You’ve received an offer to enter Graduate Studies at McMaster University and you’ve accepted … Congratulations and welcome!
The information in this section is intended to support your transition to graduate school in Canada.
Many links found in this section will take you to sites external to the McMaster University School of Graduate Studies.
Please check those sites for the latest and most up-to-date information.
Planning your travel to Hamilton? We’re here to help.
Make sure to have all your documents with you before you travel to Canada. Do not place any of these documents in your checked luggage.
To enter Canada, you must have:
There is no set time frame for you to arrive in Canada before you begin your studies. You should arrive to give yourself a reasonable amount of time to prepare before you start studying. If you are unsure if your arrival time may be considered reasonable to enter Canada, contact the Canada Border Services Agency(CBSA).
For the latest date you must arrive by, contact your academic program. Some programs may require students to arrive on campus for orientation activities before the first day of classes.
Follow the instructions and signage at the airport or your port of entry. It is at the discretion of the border officer to issue your study permit and approve your entry to Canada. Once you receive your study permit, make sure to carefully review the information indicated on the permit (eg. your name, date of birth, etc.) and correct any errors with the officer before leaving the student processing desk.
If you arrive at the Toronto Pearson Airport during business hours, you may be able to get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the Service Canada Centre inside the airport. To find the Service Canada Centre location, look for signage for “Service Canada” or “SIN@Landing”, or ask the staff at the airport.
If the Service Canada Centre is not open or available at the time of your arrival, you may apply for your Social Insurance Number online, by mail, or in-person at your local Service Canada Centre.
Most students travelling to Hamilton by air land at the Toronto Pearson Airport. McMaster University is about 68km away from this airport. Depending on the traffic situation at the time of your travel, travel time may range between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Public and private transportation options are available.
The only public transit option is Go Bus route 40 (Hamilton/Richmond Hill Pearson Express). Check the bus schedule or use the Go Transit trip planning tool to plan your trip. The bus station is located on the ground level of Terminal 1. If you land in Terminal 3, you can take the free train at the airport to get to Terminal 1, following the signage at the airport. The standard fare for this trip is around $12.70 per person, with possible discounts if you have a PRESTO card.
Private transportation is available either through pre-booked services, rideshare services, or taxis at the airport. Visit Toronto Pearson Transportation and Parking for more information. There is no standard rate so the cost of services can vary. For reference, private taxi service from Toronto Pearson Airport to Hamilton may cost over $120.
New international graduate students arriving for Fall term may be eligible for McMaster’s Airport Transportation Program for new international and exchange students. Visit the International and Exchange Student Experience website for more information about this program.
Hamilton is the ninth largest city in Canada, fourth largest in Ontario, and ranked as one of the top 10 places to do business in Canada. Situated on the Niagara escarpment, Hamilton is only 45 minutes southwest of Toronto and northwest of the U.S. border.
McMaster is nestled in the west end of Hamilton in a residential area called Westdale Village. Bordered by Cootes Paradise, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the shores of Lake Ontario, the campus is connected to kilometres of nature trails, biking paths, and Hamilton’s burgeoning waterfront.
Those in search of a more urban experience are never too far from amenities in downtown Hamilton – restaurants, concert theatres, hockey games, art galleries, street festivals and more.
Hamilton is also conveniently situated on major rail, air, water and road transportation networks to other large North American centres, including Toronto, New York, Chicago and Montreal.
HSR is Hamilton’s city-wide public bus transportation system, with many bus stops on and around McMaster’s main campus.
You will need to pay HSR bus fare out-of-pocket until you activate your Presto bus pass as a McMaster University student. Visit the Graduate Students Association site for more information about the HSR bus pass for graduate students. If you have any questions about your bus pass, contact the Graduate Students Association directly at macgsa@mcmaster.ca.
For more information about using your Presto Card, Visit the PRESTO website.
GO Transit is a network of train and bus lines that keep people moving around the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It is one of the most affordable options that connect you from Hamilton to places such as Toronto Pearson Airport and Niagara Falls. You may catch a bus on campus, at one of their many stops in the city, or at the Hamilton GO Centre.
Students with the HSR bus pass activated on their PRESTO Card are automatically eligible for Go Transit student rates. Visit the Graduate Students Association site for more information about the HSR bus pass for graduate students. If you have any questions about your bus pass, contact the Graduate Students Association directly at macgsa@mcmaster.ca.
McMaster has opened a residence in downtown Hamilton with amenities and a community geared open to graduate students. For information, including pricing, leasing, and more, please visit the 10 Bay Residence website.
When you first arrive in Canada, you may need somewhere to stay for a short time, until you find long-term housing. Online searches may include:
You should anticipate spending time to research available spaces and several communications with landlords/rental agents/owners.
Some sites that you may find helpful
For information about rights and expectations as a renter, check out Residential Tenancy Act, Ontario
*These sites are public online sites, the listings posted on these sites and are not endorsed by McMaster University
Often, landlords will require:
NOTE: Ask your landlord for rent receipts.
When you arrive in Canada, setting up your bank account should be a priority. You are required to have an account at a Canadian banking institution.
If you would like more information on banking in Canada, visit Educanada.
Canada has five major banks. Each has student rates that you can ask about.
To open a bank account, you will need
Please note: Not all students will have a refund owing to them.
If you are paid Research Scholarship, TA, and/or RA in lieu of TA, these monies will be deposited directly into your bank account. This method of payment is mandatory.
To receive your payments, you must submit your payroll information via the new Employee Self-Service portal in Mosaic.
Please note: You must have a Canadian bank account to enrol in Direct Deposit.
