Application Information
Please review all the admission information carefully. Applications that are incomplete, or do not meet eligible requirements, will not be considered for admission into the Program.
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Application Process
The admissions cycle for intake in September 2025 is now open. Applicants apply through the Applicant Portal. Please review the School of Graduate Studies’ “How to Apply” website prior to starting your application.
Please refer to the Admission Dates & Deadlines section below for the application close dates.
Applicants should carefully review the admission requirements outlined in the ‘Requirements‘ tab on this webpage. All eligibility criteria and details relating to the required documents can be found there. The MPH Program only has one admission cycle annually, accepting new students in September only. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered for an offer of admission.
Start your application early! We strongly encourage applicants to begin the application process well before the deadline date, as preparing the required materials takes time, and referees must be given enough time to complete and submit references. The MPH Program will not follow-up with referees who have not completed the reference. If the references are not submitted, the application is considered incomplete and will not be considered for an offer of admission.
All documents should be uploaded into the online admissions portal. Please do not mail any documents to the MPH Program office.
Important things to keep in mind during the application process:
- Upload all of your required documents before submitting your application; you will not be able to add or edit after you submit.
- Have PDF copies of your documents ready to upload. PDF documents should be unlocked and not password protected.
- Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they have uploaded all required documents. Due to the high volume of applicants, we cannot contact individuals if they have forgotten to upload a required document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Students do not declare a program pathway (thesis or practicum) at the time of application. This step is not completed until the end of the first term of study. We recommend that applicants do not contact potential supervisors until they have been accepted into the Program.
Admission Dates & Deadlines
Admission Task/Event |
Date / Deadline |
| Applications Open | October 15, 2024 |
| McMaster Graduate Studies Fair | September 24, 2024 |
| Graduate & Professional Schools Fair | September 26, 2024 |
| Admission Webinar #1
Register in advance at https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsc-utpzsjH9VlJO_6auaCMFGEtuJ5lIOO |
November 14, 2024 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET |
| Admission Webinar #2
Register in advance at https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsdu-prDoqHN3CxFelEUrovygGm6iUe-bg |
December 12, 2024 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET |
| Admission Webinar #3
Register in advance at https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqd-itrz8sE9KBg9MnV__uk9BHyZrakkd4 |
January 8, 2025 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET |
| Applications Close for International Applicants | January 14, 2025 |
| Applications Close for Domestic Applicants | January 31, 2025 |
| References Due for International Applicants | January 28, 2025 |
| References Due for Domestic Applicants | February 14, 2025 |
| Offers of Admission | First round sent early April |
International Applicants
International Transcripts – If you have completed your studies outside of Canada, an international grade conversion tool is used by the McMaster Admissions Committee to determine Canadian Equivalency. It is encouraged that you submit a transcript assessment document (e.g., WES) along with your transcript. This is not required but can be helpful in the assessment of your academic background.
Transcript Language – Non-English transcripts must be translated and notarized. The applicant is responsible for providing an official translated version of the transcript. Both the original untranslated transcript and the official translation are required to be submitted. The only exception to this requirement is where the official translation is done by the degree issuing institution (university). In this case, just the translation is acceptable. Acceptable sources of translation include translations performed by a country consulate representative/notary public.
Study Permits – If you have questions about study permits, please visit the Student Success Centre’s website.
Applying for Permanent Residency – If you are in the process of applying for permanent residency, you must apply to the MPH Program as an international applicant. If you are offered admission into the Program, you can provide the permanent residency documentation at the start of the Program and your record/tuition will then be adjusted.
Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP)
The Master of Public Health Program strives to admit students from a broad range of academic and personal backgrounds as we value diversity and inclusiveness. To best represent our population, we welcome applications from Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) learners via our Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP). All applications received through the FIAP are reviewed exclusive of the general applicant pool. These applications are strongly encouraged, and entrance scholarships are available to support Indigenous students.
Applicants who wish to be considered through the FIAP must submit the Self-Identification Application in addition to their application to the Master of Public Health Program. Applications to the Self-Identification Application are submitted to the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge from the link provided above. One Self-Identification Application is used for all Faculty of Health Sciences programs that have a facilitated Indigenous admissions stream. The Self-identification Application must be completed by the earliest deadline date of all the program(s) for which you have applied.
Scholarships
Entrance Scholarships – A select number of internal entrance scholarships will be available for top ranked candidates. Applicants do not apply for these awards; they will find out if they have been awarded an entrance scholarship when they receive an offer of admission.
External Scholarships – The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Scholarships webpage provides information to graduate students on available scholarships, including the Canadian Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS-M) and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Please note, students are responsible for applying for these awards independently. The MPH Program office does not administer these external scholarships and does not assist with the application process.
Students may also choose to sign up for AwardSpring, McMaster’s award matching platform.
