McMaster University

   Admission into the MSc program requires a BSc in a Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Medicine or Microbiology degree with a final grade of B+ or better. There are also some positions for students holding Physics or Computer science degrees available. Undergraduates having exceptional grades (A to A+ average in all four years of study) and research experience may be considered for direct admission to the PhD program. Students may request consideration for admission by this route by emailing the Assistant Chair, Graduate Education, Dr. Justin Nodwell or Graduate Secretary Lisa Kush. Students who already hold a MSc degree can be admitted directly into the PhD program. These students are required to take a qualifying exam, similar in structure and content to a transfer exam within their first 9 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 the MSc program have an opportunity to transfer directly into the PhD program once they are established in the lab.

   All students in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Scienes at McMaster University work with a faculty member who serves as their supervisor on their way to their degree. While some applicants will already have an idea of what they want to study and/or which faculty member they want to work with, many applicants have not made this decision at the time of application. The department therefore has a system of laboratory rotations for new students. In their first semester rotating students work in three different labs in the department for one month each and choose their home lab at the end of this time.

   The School of Graduate Studies at McMaster University uses an online graduate application system (SynApps). To submit an online application, students must first create an account using their own email address as their username. The online application system is located at https://gradapplication.mcmaster.ca/account/instructions.asp. Initial assessments of completed applications are conducted in the middle of March. The Department Admissions Committee will weigh factors like the applicant's scholastic record, letters of recommendation, letter of intent, prior performance in laboratory research, and often personal interviews.

   The selection of an appropriate supervisor is critically important. It is recommended that prospective students contact faculty members and to visit the department to discuss possible research projects. Interested students are strongly encouraged to attend the department's graduate open house, held every February. Qualified out of province students can be reimbursed for some or all of their travel costs for this purpose.

   Items required for online application: One official transcript of academic work completed to date, sent directly from the issuing institution. If the final transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, an official copy of the diploma is also required. Two confidential reports from instructors most familiar with the applicant's academic work. Recommendations must be provided directly from the instructors. In addition a one-page summary describing the research experience and reasons why the applicant wishes to pursue graduate studies is required. Applications must be accompanied by a C$90 application fee. This fee is non-refundable. Application deadlines are March 1 for a program start in September and September 30 for a program start in January.