Moving to a new country – even for a short time – can be stressful for students and their families. The following information is intended to help you as you start out in your graduate life at McMaster. These lists are not exhaustive of what’s available, so we encourage you to do your research.
Cell phone rates in Canada are among the most expensive in the world. You may want to research different cell phone plans from different companies to find the best available rates that meet your needs. Some of the major service providers in Canada includes the following companies:
Visit the City of Hamilton’s Internet in Hamilton page for comprehensive information about accessing internet and internet service providers in Hamilton.
Canada is a mosaic of cultural diversity and that is reflected in foods available in grocery stores and restaurants.
Several different grocery stores are available in the area surrounding McMaster’s campus, two of the largest of them are:
Notably, Nations Fresh Foods (2 King St W) offers a range of multi-cultural food products and is another popular grocery store with international students. It is located in the Jackson Square mall, easily accessible by bus from McMaster’s main campus.
For tips and strategies to help you shop on a budget – including student discount days – attend our orientation webinars or watch the webinar recording in our Orientation Webinar Library if you have missed our latest live event.
What you decide to bring to Canada with you may depend on when you arrive and where you’re arriving from.
Winter weather in Hamilton can be harsh, while summers can be very hot and humid. For statistics about average temperatures, humidity, rain and snowfall in Hamilton, visit The Weather Network.
Shopping for clothing in Canada is seasonal. You may be able to find some outer clothing available year round, but the traditional shopping cycle is:
January–March
April-June
July-September
October-December
All individuals who work in Canada MUST have a social insurance number. Getting your SIN is free of charge and must be completed prior to beginning any type of work, including employment as a teaching assistant.
You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada. This means if you are expected to work as a teaching assistant (TA) or any kind of employment on or off campus, you must have a SIN before starting your position.
There is no fee to apply for your SIN. You can apply online, by mail, in person at a Service Canada Centre, or attend one of our many in-person clinics on campus (if available). It may also be possible for you to apply for your SIN at the Toronto Pearson Airport when you first arrive in Canada (note: this service is only available during business hours, for passengers who have just arrived in Canada). You cannot apply for your Social Insurance Number if you have not arrived in Canada.
There are two Service Canada Centres in Hamilton:
Questions about your eligibility to work in Canada as an international student? Visit the Immigration Advising page.
Once enrolled, you will be able to check funds owing on your tuition and fees.
If you are working as a Teaching Assistant (TA), it is important to check your payment schedule.
Check out these tools and resources to help you create a plan – and manage your money!
This online resource was created by McMaster’s School of Graduate Studies. It provides a starting point for building your own budget.
Check out online resources and in-person workshops, coaching and more to help students get on track with their finances.
Visit the Mac Money Centre web page for links to useful tools and resources to help you plan and budget
An external website that provides an overview of the cost of living in Hamilton and compares the cost-of-living between different cities.
LifeHacker offers some helpful tips on managing your expenses.
In addition to your graduate department, you may need to connect with other offices and services at McMaster.
Use one of our maps – available in a variety of formats – to navigate your way across campus:
For a comprehensive list of services and resources available to all graduate students, visit our Graduate Community Resources page.
The School of Graduate Studies plays an important role in the graduate student experience. We are here to answer questions; offer academic, research and professional supports; connect you to the broader McMaster graduate community; and help you succeed at McMaster University.
Scott Hopkin, our International Graduate Students Advisor, works out of the School of Graduate Studies. Scott is part of the Graduate Student Resources team and the International and Exchange Student Experience Team, working on programming, activities, and events aimed at helping international grad students navigate their journey at McMaster.
You can contact Scott at hopkisa@mcmaster.ca.
Located in Refectory Rathskeller Building, East Tower, 2nd floor.
The Graduate Students Association (GSA) represents graduate student interests at McMaster University. Visit their website to learn more about services and support they provide, as well as the various ways you can get involved in student government.
An important service provided by the GSA is the GSA Benefits Plan. This plan provides extended health and dental coverage for eligible full- and part-time graduate students.
Visit the GSA site to learn more.
Located in the McMaster University Student Centre, room B118.
McMaster’s International and Exchange Student Experience (IESE) team provides support and resources for international students and exchange students before they arrive and once they join the McMaster graduate community.
Visit IESE to learn more.
Information about UHIP and help with registering for the program.
If you have any questions about UHIP at McMaster or to add your dependents to your UHIP plan, contact our UHIP administrators at uhip@mcmaster.ca.
Adjusting to a new country can be challenging, especially when dealing with the immigration process. Through our immigration advising services, we can offer advice and connect you with resources to complete the immigration process and help you settle into your new environment.
Located in the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning, room 210/201.
The Student Wellness Centre is the place on campus to address your wellness needs. They provide a range of counselling options, medical services and wellness programs.
Learn more at the Student Wellness website.
Located in Kenneth Taylor Hall, room B111.
CUPE 3906 is the employment union representing McMaster Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Research Assistants in lieu (RAs in lieu).
Learn more about CUPE.
Located in L. R. Wilson Hall, 4th floor.
The McMaster Office for the Development of English Language Learners (MODEL) is a free service designed to help both undergraduate and graduate students who may be struggling with the English Language.
MODEL offers English-language training, workshops, and support, developed by certified ESL and EAP experts, to meet the needs of McMaster students of all academic backgrounds and levels of English language proficiency.
Learn more about MODEL.
UHIP is a mandatory, comprehensive health insurance plan that provides health coverage for international and incoming exchange students. UHIP covers medically necessary doctors and hospital visits within Ontario for international students, incoming exchange students and dependants (spouse and children).
Go to McMaster UHIP website for more information