MPH Admission Webinars
Each year, the MPH Program hosts a number of admission webinars which offer applicants an opportunity to learn more about the Program and the admission requirements.
The 2024/25 Admission Webinar Series
| Admission Webinar #1
Register in advance at https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsc-utpzsjH9VlJO_6auaCMFGEtuJ5lIOO |
November 14, 2024 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET |
| Admission Webinar #2
Register in advance at https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsdu-prDoqHN3CxFelEUrovygGm6iUe-bg |
December 12, 2024 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET |
| Admission Webinar #3
Register in advance at https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqd-itrz8sE9KBg9MnV__uk9BHyZrakkd4 |
January 8, 2025 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET |
The webinar will be recorded and posted here. Until then you can view a recording of last year’s webinar (slides can be found here: Webinar 2023-24_Updated2024Jan11).
I’ve Applied! What’s Next?
After the application portal closes, all eligible and complete applications will be reviewed. Offers of admission will be made after all applications have been reviewed. The first round of offers typically are sent in early April and offers may continue to be sent into late spring/early summer. All applicants are expected to respond to offers of admission within the application portal by the response deadline provided. Failure to respond by the deadline will result in the expiry of the offer.
Please note that we cannot provide applicants with feedback on their application or on their ranking and/or position on the waitlist. Admission decisions are not subject to appeal as per the McMaster School of Graduate Studies Calendar, section 2.1.
International Students – If you have questions about study permits, please visit the Student Success Centre’s website.
Application Requirements
The MPH Program has both academic and non-academic requirements for application to the Program. We cannot assess applications prior to our review period and cannot confirm the eligibility of the perquisite. Please review the information carefully to determine your eligibility.
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Application Overview
McMaster’s MPH Program accepts both domestic and international students. The academic requirements and application process is the same for all applicants. International students, and domestic students who have studied abroad, may need to refer to the English Proficiency requirements, as outlined in ‘Required Documents‘ section.
To apply to graduate programs at McMaster University, applicants must use the application portal, facilitated by the School of Graduate Studies, called Slate. You can refer to the SGS Admissions website for technical application instructions, but please refer to this MPH website for details related to specific MPH Program admission requirements and required documents.
Successful candidates will receive a letter of offer from the Assistant Registrar of the School of Graduate Studies. All applicants are expected to respond to an offer of admission by the specified deadline in the application portal. Applicants who are not offered admission will receive notification from the MPH Admissions Committee.
Required Documents – All documents must be uploaded using the application portal as part of your application. We do not accept email or mailed submissions of documents. Any materials mailed in support of an application cannot be returned. Please see the list of required documents in the section below.
Program Pathways – All applicants will apply to the general MPH Program. Those selected for admission will be asked to declare the practicum or thesis pathway following the first term of study. Applicants do not need to declare this pathway at the time of application, and therefore do not need to secure a supervisor ahead of time.
International Students – if you have questions related to study permits, please visit the Student Success Centre’s website.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Public Health program, applicants need to demonstrate the following:
1. Completion of a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited university by the time of entry in September. The MPH program accepts students from a variety of academic backgrounds (e.g., science, social science, business, etc.); there is no restriction/preference on the subject matter of the undergraduate degree. In addition, approved professional degrees are accepted (e.g., Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Nutrition, Rehabilitation Sciences, Pharmacy or Social Work – BSW or MSW).
2. B+ or higher GPA in the final 10 senior courses (300 & 400 level).
3. An undergraduate course in Statistics or Mathematics with at least a B+ grade to ensure appropriate quantitative ability for the epidemiology and biostatistics courses. This can include courses named statistics, probability, data analysis, quantitative methods, mathematics, calculus, or algebra. If an application is submitted with transcripts that do not demonstrate the successful completion of this requirement, they will be deemed ineligible and will not move on to the next stage of review. We encourage applicants to include the relevant course syllabus within the application so the course can be verified. You can merge the syllabus with your transcript PDF and upload it as one document into the application portal, Slate. This course must be completed, with the final grade posted, by the time you apply.
IMPORTANT: All applicants (both international and domestic) with an MD, MBBS, BDS (or similar degree) must meet the Statistics/Mathematics requirement. The completion of a full statistics or mathematics course must be evidenced within the application. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the applicant being deemed ineligible. There are no exceptions to this requirement. We do not accept statistics courses from providers such as Coursera. Below is a list of online, undergraduate Statistics courses that would meet the requirement.
https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/stat1201.html
https://www.athabascau.ca/syllabi/math/math215.html
https://courses.opened.uoguelph.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18978
Upload the following items in the application portal (Slate) in support of your application:
All documents must be submitted using the online portal. Applicants may submit a scanned version of a hardcopy document. Please do not mail any documents to the MPH office.
