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 webinar or information session (more information coming soon).
- Follow McMaster Admissions (@MacAdmit) on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
- Visit the McMaster Campus:
- Visit our campus either virtually or in-person
- Attend one of our on-campus events (more details coming)
- 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.
- Watch the how-to videos supplied by OUAC.
- 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 13) to ensure your application is processed without delays.
- Applying beyond January 13 (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
- Bachelor of Technology
- Business (optional)
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- iArts (Creative Submission)
- Integrated Business & Humanities
- Integrated Science
- Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed)
- Health Sciences
- Nursing (CASPer Test)
- Music (Audition)
- Review McMaster’s Statement for application fraud.
- If you are required to submit an English Language Proficiency test result, please upload it directly on your application portal prior to April 1, 2022.
(January to May)
- Check your 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
- 101 applicant portal
- 105 applicant portal
- Follow McMaster Admissions (@MacAdmit) on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook
- Visit McMaster
- Visit Student Accessibility Services if you have questions about supports for students with disabilities.
(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 your applicant portal.
- All admissions decisions will be made no later than end of 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)
- Submit financial aid applications
- Start classes and orient yourself to university life during Welcome Week
