Below you can find general admission requirements for the most common international curriculums.
General Requirements for Admission
American Curriculum High School applications are reviewed for admission based on McMaster’s own calculation of the admission average. McMaster’s calculations of the admission averages may vary from those used at other institutions.
- Graduation from an academic or college-prep program at an accredited or state approved high school (USA), or Graduation from a US regionally recognized accredited school (International)
- 5 Grade 12/Senior academic subjects or a combination of equivalents from IB, AP, SAT II Subject Tests
- Grade 12 English/English Literature required for all programs
- Math & Science equivalents:
- Biology – 2 years/2 full credits (Junior and Senior) or AP Biology (or equivalent)
- Calculus – 4 years of high school Mathematics including Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus (either AB or BC exam) or equivalent.
- Chemistry – 2 years/2 full credits (Junior and Senior) or AP Chemistry (or equivalent)
- Physics – 2 years/2 full credits (Junior and Senior) or AP Physics (or equivalent)
- AP Challenge exam with a minimum score of 4 or 5 may be used in lieu of one science/math requirement.
- A minimum average of 80% (including all required subjects) is required for application eligibility. Admission is competitive and many programs will require grades/averages well above the 80% for admission consideration.
- Upon request, students presenting AP courses to fulfill program requirements (or requisites) may be required to present official AP Examinations results with minimum results of ‘3’ via the College Board to finalize their admission.
Documents Required for Review
SAT/ACT results (if submitted), will be considered if they benefit the student and make their application stronger. Students who do not submit a score will not be penalized.
General Requirements for Admission
- A minimum of five subjects, three distinct GCE Advanced Level(A2)/International ‘A’ Level subjects and 2 GCSE/IGCSE/ ‘O’ level subjects
- Please see the specific Advanced Level (A2)/International ‘A’ Level subjects required for your chosen program
- English or English as a Second Language is acceptable at the GCSE/IGCSE O-level or GCE A (A2) level for all programs, except for programs within the Faculty of Humanities, which require either GCSE/IGCSE O-level English or GCE A (A2) level English.
- All math and science required courses must be presented at the A2 level unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE: Applicants presenting less than three Advanced (A) Levels, but have completed at least 2 Advanced (A) Level courses and four or more AS Level courses, will be considered on an individual basis and are encouraged to apply.
Documents Required for Review
- Predicted grades for A2 Levels
- IGCSE/GCSE/O Level Certificates, AS Level certificates (if completed)
Advanced Credit Policy
- A2 Level subjects may be considered for advanced credit with a minimum grade of B at the discretion of the Faculty
General Requirements for Admission
- 4 subjects – 3 of which must be at CAPE Unit II
- English – will accept the best of the following:
- CSEC/CXC or CAPE (Caribbean Studies/Communications Studies)
- Math and Science Equivalencies
- Unit 1 & Unit 2 Pure Math = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U) & Calculus (MCV4U)
- Unit 1 Pure Math = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U)
- Unit 1 & Unit 2 Applied Math = Statistics (MDM4U)
- Unit 1 & Unit 2 Biology = Biology (SBI4U)
- Unit 1 & Unit 2 Chemistry = Chemistry (SCH4U)
- Unit 1 & Unit 2 Physics = Physics (SPH4U)
- At the discretion of the Faculty, advanced credit may be granted for CAPE Unit 2 courses with a minimum final grade of “II”.
- No individual grades lower than III will be accepted and most programs require grades of I and II as minimums.
Documents Required for Review
- CAPE Unit II predicted results
- CSEC and CAPE Unit I final results
General Requirements:
- All India Senior School Certificate awarded by CBSE / Indian School Certificate awarded by CISCE
- Year 12 State Board Exams with excellent results will also be considered individually
- 5 Class XII subjects including all mandatory prerequisite subject(s) for selected program
- Average is calculated on Class XII predicted grades
- Applied Math is not considered for admission.
