The tuition fee for international students at McMaster University is the lowest among top-ranked institutions in the Toronto area, and about 20-30 per-cent lower than those of the universities in USA. However, this does not affect the investments made into providing students with various McMaster University Scholarships to cover their cost of attendance.

For 2018-19, approximately 26 million CAD of expenses were funded by the external endowment. A significant portion fo this endowment was directed towards McMaster University scholarships, bursaries, and funding professorships at. The university spent approximately 36,870 thousand CAD for scholarships, bursaries, and work-study in 2018-19.

Mcmaster University Expenses on scholarships

Most McMaster University scholarships application open on January 1, while the recipients of scholarships receive the award value in September of the following year. The international scholarships offered at the university can be categorized majorly into:

  • Entrance Scholarships: Awarded to incoming students at the university based on their academic admission average.
  • In-course Awards: Awarded to currently enrolled students at McMaster University. A few of these awards are open for all the faculties or programs.
  • Travel and Exchange Award: These awards are for McMaster students enrolling in a study abroad or exchange program at a study-abroad university.
  • Community Contribution Awards: Non-monetary awards to recognize extracurricular work and community contribution.
  • External Scholarships: Awarded by various organizations such as cultural groups, foundations, religious groups, etc.

Most scholarships are paid to the McMaster student account. Students are advised to check with the university regarding specific details about international scholarships and awards.

In 2018, 11 McMaster graduate students were recipients of prestigious scholarships and fellowships – 10 were named Vanier scholars, placing the University second in Ontario, and one post-doctoral fellow was named a Banting Fellow.

McMaster University Scholarships for Bachelor Students

To be eligible for McMaster University Scholarships, undergraduate students are determined based on a cumulative GPA of 8.0- 9.5. Many UG international scholarships are granted based on the grades however applications are automatically considered at the time of admissions to McMaster University.

Scholarship/ Award Type of Funding Amount (in CAD) General Eligibility
Provost Entrance Scholarship Internal 7,500 Awarded to an international student applying for admission to a Level I program
Athletic Financial Awards Internal 4,500 Awarded to Student-Athletes listed on the eligibility certificate. A minimum of 6.5 GPA in all enrolled courses are required
The Woo Family International Entrance Scholarship External 3,000 Awarded by Mr. Chung How Woo to an international student applying for admission to a Level I program
The McMaster Chinese Alumni- Peter George International Entrance Scholarship External 3,000 Awarded to international students based on final admission averages

McMaster University Scholarships for Masters Students

Incoming international students are required to provide a clear demonstration of financial support in order to obtain a student visa to Canada. However, there are several department funded scholarships, university-funded scholarships that are awarded to help with the expenses.

Students enrolled in a masters program at McMaster University are offered financial assistance in the form of:

  • internal awards
  • government funding
  • external agency/foundation funding
  • prestigious awards
  • postdoctoral fellowships

A few of the graduate McMaster University scholarships and awards include:

Scholarship/ Award Type of Funding Amount (in CAD) General Eligibility
Beverley McPetrie Bursary Bursaries Up to 2,500 Awarded to graduate nursing students demonstrated financial need
Study in Canada Scholarships External 2,500- 20,000 Awarded by Canadian Government to deserving international students from all academic disciplines at the graduate level
Ontario Graduate Scholarship- International Government 10,001- 20,000 Awarded solely based on nominations by respective departments
Richard Fuller Memorial Scholarships for Science  Internal 10,001- 20,000 Renewable scholarships awarded to local & international students enrolled in a masters program in Faculty of Science demonstrating high academic performance
Adam Felesky MBA Scholarship Internal 30,000 Invitation- only scholarship awarded based on academic performance with 85% and a GMAT score of 500

McMaster University Scholarships for Doctoral Students

Doctoral students at McMaster University are awarded a guaranteed amount of 17,5500 CAD as a minimum financial funding package. Apart from these, students enrolled in doctoral programs at McMaster are awarded other popular McMaster University scholarships & grants and several external international scholarships. A few of these include:

  • Ontario Trillium Scholarship: Awarding 5 scholarships to McMaster University doctoral students worth 40,000 CAD a year.
  • Travel Awards: Awarding students with an award amount covering the travel expenses for research work and to be present at conferences. A few of the travel awards at the university include:
    • SGS Grant in Aid for Research Travel: Awarding Canadian and visa students with 2,000 CAD- 10,000 CAD against full-time Ph.D. students.
    • William Coleman Fund: Awarded to Ph.D. students in the Department of Political Science with funding up to 2,500 CAD.
  • Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship: 70,000 CAD per year for elite national and international Ph.D. researchers.

Most of the graduate students at McMaster University receive financial assistance in the form of a teaching assistantship and a departmental scholarship. The minimum level of support varies each year.
The university encourages students to apply for both internal and external funding opportunities to study in Canada. Also, if the status as a student changes at the university, it will affect the eligibility for McMaster University Scholarships, Bursaries, and Work-Study.