About the university
McMaster University was founded in 1887 in Toronto and moved to Hamilton in 1930. It is a public research university best known for health sciences, engineering and research. Three Nobel laureates are linked to McMaster, including physicist Donna Strickland (2018), who is an alumna.
The university says it is in the top 5% of universities in the THE World University Rankings 2027 and 18th in the world in THE's Impact Rankings 2026. It runs about 70 research centres and institutes, and its Faculty of Engineering has a large co-op programme.
Indian students mostly look at Engineering, Computer Science, Health Sciences, Business (DeGroote School of Business) and the Master of Engineering programmes. International tuition is high, especially in Engineering: Level 1 Engineering was about CAD 73,500 in 2025-26. McMaster offers several automatic entrance awards for international students.
Hamilton is a port city at the western end of Lake Ontario, about an hour from Toronto by road or GO Transit. Living costs are generally lower than in Toronto, which helps students on a budget.
- Founded
- 1887 in Toronto by Senator William McMaster; moved to Hamilton in 1930
- Type
- Public research university in Ontario
- Total students
- 37,256 (31,779 undergraduate and 5,477 graduate)
- Faculty
- 1,089 full-time instructional faculty, excluding clinical educators
- Main campus
- 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario
- Main intake
- September for undergraduate degrees; engineering master's programmes also start in January and some in May
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=174 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=116 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (Engineering I, then choose a discipline)
- Fee / year
- C$73,515
- Duration
- 4 years (5 years for some combined options); co-op available
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), TOEFL iBT 86 (20 each), PTE 60 or Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$59,606
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), TOEFL iBT 86 (20 each), PTE 60 or Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Commerce (DeGroote School of Business)
- Fee / year
- C$53,003
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op available
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), TOEFL iBT 86 (20 each), PTE 60 or Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed)
- Fee / year
- C$73,515
- Duration
- 5 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), TOEFL iBT 86 (20 each), PTE 60 or Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Honours Health Sciences (BHSc)
- Fee / year
- C$56,718
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), TOEFL iBT 86 (20 each), PTE 60 or Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
Master of Engineering in Systems and Technology (MEST)
- Fee / year
- C$55,804
- Duration
- Full time or part time; course or project based, with co-op available
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each section), TOEFL iBT 88 or PTE 70 (Faculty of Engineering)
- Postgraduate
Master of Engineering Design (MEng)
- Fee / year
- C$55,804
- Duration
- Full time or part time; project based, with co-op available
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each section), TOEFL iBT 88 or PTE 70 (Faculty of Engineering)
- Postgraduate
Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering (MEME)
- Fee / year
- C$55,804
- Duration
- Full time or part time; course or project based, with co-op available
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each section), TOEFL iBT 88 or PTE 70 (Faculty of Engineering)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Engineering (Engineering I, then choose a discipline) | 4 years (5 years for some combined options); co-op available | C$73,515 | ≈ ₹49.3 lakh |
| Honours Computer Science | 4 years; co-op option | C$59,606 | ≈ ₹39.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Commerce (DeGroote School of Business) | 4 years; co-op available | C$53,003 | ≈ ₹35.5 lakh |
| Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed) | 5 years | C$73,515 | ≈ ₹49.3 lakh |
| Honours Health Sciences (BHSc) | 4 years | C$56,718 | ≈ ₹38 lakh |
| Master of Engineering in Systems and Technology (MEST) | Full time or part time; course or project based, with co-op available | C$55,804 | ≈ ₹37.4 lakh |
| Master of Engineering Design (MEng) | Full time or part time; project based, with co-op available | C$55,804 | ≈ ₹37.4 lakh |
| Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering (MEME) | Full time or part time; course or project based, with co-op available | C$55,804 | ≈ ₹37.4 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at McMaster University with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate, entering Level 1
McMaster University Award of Excellence
Value: Up to CAD 200,000 over four years (final amount set by the faculty)
Eligibility: International students in Business, Engineering, Humanities, Science or Social Sciences with outstanding academic and personal achievement. Apply on AwardSpring; for 2027 entry applications open on 1 November 2026 and close on 19 February 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate, Commerce
DeGroote international entrance awards
Value: CAD 15,000 to 25,000 in the first year, renewable at CAD 5,000 to 20,000 a year
Eligibility: Automatic for international Commerce students, set by admission average (up to 89.99%, 90–94.99%, 95% and above).
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate, Level 1
Engineering and Computer Science International Entrance Awards
Value: CAD 10,000 one-time
Eligibility: Full-time international fee-paying students starting Level 1 Engineering, iBioMed or Computer Science in the Fall term.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate, Faculty of Science
Science Global Scholars Award
Value: CAD 10,000 in Level 1, then CAD 7,500 a year in Levels 2–4
Eligibility: International students entering Science; renewal terms are set by the faculty.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Full-time MBA
DeGroote MBA admission awards
Value: CAD 2,000 to 30,000 (2026 average award CAD 14,000)
Eligibility: Considered automatically for eligible domestic and international full-time MBA applicants.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- CBSE (AISSCE) or CISCE (ISC) Class 12. McMaster uses five Class 12 subjects, including your programme's prerequisites, and calculates your average on Class 12 predicted grades.
- Class 12 Mathematics counts as Ontario Advanced Functions and Calculus; CBSE Applied Mathematics does not meet maths prerequisites.
- State board results with excellent marks are considered case by case.
- The minimum average varies by programme and competition; McMaster does not publish a single cut-off.
- Send Class 10 results, your Class 11 transcript and Class 12 predicted grades when you apply.
Postgraduate
- A recognised bachelor's degree in a related subject; each programme sets its own minimum average through the School of Graduate Studies.
