Ontario Secondary School Admission Overview
Ontario Secondary School Admission Overview
Ideally, start this process no later than October of your final year of secondary school.
- Research McMaster’s program options that match your goals.
- Attend a McMaster Information Session, a University Information Program or at a virtual university fair.
- Follow McMaster Admissions (@MacAdmit) on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
- Visit the McMaster Campus:
- Discuss your goals (academic, career, etc.) with your school’s Guidance Counsellor.
- Learn about McMaster’s Access Strategy that assists academically qualified students access university education.
(November to early January)
- Apply online at the Ontario Universities Application Centre’s (OUAC) website.
- Include a valid and unique e-mail address that only you can access/use. McMaster and many Ontario universities use e-mail to send important information.
- Add @mcmaster.ca to your safe sender/trusted list on your e-mail client to ensure our messages are not marked as spam.
- Apply before the recommended deadline (January 15) to ensure your application is processed without delays.
- Applying beyond January 15 (via OUAC) is still possible to programs that do not have a mandatory supplementary application deadline that has passed.
- Adding/changing a McMaster program choice after January is also possible via OUAC.
- Submit a Supplementary Application, if required. Supplementary applications are only required for the following programs:
- Arts & Science
- Engineering
- Integrated Business & Humanities
- Integrated Science
- Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed)
- Health Sciences
- Nursing (CASPer Test)
- Music (Audition)
- Studio Art (Portfolio Interview)
- Review McMaster’s Statement for application fraud.
(January to May)
- Check our Mosaic Applicant Portal for specific updates to your file or our Future Students Website for general updates
– McMaster will start sending offers of admission in early March - Follow McMaster Admissions (@MacAdmit) on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook
- Visit McMaster virtually.
(Accept offer by June 1 for current, full-time Ontario secondary school students or the deadline listed on your offer letter)
- You can view and download your admission decision letter on McMaster’s Applicant Portal.
- Most admission decisions will be communicated in May.
- Review the conditions of any offer(s) you receive (from McMaster or elsewhere).
- Ontario students must complete the following conditions by June 30 (or the specific date listed on McMaster’s offer of admission letter):
- Complete the required courses for the program you will be entering.
- Complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (and its associated requirements).
- Maintain the minimum average noted on your offer of admission letter.
- Ontario students must complete the following conditions by June 30 (or the specific date listed on McMaster’s offer of admission letter):
- Accept your offer on OUAC by the deadline listed on your offer of admission letter.
- Complete the online Residence Application (including deposit) by the deadline (if applicable).
(June to August)
Visit registrar.mcmaster.ca to review McMaster’s Quick Start Guide for New Students. Listed below is an overview of some of the major action items on McMaster’s Quickstart website:
- Review our Undergraduate Calendar for an overview of courses in your first year (and beyond)
- Register as a new McMaster student by selecting classes, paying fees, setting up e-mail, etc.
- Participate in summer orientations events offered by our Student Success Centre
- Receive residence building and roommate allocation details from the Housing Office (if you applied to residence)
- Pay fees
- Submit financial aid applications
- Start classes and orient yourself to university life during Welcome Week