1. Current Curriculum Vitae
Please upload your current CV during the application process.
2. Transcripts
At the application stage, applicants must provide a digital copy of transcripts (to date) from all post-secondary institutions attended that demonstrate the completion of (or near completion of) a 4-year bachelor’s degree, from an accredited university. To be deemed eligible, the 10 most recent senior level courses must calculate to a GPA of B+ (77%) or higher. In addition, a transcript must demonstrate the completion of a statistics or math course with a grade of a B+ or higher. It is recommended that you include the course syllabus along with your transcript so the required statistics course can be easily identified by admission reviewers. You can merge the syllabus with your transcript PDF and upload as one document.
If you are offered admission into the Program, will you need to have all original and official transcripts sent to the MPH Program office (e-transcripts are preferred) directly from the issuing institutions.
Unofficial transcripts (or grade reports issued by the university) are accepted only if they include:
- Your name
- Your student number
- The full name of the issuing post-secondary institution
- The name of the program you were/are enrolled in
Attention McMaster Students – If you completed your undergraduate degree at McMaster University, you still need to submit a copy of your unofficial transcript as a part of your MPH Program application. You can request a copy from Mosaic and simply upload it into the application portal.
Hints for scanning your transcripts – If we can’t read it, it cannot be reviewed. Illegible documents can cause an applicant’s file to be dismissed before review, so please check your files before submitting your application.
– Please ensure all files are in PDF format and are 5MB or less
– If your transcripts are double-sided, and/or have shaded areas, please ensure they are legible
– Please place a white sheet of paper on the side not being scanned
– Check your scanned file for clarity before uploading to your application
GPA Calculation – The 10 most senior level courses (300 or 400) will be used to calculate your GPA. It is not necessary for applicants to have completed all 10 senior level courses at the time of application if they are still studying. If this is the case, GPA calculations will be based on the available senior level grades at the time of application. If admitted into the Program, the applicant must demonstrate a continued B+ GPA for the remaining senior level courses in the undergraduate degree.
International Transcripts – If you have completed your studies outside of Canada, an international grade conversion tool is used by the McMaster admissions committee. It is encouraged that you submit a transcript assessment document (e.g., WES) along with your transcript. This is not required but can be helpful in the assessment of your academic background.
Transcript Language – Non-English transcripts must be translated and notarized. The applicant is responsible for providing an official translated version of the transcript. Both the original untranslated transcript and the official translation are required to be submitted. The only exception to this requirement is where the official translation is done by the degree issuing institution (university). In this case, the translation is acceptable. Acceptable sources of translation include translations performed by a country consulate representative/notary public.
3. Academic References
Two confidential academic letters of recommendation from instructors or research supervisors most familiar with your academic work are required. Only two references will be accepted; if you upload more than two, the additional references will be dismissed and will not be reviewed.
An appropriate academic referee is someone who has a university faculty appointment, including any rank of professor or instructor, but not a teaching assistant (TA). The referee must clearly indicate their academic appointment status in the reference (e.g., Associate Professor, Professor, etc.) Referees should be able to speak to the candidate’s:
- Academic suitability for the MPH program
- Applicant plans to make use of the MPH degree after graduation
- Applicant fit with the McMaster MPH program in terms of terms of interest, self-direction and teamwork
- Relevant academic skills (e.g., communication -written and verbal, quantitative skills, etc.)
If you have been out of school for at least 3 years:
- One reference must be academic in nature from a professor/instructor as outlined above (this can include continuing education). The referee must clearly indicate their academic appointment status in their reference (e.g., Associate Professor, Professor, etc.)
- The second referee may be a work supervisor (someone who monitors your performance) who can also speak to your academic abilities
- Recommendations must be provided directly from the referee through the portal, using their institutional/work email accounts whenever possible
Important information: Applicants will need to provide the contact information (name, academic position, institutional email) for their two referees in the application portal. After you apply, your referees will automatically get an email prompting them to complete a reference. Both academic references must be submitted no later than two weeks after the application deadline, please communicate this firm deadline with your referees. If either reference is incomplete after the deadline, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Please note, while referees will have two weeks to complete the reference following the application deadline, it is strongly recommended that references are completed as soon as possible, or before the application deadline to ensure a timely review process.
