What are the McMaster University admission requirements for Ontario high school students?

McMaster requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and six Grade 12 4U/M courses, including ENG4U and every prerequisite for the chosen program. Co-op courses are excluded from the admission and final admission averages. Meeting a published minimum does not guarantee an offer, and by-selection programs also require a supplementary component.

How does McMaster calculate the admission average?

McMaster assesses six eligible 4U/M courses, including ENG4U and the required courses for the program. Rolling consideration can begin with at least three final 4U/M grades plus registration in enough courses to reach six, or with six interim and final 4U/M grades. Co-op courses and courses completed after June 30 immediately before fall entry are excluded.

What average do I need for McMaster University?

The required average depends on the program. McMaster's currently published 2026 planning figures include 78% for Humanities, low to mid-80s for Social Sciences, mid to high-80s for Business, at least 87% for Engineering, and at least 90% for Computer Science, iBioMed, and Honours Health Sciences. Life Sciences is currently listed in the low-90s. These figures must be rechecked for Fall 2027.

When is the McMaster application deadline for 2027?

OUAC lists January 15, 2027 as the deadline for Ontario high school applicants. McMaster's public program and supplementary deadlines currently describe the 2026 cycle, when several by-selection programs had January or early-February supplementary deadlines. Applicants must verify each Fall 2027 McMaster program, assessment, and document date when published.

How do I apply to McMaster University?

Apply through OUAC, then follow McMaster's acknowledgement instructions to access the Mosaic applicant portal. Use the portal to review the checklist and documents, but complete any required supplementary application, audition, creative submission, or Casper assessment through the separate process and deadline provided for the program.

When does McMaster send admission offers?

McMaster's current applicant checklist says decisions are typically released from mid-March through early May, while most offers to by-selection programs are made in May. McMaster says all decisions are made no later than the end of May. OUAC sets May 28, 2027 as the latest response date for Ontario high school applicants who met the January deadline.

McMaster University

QS World#=173Large university

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario

Compare McMaster University programs, admissions, costs, residence, student support, and career pathways. Start with this summary, then open the focused guide that matches your next decision.

Reviewed August 31, 2026 · Information checked against official university sources · How we review guides

Overview

Quick Facts

Location	Hamilton, Ontario
School Type	Research-intensive / broad program university
Directory Size	Large university
Campus Setting	Regional university city with a defined campus community
Ranking Signal	#=173 globally (QS World 2026)
Program Strengths	Health Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Business, Science

Start with campus and program fit, then verify official admissions, residence, and cost details before building the final application list.

Detailed application guides

McMaster University Scholarships & Financial Aid

September 2027 automatic awards, confirmed AwardSpring deadlines, bursaries, tuition status, OSAP, and international funding.

McMaster Health Sciences Admission Guide

Eligibility, supplementary application, evidence, revision, and alternatives.

Ontario University Application Deadlines

The 2027 OUAC timeline, offers, acceptance, and separate program deadlines.

OSAP 2026–2027 Application Guide

Open status, eligibility, residency, course load, grants, deadlines, and documents.

Ontario Universities With Co-op

Direct-entry and later-entry co-op models, work terms, fees, and questions to ask.

Applicants most often compare admission requirements, deadlines, program options, tuition and scholarships, residence, and experiential learning. For McMaster University, high-interest program questions include Health Sciences, Engineering, Nursing.