Admission to the Biochemistry Graduate Program M.Sc. program requires a minimum of a BSc with a B+ average (8.5/12) in Biochemistry. Students with a Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Medicine, Microbiology or Physics degree are also eligible for admission. Typically, most students are admitted to our doctoral program as MSc students, however, undergraduates having exceptional grades (consistent A to A+ average in all four years of study) and research experience may be considered for direct admission to our PhD program.

Students applying to our program who already hold a MSc degree from another institution can be admitted directly into the PhD program subject to approval from our admissions panel. Such students are required to take a qualifying exam, similar in structure and content to a transfer exam within their first twelve months of graduate school. In some cases, the admissions panel will recommend students holding a MSc be admitted to the program as a Master’s student. All students who enter into the MSc program have an opportunity to transfer directly into the PhD program once here and established in the lab.

Vaccination Mandate

McMaster’s Vaccination Policy, put in place October 2021, is on pause. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to make sure they are fully vaccinated, including booster shots, and to ensure that their MacCheck vaccination status is up to date.

Before applying to McMaster University, you need to prepare your application. It takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete an application. You may start an application and return to finish it at a later date, however no changes can be made after submission. Be sure to make note of any number that is assigned to you. Please ensure you allow sufficient time to submit all required documents by the deadline. Applications must be accompanied by the required $110 application fee. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars.

Admission Process

1. The Department Admissions Committee will review applications weighing many factors including the applicant’s academic record, letters of recommendation, letter of intent and prior performance in laboratory research.
2. Acceptance into our Graduate Program is contingent upon identifying and being accepted by a suitable supervisor in our program. Therefore we strongly encourage students to contact faculty members to discuss possible research projects.
3. The department will send all favourable applications to the School of Graduate Studies for final approval.
4. An official letter of admission will be sent from the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants may be accepted conditionally before completing their present degree.
5. Successful applicants are required to accept or decline their offer of admission within the specified time by completing an online response form.

The following items are required before your online application will be considered complete.

1. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(s) – You must provide all post-secondary academic work completed to date. Please attach a scanned PDF version of your ORIGINAL transcript at the time you apply. If the transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, any offer that is issued will be considered conditional upon the applicant demonstrating achievement of the appropriate academic standing (B+ or better) and providing proof. Electronic transcripts are acceptable for assessment purposes.
2. STATEMENT OF INTEREST and CV –  Statement of interest in pursuing graduate studies. This is approximately one page in length. In this statement, be sure to tell us why you are interested in a particular field of study, what you would like to accomplish in your studies, as well as any information that you think would be of use to the people reviewing your application. This statement (along with a current resume or CV) must be uploaded to your application at the time you apply.
3. REFEREE ASSESSMENTS –  Two Confidential Reports from instructors most familiar with your academic work (for example, current or previous academic research supervisor, industrial supervisor, teacher or thesis advisor). Referees will upload their confidential assessments to the online admission site. By entering the email address of a referee, the system will automatically send an e-reference request on your behalf. It is your responsibility to ensure your referees submit their assessments before our deadlines.
4. PROOF OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY (if applicable) – If English is not your native language, an official copy of your TOEFL or other evidence of competency in English is required. A minimum TOEFL score of 92 (internet-based); 237 (computer-based); 580 (paper-based) or IELTS (Academic Version) with a minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section. Applicants who have completed a university degree where the primary language of instruction is English may have this requirement waived.  Please contact our office for more information.  Our institution code is 0936 and department code is 34.

Please Note: Our program does not require a GRE test score.

Application Fees

• Applications must be accompanied by the required $110 application fee. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a valid credit card.
• In order to register, a student must pay tuition fees which are assessed on a term by term basis.  Supplementary fees are charged in addition to tuition.
• Learn more about these fees on the Registrar’s Office website (Faculty of Health Sciences)

International students need an valid study permit and proof of student status (offer letter/enrollment letter) to travel to Canada, regardless of their vaccination status.

Helpful Resources

• Immigration Advising
• McMaster International Student Services
• Health Insurance (UHIP)
• Aid & Awards for International Students
• Get ready for university life in Canada Webinars
• Government of Canada Information ( COVID-19 )
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) 
• McMaster Office for the Development of English Language (MODEL)

The most important step on the road to graduate studies is choosing a supervisor.

We have over 40 full-time outstanding faculty members in our department who study a broad range of research fields including infectious diseases, stem cells, the microbiome, cancer, cardiovascular disease, immunology, metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases to name just a few.    

While we assume that many applicants will already have an idea of what they want to study or which faculty member they want to work with, we know that many applicants have not made this decision at the time of application. We encourage candidates to contact prospective faculty members to inquire about possible openings at any time, before or after submitting their application.

Please be sure to click on the Faculty section. There you will find a list of faculty members and homepages containing their research interests. Please download the  Faculty Short Description (pdf) and visit the Faculty Research Areas  to learn more about the research conducted by our faculty. 