4. Statement of Interest / Personal Statement
An original written Statement of Interest must be included (maximum 750 words). This should provide the reviewers with an understanding of:
– How your previous academic, work, and life experiences have shaped your decisions to pursue training in public health
– How you anticipate using the skills and knowledge from this program in your future career
– What you would bring to the program, such as prior experience in a field related to public health
– How McMaster’s MPH Program is uniquely suited to your interests and future goals
– How you perceive yourself contributing to the work of colleagues and/or fellow students, being a team player and a leader
5. TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable)
If you have not completed your previous studies in English, a copy of your TOEFL score or IELTS test report form is required. A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 (580 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) or a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 is needed for the Faculty of Health Sciences (with at least 5.5 in each section). Please visit the SGS Calendar, section 2.1.12 for minimum requirements. Students who have completed a post-secondary degree from a university/program where the language of instruction and assessment is English are not required to provide a TOEFL or IELTS scores. Your transcript must state that the medium of instruction was English, otherwise you must supply a letter from the issuing institution, on official letterhead, stating that the medium of instruction for your degree program was English.
Admissions FAQ
The answers to many commonly asked questions are listed below. We encourage applicants to review these FAQs prior to emailing the Program and/or submitting their application.
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Due to volume of inquiries, we are unable to assess individual applicants. Admission requirements are outlined on our website here: https://mph.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/education/admissions/. Please review the requirements to assess your eligibility.
Due to the large volume of applicants, we cannot assess prerequisites prior to application or provide assurance on whether a course meets the prerequisite requirement. Applicants are encouraged to submit the course syllabus for the course expected satisfy the prerequisite with their application.
All applicants (both international and domestic) with an MD, MBBS, BDS (or similar degree) must meet the Statistics/Mathematics requirement.
IMPORTANT: The completion of a full statistics or mathematics course must be evidenced within the application. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the applicant being deemed ineligible. There are no exceptions to this requirement. We do not accept statistics courses from providers such as Coursera. Below is a list of online, undergraduate Statistics courses that would meet the requirement.
https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/stat1201.html
https://www.athabascau.ca/syllabi/math/math215.html
https://courses.opened.uoguelph.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18978
The prerequisite requirement is that applicants have completed an undergraduate course in Statistics or Mathematics with at least a B+ grade. This can include courses whose name includes statistics, probability, data analysis, quantitative methods, mathematics, calculus, or algebra.
No, all admission requirements must be met at the time of application. Applicants must show that they have successfully completed an undergraduate course in Statistics or Mathematics with at least a B+ grade in their application. Applicants who have not met the requirement will not be eligible for the MPH Program.
You can view a standard reference form here: https://gs.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2020/02/Graduate-Studies-Reference.pdf.
References can upload their own letter if they wish, but the reference form needs to be completed in order for the applicant to be considered for admission.
Faculty and staff do not meet with applicants. If you are interested in connecting with a current student, you can contact one of the MPH Program’s Student Ambassadors. You can find their contact information here: https://grad.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/students/#tab-content-ambassadors.
The MPH Program does hold webinars for applicants to learn more about the Program and to ask questions. Webinar information will be posted in the Admissions Webinar tab on our Admissions webpage.
Students in the MPH Program often receive stipend(s) depending on available funding; however, funding is not guaranteed.
There are no internal scholarships available for MPH students other than a select number of entrance scholarships. Information about McMaster-wide and external scholarships can be found on the McMaster Graduate Studies website at https://gs.mcmaster.ca/current-students/scholarships/.
Students interested in the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) can find more information here https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/aid-awards/osap-government-aid/.
Information about Tuition can be found on our website at https://mph.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/education/tuition-funding/.
Please note that fees can change any time without notice. Always refer to the Office of the Registrar (https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/fees/graduate) for the current tuition and fees.
The B+ GPA is a firm requirement. Applicants who do not have this minimum GPA will not be eligible for the Program.
No, a supervisor is not required at the time of application. All students complete the fall term together. Students declare the stream they want to pursue (practicum or thesis) by the end of the first term. Students pursuing the thesis stream will secure a supervisor at this time.
The GPA is calculated using the ten (10) most recent senior level courses (i.e. 300 and 400 level). If an applicant retakes a course the most recent grade will be used in the GPA calculation.
Applicants in the process of obtaining permanent residency must apply as an international applicant. Should the applicant be admitted into the MPH Program they can provide proof of permanent residency to change their status to a domestic student.
No, we do not require a Word Education Services (WES), or similar, evaluation. International applicants may choose to submit one with their application, in which case we would review it. If an applicant’s transcripts are not in English, the applicant must submit English translated and notarized versions of their international transcripts with their application.
The MPH Program admits approximately 25 domestic students and up to five (5) international students each application cycle (September intake only). We also accept up to five (5) part-time students each application cycle (September intake only). The MPH Program is competitive as we receive around 500+ applications each application cycle.
Yes, the MPH Program has a part-time stream which takes approximately four (4) years to complete. We admit up to five (5) part-time students each year.
For more information about the part-time stream please visit our Course & Scheduling webpage website and review our Program Handbook.
The MPH Program is offered in-person only. If you are interested in an online program, the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) offers a completely online graduate diploma program called Graduate Diploma in Community and Public Health.