- For engineering master's programmes starting September 2027 the international deadline is 28 February 2027; for January 2027 it was in mid-2026.
- The Full-time MBA suits applicants with 2 to 7 years of work experience; the MBA with Co-op suits those with less than 4 years.
- Engineering graduate applications need transcripts, academic references, a statement of interest and English scores.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 results, Class 11 transcript and Class 12 predicted or final grades (undergraduate)
- Degree transcripts and certificates (postgraduate)
- English test score unless you meet an exemption
- Academic references and statement of interest (graduate)
- AwardSpring application for the Award of Excellence, if applying
- Proof of funds for the study permit
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (undergraduate) | 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band. |
| TOEFL iBT (undergraduate) | Tests before 21 January 2026: 86 overall with 20 in each section. New-format tests: 4.5 overall. |
| PTE Academic and Duolingo (undergraduate) | PTE 60 overall with 60 in Writing and Speaking; Duolingo 120 overall with set sub-scores. |
| Graduate engineering | IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each section, TOEFL iBT 88 or PTE 70. |
| Exemption | Not automatic. You may be exempt after four years of full-time study at an English-medium secondary school; ask admissions whether your school qualifies. |
Accommodation and living costs
McMaster has residences on campus in Hamilton and lists a housing guarantee for international first-year students; you apply through the Housing Portal. Residence fees are charged for the 8-month academic year in two instalments, and every resident must also buy a meal plan, which costs extra. A $600 payment ($500 deposit plus a $100 non-refundable fee) is needed to apply.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional double roomRoom only; meal plan extra | C$9,220per 8-month academic year | ≈ ₹6.2 lakh |
| Traditional single roomRoom only; meal plan extra | C$10,220per 8-month academic year | ≈ ₹6.8 lakh |
| Suite or pod with a single roomDepends on how many share a washroom | C$11,700–13,990per 8-month academic year | ≈ ₹7.8 lakh – ₹9.4 lakh |
| Residence application payment$500 deposit credited to fees plus a $100 non-refundable fee | C$600one-off | ≈ ₹40,200 |
Campus and location
The main campus is at 1280 Main Street West in west Hamilton. Most teaching, residences and student services are on this one site.
- More than 300 student-led clubs and over 70 international exchange agreements.
- The Faculty of Engineering offers co-op from the summer after first year, with longer 8, 12 or 16-month placements later.
- Hamilton has GO Transit trains and buses to Toronto, about an hour away.
- About 70 research centres and institutes.
- McMaster lists a four-year housing guarantee for international first-year students; check the Housing pages for the conditions.
Careers and graduate outcomes
McMaster's co-op programmes in Engineering, Computer Science and Business give paid Canadian work experience before graduation. Graduates of eligible degrees can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit; see our Canada guide for the current rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering undergraduates enrolled in co-op | 93% | McMaster Engineering programme page |
| Average annual co-op salary, Engineering | CAD 50,000 (about CAD 25 an hour) | McMaster Engineering programme page |
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Canada
Photo: aka Tman from Guelph.........Ontario, CANADA, CC BY 2.0 PublicUniversity of Toronto (official website, opens in a new tab)
Toronto, CanadaOften chosen for Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences, Engineering
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Photo: JFVoll, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicUniversity of Waterloo (official website, opens in a new tab)
Waterloo, CanadaOften chosen for Computer Science & IT, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: Krylan22, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicUniversity of Windsor (official website, opens in a new tab)
Windsor, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Business & Management, Computer Science & IT
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0), CC0 PublicMcGill University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Montreal, CanadaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Law
Photo: WinterforceMedia WinterE229, Public domain PublicUniversity of Alberta (official website, opens in a new tab)
Edmonton, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Data Science & AI, Life Sciences
FAQs
How much does McMaster cost for an Indian student?
In 2025-26 Level 1 international tuition was about CAD 73,500 in Engineering, CAD 59,600 in Computer Science, CAD 53,000 in Commerce and CAD 49,900 in Science. Residence costs about CAD 9,200 to 14,000 for eight months plus a meal plan. Check the current fee schedule, as rates change each year.
Does McMaster accept CBSE and ISC Class 12?
Yes. McMaster uses five Class 12 subjects, including the prerequisites for your programme, and calculates your average from predicted grades. CBSE Applied Mathematics does not count as a maths prerequisite.
Can I skip IELTS with my Class 12 English marks?
McMaster does not list a Class 12 English waiver. An exemption may be considered after four years of full-time study at an English-medium school, but it is not automatic, so plan to take IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo.
What scholarships can international students get?
The Award of Excellence is worth up to CAD 200,000 over four years and needs an AwardSpring application by 19 February 2027. Many faculty awards are automatic, such as the CAD 10,000 Engineering and Computer Science entrance awards and DeGroote's awards for Commerce.
When can I start a Master of Engineering?
Most engineering master's programmes start in September or January. For September 2027 the international deadline is 28 February 2027.
Sources
- McMaster Financial Affairs: approved Tuition Fee Schedule 2024-25 and 2025-26 (Appendix A) (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster Registrar: undergraduate fees (opens in a new tab)
- DeGroote MBA: finances (2027/28 tuition and awards) (opens in a new tab)
- DeGroote: Full-time MBA with Co-op (opens in a new tab)
- DeGroote: Full-time MBA (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster: international undergraduate entrance awards (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster: English proficiency requirements (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster: common international curriculum requirements (CBSE, CISCE) (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster Engineering: how to apply (graduate) (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster Housing: residence fees (opens in a new tab)
- McMaster: Get to Know McMaster fast facts (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027 (Canada results, Academica summary) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.mcmaster.ca (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details