McMaster Integrated Science (iSci) admission requirements: high-80s, five Grade 12 courses and a required supplement

Honours Integrated Science is a four-year, research-based Honours BSc. McMaster says it blends chemistry, biology, earth science, life science, mathematics and physics. You learn through lectures and tutorials, and through team and individual research projects with labs and fieldwork.

The School of Interdisciplinary Science runs the program. It has its own learning space and a dedicated lab of 3,000 square feet. The SIS page describes small classes and a student-centred program built around collaboration.

McMaster asks Ontario students for a high school diploma plus six Grade 12 U or M courses. Five are set: English (ENG4U), Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), and two of Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U) or Physics (SPH4U). The sixth is your choice.

The SIS strongly encourages you to take all three Grade 12 U sciences. The first-year iSci course draws on biology, chemistry, physics, math and earth science, so the extra science helps. Fit them in with our course planner.

McMaster's requirements tool lists an anticipated admission range of high-80s. The program page puts it more firmly: high 80s is the minimum required for consideration, and admission is by selection. The SIS adds that meeting the published minimum does not guarantee admission.

The pages differ on size. The requirements tool lists a target enrolment of 65. The program page says 60, and the SIS page says about 60 students a year. Either way, it is a small class. McMaster does not publish an acceptance rate for iSci. Check your average with our Top 6 average calculator.

Every iSci applicant must complete a mandatory supplementary application after applying on OUAC with code MIS. You need a MacID to open it. McMaster emails your MacID details about a week after you submit and pay for your OUAC application.

The iSci Admissions Committee reviews it. The SIS says it wants to learn about you, why you are interested in iSci, and whether the program suits you. It looks for motivated, well-rounded students with an interest in all fields of science, strong communication skills and creative thinking. It also says there is no formula for a good application.

McMaster's pages give two dates for Fall 2027. The requirements tool says February 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The supplementary applications page says February 2, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The SIS page still shows last year's notice, which closed on February 2, 2026 at noon, with no late submissions. Plan for the earliest date and confirm with sis@mcmaster.ca. Offers usually go out near the start of May.

The SIS admission page states: "Please note that use of generative AI tools in this application process is strictly prohibited." It adds: "If found, appropriate charges will be brought forward to university officials in accordance with applicable university policies." The page also tells applicants to be honest and be themselves.

This notice appears on the page as written for the Fall 2026 cycle. Treat it as current unless McMaster says otherwise. Because McMaster bans AI help on this application, Stellar Advisers does not write, edit or coach iSci supplementary answers.

iSci runs an optional Equitable Admissions for Black Applicants (EABA) stream as part of the supplementary application. It is open to Level 1 applicants who self-identify as Black. The SIS says it aims to reduce barriers that might discourage Black applicants and to limit unconscious bias in how supplements are read.

In first year you take one integrated course, ISCI 1A24, worth 24 units, plus 6 units of electives. It is taught by teams of instructors through themed modules. In second year you take ISCI 2A18 and 12 units of electives. In third year, ISCI 3A12 comes with 18 units of electives and the start of an individual research project. Fourth year ends with a thesis or team research project.

From second year you can choose a concentration. The program page lists ten, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour. You can also choose not to concentrate, or add a minor.

McMaster's requirements tool lists co-op and internship as not available for iSci. The program page still points to Faculty of Science experiential education, such as applied science placement courses, research practicum courses and science internships. Research is built into the degree itself.

If paid work terms matter most to you, compare McMaster programs that list co-op. Our McMaster Life Sciences page covers the Life Sciences gateway.

Apply on OUAC by January 15, 2027. Then watch for your MacID email and finish the supplement by February 1, 2027 to be safe. Ontario high school grades go to McMaster from OUAC. The SIS runs iSci for a Day visits from January to March 2027, with sign-up opening in December 2026 or January 2027. See our Ontario deadlines page.

McMaster's fee schedule has no separate iSci row. iSci is a BSc in the Faculty of Science, where Level 1 tuition for Ontario students is $6,163.20 in 2026-27 and $6,286.20 in 2027-28. Students from other provinces pay $7,715.70 in 2026-27. These figures are tuition only.

The McMaster University Entrance Award gives $3,000 to Faculty of Science students with a 97% or higher final admission average, with no application. Several awards and the entrance bursary use AwardSpring instead, with a February 19, 2027 deadline, close to the iSci supplement. See our McMaster admissions overview.

iSci has two hard gates: a high-80s average with five set courses, and a supplement your child must write alone. McMaster bans generative AI on it. You can help with the logistics, such as the MacID email, the deadline and a quiet place to work.

Graduates have gone on to graduate school, medicine, law, pharmacy, research and policy work, according to the program page. With about 60 to 65 seats, apply to a few broader science programs too.