McMaster Engineering admission requirements: average, supplementary application and the new 2027 tracks

McMaster asks for an Ontario high school diploma and six Grade 12 U or M courses. Four of them must be ENG4U (English), MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors), SCH4U (Chemistry) and SPH4U (Physics).

Advanced Functions (MHF4U) isn't on McMaster's Engineering list, but you normally need it before you can take Calculus and Vectors. Use our course planner to map Grade 11 and 12.

McMaster's tool shows the same 87% minimum for students from other provinces, with five Grade 12 academic courses instead of six.

From British Columbia you need English 12 (English Studies 12, English 12 or English 12 First Peoples), Calculus 12 or AP Calculus, Chemistry 12 and Physics 12. From Alberta you need English Language Arts 30-1, Math 31 or AP Calculus, Chemistry 30 and Physics 30. McMaster uses the blended mark for ELA 30-1.

Students from both provinces send first-semester grades and a list of all their courses for the year by February 15.

IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma students need English, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL or SL) or Applications and Interpretations HL, within six subjects with three at Higher Level. McMaster's anticipated range is a minimum of 34 points out of 45.

McMaster's requirements tool lists an anticipated admission range of a minimum of 87% for Fall 2027. Its Engineering faculty says the same thing in plain words: you need an 87% average and the supplementary application to be considered, and consideration doesn't guarantee admission.

So 87% is the line to get reviewed, not the average most admitted students have. McMaster doesn't publish an engineering acceptance rate. Work out your own number with our Top 6 average calculator.

Starting with the Fall 2027 class, you choose how you enter. You can apply straight to one engineering program, such as Mechanical, Software or Civil Engineering, and rank one alternate. Or you can rank the Discovery Track and pick your program at the end of first year.

McMaster considers your choices in the order you rank them. Your alternate is only looked at if you don't get your first choice. Engineering counts as one OUAC program choice whether you rank one track or two.

On the Discovery Track, every student in good standing who finishes first year gets a seat in a second-year program. Which program depends on your first-year grade point average and the seats available. A small number of top applicants are offered Free Choice, which guarantees their first-choice program if they stay in good standing.

McMaster lists 11 engineering programs: Chemical, Chemical and Bioengineering, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Engineering Physics, Materials, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Nuclear and Software Engineering. Two five-year options, Engineering and Management and Engineering and Society, aren't on the application. You apply to them at the end of first year.

Everyone starts in Level 1 Engineering, whichever track you entered. McMaster lists General Chemistry for Engineering, three engineering math courses, two physics courses and a cornerstone design project course (ENGINEER 1P13), plus 6 units of electives.

iBioMed (Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences) is a separate application. You can't rank iBioMed programs inside an Engineering application, or the other way round.

Every Engineering applicant completes one supplementary application on the Kira Talent platform. It's the same one for Computer Science, iBioMed and the Bachelor of Technology, so you only do it once. Kira emails you an invitation within about 7 to 10 business days of your OUAC application. Invitations aren't sent before October 1, 2026.

There are three video questions and one written question. For each video question you get 10 seconds to read it and 2 minutes to answer. McMaster's page gives two times for the written question: 10 minutes in one place and 7 minutes in its FAQ. Plan for the shorter time.

There are no technical or math questions. McMaster scores four qualities: engagement, collaboration, innovation and creativity, and resilience. Its practice questions ask about an activity you care about, a group setback you helped fix, an idea you tested and a plan that went wrong. You need a computer with a webcam and microphone.

Co-op is optional, and you can join at any point before your final year. McMaster says 93% of its engineering undergraduates are enrolled in co-op. Your first four-month work term can start as early as the summer after first year. After third year you can take longer terms of 8, 12 or 16 months.

If you join, McMaster charges a $101.20 annual co-op fee and $525 for each four-month work term you register.

McMaster's fee schedule lists Level 1 Engineering tuition at $12,694.70 for Ontario students in 2026-27 and $12,948.52 for 2027-28. International students pay $69,353.54 in both years. These are tuition only.

McMaster's automatic entrance award gives $3,000 to Engineering students entering in September 2027 with a final admission average of 97% or higher. You don't apply for it. The Faculty of Engineering also lists more than $2.5 million in entrance scholarships and research awards, all through one application.

Check what your average could earn on our Top 6 average calculator, and see costs and aid on our McMaster financial aid page.

The big change for 2027 is choice. Your child can aim at one program from day one, or keep options open with the Discovery Track. Both start with the same common first year.

The supplement is a short recorded interview, not a test. A quiet room, a working webcam and a few practice runs help more than memorized answers.