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Graduate Studies

Conditions of admission

Due to COVID-19 McMaster University will accept secure electronic documents sent from the issuing institution, directly to the specific department program office.

Your condition(s) of admission are listed in your offer of admission. Please be aware of the due dates, as most conditions must be satisfied well before the start of term.

You are responsible for ensuring that all documentation is submitted to your program office prior to the deadline.

Please refer to your student record in Mosaic for Negative Service Indicators. This will advise of any outstanding conditions from your offer. Please reach out to your graduate program office for information. Failure to satisfy your conditions of admission may result in your offer of admission being rescinded, which will require withdrawal from the program.

Deadlines to clear your admissions conditions

  • Fall: December 1
  • Winter: April 1
  • Spring: August 1

Late submissions will affect your admission status.

Official documents should be submitted directly from the issuing institution to the specific department office prior to the condition clearing deadline.

Your offer status will not change on the Applicant Portal when your condition has been met.

Transcripts

Official Documents

To clear a transcript condition, you must provide an official set of transcripts for each post-secondary institution attended as outlined in your offer of admission.

To be considered official, academic documents must be received from the issuing institution in a sealed envelope and have a current print date (within the last 12 months).

All transcripts will be reviewed and verified for authenticity prior to satisfying or clearing any conditions associated with your offer of admission.

Document Ownership

Please note that all transcripts, degree certificates and diplomas submitted to McMaster University become the property of the university and will not be returned.

Expandable List

Official transcripts issued in English are accepted. Official transcripts in French require a certified English translation with the exception of applicants to the Department of French.

If the official language of instruction at your institution is not English, please include both the original language document and a certified English translation.

Degree certificates (if obtained) must be included with the transcripts.

Be sure to include the official grading scale or legend.

Final documents from institutions in China must meet the following requirements:

Arrange for an official transcript, graduation diploma and degree certificate to be sent in a sealed (closed) envelope directly from your institution to the specific department office.

The official signed and stamped transcript, graduation diploma and degree certificate – showing all courses and marks, and the awarding of your Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree – must be in Chinese, with a certified English translation, signed and stamped.

You must ensure that you have met the minimum overall academic standing.

Final documents from institutions in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan must meet the following requirements:

Arrange for the following items to be sent directly from your institution to the specific department office in a sealed (closed) envelope: official transcript and final or provisional degree certificate attested and verified by the awarding institution (example: by the Controller of Examinations or the Registrar).

If the original documents are not in English, you will be required to provide certified and attested English translations, signed and stamped, and must be provided with your official documents. The official documents must show all courses and marks, and the awarding of your Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree.

You must ensure that you have met the minimum overall academic standing.

Final documents from Saudi Arabia must meet the following requirements:

Arrange for an official transcript and degree certificate, in a sealed (closed) envelope, to be sent directly from your institution or directly from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Ottawa, to the specific department office.

The official transcript must show all courses and marks, and the awarding of your Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree.

Ask your home university to:

  • Verify that the photocopy of your original academic record is consistent with their records.
  • Attest that the copy is a true photocopy and stamp it with an official university stamp.
  • Put the attested, stamped photocopy in a sealed (closed) envelope signed by the Registrar.
  • Mail the sealed, signed envelope directly to the specific department office.

The Graduate Studies Office accepts secure electronic transcripts such as eScript-Safe.

If your institution issues a secure electronic transcript, arrange to have your secure electronic transcript emailed to the Graduate Program administrator.

If your degree is currently in progress and has not yet been awarded, ensure that the specific department office at McMaster University receives both of the following:

  • an official transcript from your home institution, showing all courses and final marks, and
  • a letter on letterhead from the Office of the Registrar stating that you have completed your degree requirements and the date when your degree will be conferred. Please order this letter to be sent to us as soon as it can be confirmed that you HAVE met all the requirements of the degree.

Arrange for official documentation from your sponsor to be sent to the specific department office.

The sponsorship documentation must detail the financial support amount and the number of years the funding has been granted (two years for a master’s program and a minimum of four years for a doctoral (PhD) program).

If there is any change in your funding situation, McMaster University may re-evaluate your offer of admission and reserves the right to withdraw your offer of admission or withdraw you from your graduate program.

Arrange for your official English Language Proficiency Certification (test score) to be sent directly from the approved administering agency to the specific department office.