Latest information and updates about COVID-19 (coronavirus) from McMaster University
Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Indigenous Health Learning Lodge

Medical Sciences Graduate Program

Program at a Glance

With more than ninety faculty and one hundred and fifty students, we are the largest graduate program in health-related research in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Our program is interdepartmental and provides students with the opportunity to become competent investigators in a wide variety of health-related research areas. We are ideally positioned for preparing students for future careers in biomedical and translational research.

The Medicial Sciences Graduate Program Website: https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/medsci/index.html

How to Apply

Apply to the Medical Sciences Graduate Program through the McMaster University Application Site.

https://gs.mcmaster.ca/programs/medical-sciences

Admission Requirements

The Program seeks candidates with undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Health Sciences, Pharmacology and Physiology, Arts and Science, Integrated Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Life Sciences as well as Kinesiology. Applicants with Engineering, Business and other backgrounds with a minor or experience in Health/Life Science will be considered.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to supply evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language. The most common evidence is a score of at least 92 (iBT), 580 (paper-based test) or 237 (computer-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For IELTS (Academic test), a minimum score of 7.0 is required by the Medical Sciences program.

M.Sc. Admission Requirements

  • 4-year Honours degree (B.Sc.), with an academic standing that is equivalent to at least a McMaster B+ in the last 30 units of courses relevant to the program. The School of Graduate Studies at McMaster requires that visa applicants have a first class academic record. Degrees and grades from foreign universities are evaluated in terms of their equivalency to those from McMaster.
  • Or an M.D. degree or equivalent (e.g. M.B.B.S., M.B., Ch.B.) with an academic standing equivalent to at least a McMaster B+ in previous academic work.
  • Under special circumstances, Master’s students may be permitted to undertake part-time study with the approval of the supervisor, the Area Coordinator and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences), but are required to spend at least one calendar year in full-time study.

PhD Admission Requirements

  • A Master’s degree with an academic standing equivalent to at least a McMaster B+ in previous academic work. The School of Graduate Studies at McMaster requires that visa applicants have a first class academic record. Degrees and grades from foreign universities are evaluated in terms of their equivalency to those from McMaster.
  • In exceptional cases, applicants may be admitted directly from a bachelor’s 4-year honours degree. Such applicants must have a previous academic record showing sufficient promise, including proven research experience and an A average.
  • Applicants who obtained their MD as a second degree may qualify for direct entry to the PhD stream, provided their first degree is such that it would qualify them for entry into the M.Sc. stream.
  • Students, enrolled in the Medical Sciences M.Sc. Program for at least a year, may seek to transfer to the PhD through presentation of the work they have accomplished and a research proposal to a faculty committee.

Indigenous Applicants

To promote and ensure equitable admissions to the Medical Sciences graduate program, we have instituted a facilitated admissions process for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) applicants.  In accordance with the Self-Identification policy of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Indigenous applicants who wish to apply through this stream must complete the supplementary Self-identification Application. Information on the policy, application requirements and the online application can be found at:https://ishs.mcmaster.ca/admissions/self-identification

To best represent our population we welcome applications from Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) learners via our Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP).  All applications received through the FIAP are reviewed exclusive of the general applicant pool.  After review, applications that are deemed eligible are distributed to all faculty members who are currently recruiting graduate students (also exclusive of the general applicant pool).

Admission Requirements

M.Sc.

  • 4 year Honours degree (B.Sc.) with an academic standing that is equivalent to at least a B+ using the McMaster University grading scale in the last 30 units of courses relevant to the program.  An M.D. degree or equivalent (e.g. M.B.B.S., M.B., Ch.B.) with an academic standing equivalent to at least a B+ as described above in previous academic work.

PhD

  • A Masters degree with an academic standing that is equivalent to at least a B+ using the McMaster University grading scale in previous academic work.  In exceptional cases, applicants may be admitted directly from a bachelor’s 4-year Honours degree.

Supporting Documents

  • Official transcripts of all academic work completed to date sent directly from the issuing institution(s).
  • Two references submitted confidentially, one of which must be from a faculty member and submitted via the online application system.  The second reference may be the community letter of recommendation which is submitted to the FIAP.  Important: You must submit a copy of this letter to BOTH the FIAP and the Medical Sciences Program.
  • Research questionnaire and Statement of Interest:  We encourage applicants to utilize the statement of interest to provide content such as community engagement, interest and activities in the field of health (either academically or within his/her home community including traditional medicine).  This may be submitted through the online portal, mail, via email tomedsci@mcmaster.caor delivered in-person.  Note that the online portal will not prompt you to include this document as it is a program specific requirement.
  • Curriculum vitae or résumé.  This may be submitted through the online portal, mail, via email tomedsci@mcmaster.caor delivered in-person.

We strongly encourage applicants to directly contact faculty members whose research interests align with those of the applicant. If you would like assistance to arrange a meeting between yourself and a faculty member, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Applicants who wish to be considered under the Indigenous application process must submit the Self-Identification Application by the application deadline: https://ishs.mcmaster.ca/admissions/self-identification

One self-identification application is used for all Faculty of Health Sciences programs that have a facilitated Indigenous admissions stream.  The Self-identification Application must be completed by whatever the earliest deadline date is for the programs for which you have applied to.