Apply via the McMaster University Application site. Please find additional information on how to apply and Admission Requirements under the Future Students tab.

The application portal for 2024 has been closed. The portal for 2025 admission will open in October 2024.

Candidates for admission to the MSc HSED Program will have an Honours-equivalent, four-year Bachelor’s degree in a health science or related health professional degree (e.g., Bachelor of Health Sciences from the Nursing, Physician Assistant, or Midwifery Programs), a Doctor of Medicine (MD), a Master of Science in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy, etc. or others with special permission and healthcare qualifications. Check the Admission Requirements section under the Future Students tab for information on additional requirements. Admission is competitive; meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission to the program.

The English proficiency requirements of the HSED Program align with those established by undergraduate programs at McMaster University.

Specifically, if English is not the applicant’s native tongue or they have not earned a university degree from a school where the instructional language is English, the HSED Program requires evidence of competency in English. For accepted tests and minimum scores required to demonstrate competency in English, please see: future.mcmaster.ca/english-proficiency/

If you are interested in enrolling in the thesis stream of the program, you will need a thesis supervisor. This person will provide scholarly guidance and also will contribute financial resources towards the cost of your research. It is a good idea to reach out to potential supervisors before applying, as your acceptance will be contingent on matching with an eligible supervisor. You can find a list of HSED Supervising Faculty on our website, along with contact information and their research interests and scholarly work.

Officially, admission to HSED requires a four-year undergraduate degree with at least a B+ from an AUCC Member School (equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 GPA out of 12.0) in the final year in all courses in the [health science related] discipline. However, admissions decisions are not based solely on grades. The admissions committee performs a holistic assessment of all components in the application, including, but not limited to, professional experience(s) and scholarly work.  Applicants who have a significant amount of relevant professional experience are still encouraged to apply.

Professional references can be used for your application. This includes individuals who can attest to your professional experiences, including your scholarship, clinical contributions, and work in health science education.

The HSED Program does not grant transfer credits for past work experience in education. However, students who have completed relevant graduate-level courses in health sciences education may apply for a waiver. For more information, please contact the HSED Program Office via email at hsed@mcmaster.ca

The beginning of the program is marked by Residency Week 1, which takes place during the first full week of June every summer. See the Residency Week tab of the FAQs for more information on Residency Week 1.