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McMaster University (founded in 1887), known for its high standard of excellence and a creative, innovative approach to learning and research, is located in the city of Hamilton in the beautiful province of Ontario, Canada. The campus is situated in the west end of the city on approximately 300 acres of natural parkland. The campus atmosphere is friendly, casual and cosmopolitan, with many support facilities and groups assisting students with their day-to-day needs and concerns. The University is home to students from over 70 different countries.

The study of biochemistry provides students with the fundamental skills needed to become experts in almost any discipline of biomedical research. Without these fundamental skills it is often difficult to make meaningful contributions to the understanding of complex diseases because such contributions require an in-depth understanding of biology at the molecular and cellular level. Research laboratories within the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences provide graduate students with an enriching experience that provides maximum career path flexibility upon graduation from our program.

The minimum requirements for admission to our graduate program is an Honours bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum B+ average (8.5 on the McMaster University scale or 77% -79%). In most years, we restrict admission to students with higher averages than this. Students with a degree in Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Medicine, Biology, Microbiology, Computer Science or Physics are eligible for admission. If your degree is in another discipline within the biological or applied sciences please contact the program administrators to determine eligibility. We also look closely at the research experience of students ­ usually in the form of a senior undergraduate research thesis or summer employment in a research laboratory. Degrees and grades from foreign universities are evaluated for their equivalency to McMaster´s. Students applying to our program who already hold a MSc degree from another institution can be admitted directly into the PhD program subject to approval from our admissions panel.

Acceptance into our Graduate Program is conditional upon reaching a mutually agreeable student supervisor agreement. We strongly encourage students to contact faculty members and to visit our department to discuss possible research projects.

The requirements listed for the department are the minimum. Typically 1 out of 10 applications we receive are ranked high enough for admission. Note however that we do not accept students according to application numbers, academic excellence is the primary criterion for admission. A good undergraduate transcript is important, but will be carefully weighed with research experience, letters of reference, scholarship support, and publications (if any). Every application is read by all members of the graduate admissions committee and every application is discussed fully at admissions committee meetings.

All students who do NOT speak English as their native language (language first learned and spoken at home) must take the TOEFL Test. An official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English is required. A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 (580 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) is required, or IELTS “Academic Version” with overall score of 6.5(5.5 minimum score in each section). Our institution code is 0936 and our department code is 34.

You must provide all post-secondary academic work completed to date.  Please attach a scanned PDF version of your ORIGINAL transcript at the time you apply. If the transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, any offer that is issued will be considered conditional upon the applicant demonstrating achievement of the appropriate academic standing (B+ or better) and providing proof. Electronic transcripts are acceptable for assessment purposes.

Academic Expenses:

1. In order to register, a student must pay tuition fees which are assessed on a term by term basis. Supplementary fees are charged in the first term in addition to tuition. Learn more about these fees on the Registrar’s Office homepage (under Faculty of Health Sciences).
2. International Student Health Insurance (UHIP) is mandatory for international students.
3. Looking for off-campus living. Please refer to the Off-Campus Housing for Graduate Students

MSc and PhD students who are accepted into our program are awarded a graduate stipend. The stipend is designed to cover the costs of tuition and living expenses. MSc students normally receive support for up to two years from the time of initial registration in the program, and PhD students up to four years. There is no guarantee of financial support after these respective periods.

Current graduate stipends

• Domestic students will receive $29,098.91 per year for MSc and $36,552.07 per year for PhD
• International students will receive $33,845.1 per year for MSc and $37,308.07 per year for PhD

Teaching Assistantships:

The maximum duration of guaranteed teaching assistantships is two years for MSc students and four years for PhD students. MSc students are not guaranteed a TA.

Among comparable Canadian departments, McMaster’s Biochemistry Graduate Program has among the shortest times to completion at both the MSc and PhD levels based on data submitted to the 2020 Ontario Council on Graduate Studies review. The department is committed to further reducing these numbers. In general, our MSc students take two years to complete their studies and our PhD students take four or five years.

Graduates in Biochemistry at McMaster are especially well prepared for careers in academia, government and industry. Our PhD  students typically pursue post-doctoral studies in academics or industry within Canada or worldwide.  Many of our past graduates are now faculty members at universities in Canada and the U.S. The following is a list of where a Biochemistry degree can lead you:

• Academic
• Research and Product Development
• Technician
• Consulting
• Public Health/Infection Control
• Sales/Marketing
• Forensic Biological Sciences (Crime-related)
• Nutrition
• Pharmaceuticals
• Genetics
• Scientific Journalism
• Physician
• Dentist
• Teacher
• Physiotherapist
• Supervision/Administration/Management

Please check out our Alumni page for further details.

Contact:
Off-Campus Resource Centre
Telephone: (905) 525-9140, Ext. 24086
E-mail: macoffcampus@mcmaster.ca

The Off-Campus Housing Office is located at the University Student Centre (MUSC) Basement – B112 lower level of the centre. They will be pleased to help you locate accommodation when you arrive in Hamilton. Note: Most apartments in Canada are unfurnished and it is not normally economically feasible to rent furnished apartments. Prices do not often include heating, light and telephone. Please allow extra for these expenses.