- Minimum average required for admission consideration varies by program
- Math and Science Equivalencies:
- Class XII Mathematics = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U) & Calculus (MCV4U)
- Class XII Biology = Biology (SBI4U)
- Class XII Chemistry = Chemistry (SCH4U)
- Class XII Physics = Physics (SPH4U)
Documents Required for Review:
- Class X board results
- Class XI transcript
- Class XII predicted grades
- Five Senior High School level subjects will be used to calculate your admissions average
- Huikao/Academic Proficiency Test results must be submitted
- Applicants in provinces where Huikao/APT isn’t offered or applicants without permanent residence/household registration are exempt from this requirement
- Confirmation of writing the Gaokao. If you aren’t writing the Gaokao, you must submit a formal explanation
- All science required courses must be presented at the Senior 3 level
- Applicants presenting the Chinese national curriculum blended with another international curriculum will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
- Math and Science Equivalencies:
- Senior 3 Mathematics = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U) & Calculus (MCV4U)
- Senior 3 Biology = Biology (SBI4U)
- Senior 3 Chemistry = Chemistry (SCH4U)
- Senior 3 Physics = Physics (SPH4U)
General Requirements for Admission
- 5 Class XII subjects including all mandatory prerequisite subject(s) for selected program
- Average is calculated on Class XII predicted grades
- Minimum average required for admission consideration varies by program
- Math and Science Equivalencies:
- Class XII Mathematics = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U) & Calculus (MCV4U)
- Class XII Biology = Biology (SBI4U)
- Class XII Chemistry = Chemistry (SCH4U)
- Class XII Physics = Physics (SPH4U)
Documents Required for Review
- Class X board results
- Class XI transcript
- Class XII predicted grades
General Requirements for Admission
- Six academic subjects will be used to calculate an admission average.
- The minimum average required for consideration varies by program.
Documents Required for Review
- Bulletins for Premiere
- 1st trimester of Terminale
- Results must be sent from the high school/institution directly
*At the discretion of the Faculty, advanced credit may be granted for French Baccalaureate courses with a minimum final grade of “13”.
General Requirements for Admission
- 6 subjects – 3 at HL and 3 at SL Plus the TOK and EE
- Math SL or HL will be accepted
- NEW Math equivalencies for first assessment in 2021:
- SL/HL Analysis & Approaches or HL Applications & Interpretations can be used to meet Calculus requirement
- SL/HL Analysis & Approaches or SL/HL Applications & Interpretations can be used to meet Advanced Functions requirement
- HL Analysis & Approaches or SL/HL Applications & Interpretations can be used to meet the Data Management requirement
- SL Analysis & Approaches MHF4U, MCV4U
- HL Analysis & Approaches MHF4U, MCV4U, MDM4U
- SL Applications & Interpretations MHF4U, MDM4U
- HL Applications & Interpretations MHF4U, MCV4U, MDM4U
- Bonus points – TOK and EE are added to the total score for admission consideration
- The minimum score required for consideration varies by program
- If you are taking IB courses but not pursuing the full Diploma Programme, you may still be eligible for admission if you are completing an alternative recognized secondary school diploma. Refer to the Admission Requirements for a list of acceptable qualifications.
Documents Required for Review
- Grade 10, 11 and Grade 12 Predicted IB Diploma grades
Advanced Credit Policy
- Final IB scores (HL only) of 5 or higher may be considered for Advanced Credit at the discretion of the Faculty.
- Certificate results of 5 or higher are also eligible for consideration
General Requirements for Admission
- A minimum of five grade 12 subjects including program required courses
- Applicants may present AP courses
- All applicants must present English 12
- Math and Science Equivalencies:
- Pre-Calculus 12 = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U)
- Calculus 12 = Calculus (MCV4U)
- Biology 12 = Biology (SBI4U)
- Chemistry 12 = Chemistry (SCH4U)
- Physics 12 = Physics (SPH4U)
Documents Required for Review
- Grade 10, 11, and 12 transcripts
- Applicants may upload unofficial copies directly to their applicant portal
- Final official copies must be sent to McMaster University directly from school records office
General Requirements for Admission
- 5 Senior Secondary 3 subjects including any/all prerequisite subject(s) for selected program
- A minimum average required for admission consideration varies by program
- Math and Science Equivalencies
- Senior Secondary 3 General Mathematics/Core Mathematics = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U)
- Senior Secondary 3 Further Mathematics/Elective Mathematics = Calculus (MCV4U)
- Senior Secondary 3 Biology = Biology (SBI4U)
- Senior Secondary 3 Chemistry = Chemistry (SCH4U)
- Senior Secondary 3 Physics = Physics (SPH4U)
Documents Required for Review
- Transcripts for SS1, SS2 and First Term SS3 grades