General Requirements for Admission

American Curriculum high school applicants are assessed using McMaster’s own calculation of the admission average. This calculation may differ from those used by other institutions.

• Graduation from an academic or college-preparatory program at a U.S. high school that is accredited or state-approved, or from an internationally located school that holds U.S. regional accreditation.
• Five Grade 12 (Senior) academic subjects, or an equivalent combination from International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
• Grade 12 English or English Literature is required for all programs.
• Math and Science Equivalencies:
  • Biology – Advanced Placement (AP) Biology; or two full credits/years in Biology, with at least one credit at the Grade 11 or 12 level.
  • Calculus – 4 years of high school Mathematics including Pre-Calculus and Grade 12 Calculus or AP Calculus AB/BC (or equivalent).
  • Chemistry – Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry; or two full credits/years in Chemistry, with at least one credit at the Grade 11 or 12 level.
  • Physics – Advanced Placement (AP) Physics; or two full credits/years in Physics, with at least one credit at the Grade 11 or 12 level.
• For applicants who sit an AP exam without taking the official AP class, a minimum AP exam score of 4 or 5 may be used in lieu of the corresponding science/math course requirement. No more than one such ‘challenge’ exam will be accepted to meet program-specific requirements.
• 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 80% for admission consideration.
• McMaster does not apply weighting to AP or honours courses when calculating admission averages. All GPA calculations are based on unweighted grades.
• Upon request, students presenting AP courses may be required to submit official AP Examination results directly from the College Board, with minimum scores of 3, as a condition of admission.

Documents Required for Review

• Unofficial high school transcript including final grades from Grade 10 and Grade 11, as well as interim grades from Grade 12.
• SAT or ACT results are optional. If submitted, they will be considered only if they strengthen the student’s application. Applicants who choose not to submit scores will not be disadvantaged.

Advanced Credit Policy

AP exams completed through the College Board with minimum scores of 4 or higher may be considered for advanced credit, at the discretion of the Faculty.

General Requirements for Admission

• A minimum of five subjects is required, including three distinct GCE Advanced Level (A2) or International A-Level subjects and two GCSE, IGCSE, or O Level subjects. Specific A-Level requirements vary by program.
• English requirement:
  • English is accepted at the GCSE/IGCSE/O Level or GCE A-Level (A2) for all programs.
  • English as a Second Language is also accepted at these levels for all programs except those within the Faculty of Humanities and Wilson College’s Leadership & Civic Studies, which require English (not ESL) as noted above.
• All math and science required courses must be presented at the A2 level unless otherwise indicated.

Note: Applicants presenting fewer than three A2 Level subjects, but who have completed at least two A2 Level subjects and four or more AS Level subjects, will be considered on an individual basis and are encouraged to apply.

Applicants presenting BTEC Level 3 qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Most programs require BTEC qualifications to be supplemented with one or two Advanced (A2) Level subjects.

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 minimum grades of B, at the discretion of the Faculty.

General Requirements for Admission

• Four subjects – three of which must be at CAPE Unit II.
• For the English requirement, we will accept the better of the following:
  • CSEC English B.
  • CAPE Caribbean Studies and Communication 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) 

Documents Required for Review

• CAPE Unit II predicted grades
• CSEC and CAPE Unit I results

Advanced Credit Policy

CAPE Unit 1 and Unit 2 courses with final grades of ‘II’ or higher may be considered for advanced credit, at the discretion of the Faculty.

General Requirements: 

• All India Senior School Certificate awarded by CBSE.
• Class 12 State Board Examinations with excellent results will also be considered on an individual basis.
• Five Class XII subjects including all 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) 
• Class XII Applied Mathematics is not considered equivalent to any math prerequisite courses.
  • Applicants who are unable to enroll in Class XII Mathematics and are seeking admission to programs with math prerequisites must provide proof of enrolment—at the time of application—in either the Ontario 4U math course(s), offered by a Ministry-approved school (in-person/online), or in an equivalent course.

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

• Indian School Certificate awarded by CISCE.
• Class 12 State Board Examinations with excellent results will also be considered on an individual basis.
• Five Class XII subjects including all prerequisite subject(s) for the 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 and relevé de notes for Premiere.
• 1^st trimester of Terminale.

Advanced Credit Policy

Terminale-level French Baccalaureate courses with a final grade of ‘13’ or higher may be considered for advanced credit, at the discretion of the Faculty.

General Requirements for Admission

• Six subjects – three at HL and three at SL plus the TOK and EE.
• Math Equivalencies:
  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) Standard Level (SL) = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U) and Calculus (MCV4U)
  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) Higher Level (HL) = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U), Calculus (MCV4U) and Statistics (MDM4U)
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) Standard Level (SL) = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U) and Statistics (MDM4U)
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) Higher Level (HL) = Pre-Calculus (MHF4U), Calculus (MCV4U) and Statistics (MDM4U)
• IB Diploma bonus points from Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE) are included in the applicant’s total score, which is evaluated out of a maximum of 45 points.
• The minimum score required for consideration varies by program.
• Applicants taking individual IB courses without completing the full Diploma Programme may still be eligible for admission, provided they are completing another recognized secondary school qualification. Please refer to the Admission Requirements for a list of acceptable credentials.

Documents Required for Review

• Grade 10 and 11 transcripts.
• Predicted Grades for IB Diploma Programme (DP2).

Advanced Credit Policy

• Final IB scores of 5 or higher in Higher Level (HL) courses—whether part of the full Diploma or presented as individual certificates—may be considered for advanced credit at the discretion of the Faculty.

General Requirements for Admission 

• A minimum of five Grade 12 subjects including all prerequisite subject(s) for the selected program.
• Applicants may present AP courses.
• Applicants must present English 12, or equivalent.
• 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

• Five Senior Secondary 3 subjects including all prerequisite subject(s) for the selected program.
• The 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.