial Thinking & Innovation (3 units)
  • SEP 6MK3 – Fundamentals of Marketing (3 units)
  • SEP 6X03 – Livable Cities, the Built and Natural Environment (3 units)
  • SEP 709 – Emerging Issues, Technology and Public Policy (3 units)
  • SEP 710 – International Governance and Environmental Sustainability (3 units)
  • SEP 729 – Manufacturing Systems (3 units)
  • SEP 731 – Lean Six Sigma for Engineering (3 units)
  • SEP 770 – Total Sustainability Management (3 units)
  • SEP 777 – Cyber-Physical Systems and Industry 4.0 (3 units)
  • SEP 790 – Emerging Technologies for Engineering Enterprise Innovation (3 units)

Technical Elective Courses: 4 half-courses

Electives may be selected from a calendar of graduate-level courses in the Faculty of Engineering.

We strongly recommend the following elective:

  • SEP 757 – Rapid Prototyping (3 units) 
  • SEP 758 – Prototyping Tools (mobile applications) (3 units)

Other recommended electives include:

  • SEP 6CG3 – Fundamentals of computer graphics and animation development (3 units)
  • SEP 6VE3 – Visual effects and animation production technology (3 units)
  • SEP 707 – Fundamentals of Design for Virtual Care (3 units)
  • SEP 791 – Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality (3 units)
  • EHEALTH 703 – Virtual Care & Telemedicine for eHealth (3 units)
  • EHEALTH 745 – eHealth Innovations and Trends (3 units)
  • EHEALTH 746 – Healthcare Analytics (3 units)

Early in the program, students will join a team of peers to collaborate on a real-world project with one of the program’s industry or community partners. Participants will have the opportunity to select from a range of projects, each requiring an application and interview process with the respective partner organization. 

The project is your opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you have brought with you to the program and developed during your course work. You will grow your capabilities with the guidance and mentorship of faculty members and community partners. During your work with the community partner, you will gain a deep understanding of the contexts in which they operate and the challenges they work to overcome. 

In addition to the main project, you will engage in smaller classroom projects to deepen your practical experience.

Develop empathy for your users and stakeholders 

An important part of developing your abilities as a human-centred designer is developing empathy for your users and stakeholders. You will interview clients and end-users while completing your projects. Through these conversations, you will strive to understand their experiences and needs and develop solutions that are simple and elegant to improve their lives. 

Rapid prototyping to test designs 

Another important piece of becoming a human-centred designer is rapid prototyping. Design fast, fail fast, redesign, repeat. You will gain experience in rapid prototyping to test design ideas with users and stakeholders to determine whether you’re following the right path toward an experience your users will love. 

Other courses in other departments and faculties may be considered with the approval of the Engineering Design Program Lead.

Student talking to professor in design thinking class

Student projects

The Rotary Club of Burlington, in collaboration with students from the W. Booth School of Engineering Practice & Technology, spearheaded the Wheelchair Project to empower wheelchair users in urban Kampala, Uganda. Recognizing the limitations posed by the city’s rough terrain, the project focused on developing a locally manufactured propulsion system to enhance mobility and reduce user fatigue. Through an immersive design process involving extensive interviews and observations, the team identified critical insights into the challenges faced by urban wheelchair users. These insights guided the exploration of a wheelchair with a planetary gearset to help overcome the difficulties of rough terrain. Since implementation, the project has significantly increased wheelchair production, fostering local employment and boosting the economy. This initiative has profoundly impacted users’ lives, promoting greater accessibility, independence, and quality of life. For more details, refer to the McMaster Daily News article here. 

The purpose of this project was to advance McMaster University’s transportation approach amidst increasing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions. Initially considering vertical parking structures, the team reimagined the parking experience, focusing on sustainable mobility solutions instead. By challenging the status quo of traditional parking and conducting extensive stakeholder analysis, they identified key trends and developed a prototype app to assess parking demand and promote alternatives like Smart Parking, Autonomous Vehicles, and Light Rail Transit. This app provided real-time data to optimize parking and encourage sustainable transportation. Notable insights revealed that integrating these technologies could significantly reduce the need for new parking structures. This shift offered multiple benefits, including reduced emissions, cost savings, and enhanced convenience for users. The project faced challenges, such as resistance to change and the complexity of integrating new technologies, but ultimately provided a forward-thinking solution aligned with McMaster’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. 

The Master of Engineering Design project team began by analyzing past work and identifying gaps to establish a robust foundation. Collaborating extensively with CERRA (Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association), they clarified needs and objectives, revealing critical challenges. During the “Empathize and Discover” phase, interviews with former first responders and traffic collision victims highlighted insights such as the need for improved situational awareness and quicker response times. A creative design workshop and role-playing simulations deepened understanding, emphasizing issues like the emotional responses of victims. The team then developed and tested “The Guardian” platform, which enhances drone deployment for first responders, significantly improving situational awareness and inter-agency communication between first responders and drone pilots. The prototype demonstrated benefits such as faster scene assessment and improved coordination, distilled into recommendations for standard operating procedures and IT integration, embodying a human-centred design approach and iterative prototyping process. 

This project aimed to enhance the quality of life for residents of Long-Term Care (LTC) homes by supporting the overburdened staff, particularly Personal Support Workers (PSWs). Initial research identified significant challenges faced by LTC facilities, with a shift in focus from resident experience to supporting PSWs due to the toll of COVID-19 on staff. Utilizing the design thinking process, the team engaged in comprehensive interviews with primary beneficiaries, including social workers and the CEO of the Ontario PSW Association. This led to the development of an educational mentorship application that integrates virtual technologies to bridge the gap between formal education and real-world practice. The app supports PSWs through training, peer connection, and mental health resources, ultimately improving the care environment for both staff and residents. The project’s community impact lies in fostering a supportive ecosystem for PSWs, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of LTC homes. 

The fireball family mascot with a fireball sign.

Get Involved

If you’re looking for opportunities to engage with the McMaster community beyond your program, you will find a wealth of clubs and co-curricular activities to capture your interests.

This student-run club plans social and professional development events for students in W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology students. For more information, please visit: https://gsa.mcmaster.ca/septs/

While the MES is primarily undergraduate focused, there are opportunities for graduate students to get involved as well. Through the MES you can also connect with a multitude of professional association chapters, clubs, conferences, design competitions, hack-a-thons, and more. For further information visit: https://www.macengsociety.ca/

This interdisciplinary, co-curricular program brings together students from across every faculty and program to address challenges in the Hamilton area. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students and a great way to connect with other students, faculty and subject matter experts from different organizations across the region. For additional information, please visit: https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/macchangers/

For those who like to stay active and social, join one of the many recreational sports leagues that you run through McMaster Athletics & Recreation. Further information can be found here: https://rec.mcmaster.ca/programs/intramural-sports-0

Co-op and Student Life

  • Graduate Co-op

    Master’s and PhD students may complete 4 to 12 months of co-op experience in various types of organizations, including corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, startups and research institutions.

    Explore Co-op
  • Engineering Graduate Society

    The EGS actively supports engineering graduate students through events, workshops, bursaries, and collaboration with various campus organizations, focusing on representation, community building, and academic and professional development.

    Visit the EGS site
  • Life in Hamilton

    Hamilton, also known as The Hammer or Steeltown, is a thriving city close to the U.S. border and Toronto, with easy access for students commuting from the Greater Toronto Area via the on-campus GO Bus Terminal.

    Discover Hamilton, ON

How to apply

Understand every step, from applying, to accepting your offer and joining us on campus!

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