Materials Science and Engineering - MASc

Length: 2 years
Degree: Master of Applied Science (Co-op Available)
Type: Thesis-based
Options: Co-op

Program highlights

Building strategically on our diverse expertise in materials, in collaboration with local and global partners, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering here at McMaster University is internationally recognized as a destination of choice, where students, scholars, alumni and employers partner in a journey of learning, discovery and innovation.

Cutting-edge research

McMaster is engaged in leading edge material science and engineering research and has concentrated research groups that collaborate with international industrial sponsors including: Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, Steel Research Centre, and Centre for Automotive Materials and Corrosion.

Thesis-based curriculum

Research programme requiring the completion of the equivalent of 4 half graduate level courses ( 12 units) plus presentation and defence of a thesis embodying results of an original investigation is required.

Useful Links

How to apply

Areas of research

Nanotechnology
Nanomaterials
Energy and fuel cells
Automotive materials and corrosion
Steel and steelmaking
Recycling
Electrochemical technology
Biomaterials
Electronic materials
Computational modelling
Physical metallurgy
Polymers

Academic Prerequisites

Honours Bachelor’s Degree (4 Year) in Engineering, Sciences, or equivalent.

Find English language requirements here.

Meeting the minimum MSE program requirements ensures your application is accessible to faculty seeking students, with potential faculty contacts and admission offers coming directly from the School of Graduate Studies.

Anticipated Admission Range

Min B+ (77-79%)

How to Apply Materials Science and Engineering MASc degree requirements

Accelerated Masters Option

Undergraduate students enrolled in Materials Science and Engineering will be allowed in the first or second term of their penultimate year to apply for the Accelerated M.A.Sc. You must identify a supervisor from the faculty whom you will be working with and the supervisor must agree to fund you for the summer research work as well as one year of graduate studies.

A minimum sessional average of 9.0 in the year of application is required in order to apply for the Accelerated Option. You may drop out of the Accelerated Option at any time prior to entering Graduate Studies without any effect to your undergraduate degree, and the permission to follow the Accelerated Option as an undergraduate does not guarantee acceptance into Graduate Studies, you must meet the qualifications for admission to the graduate program as set by the School of Graduate Studies.

You will be allowed to take one course in your final year of undergraduate studies at a 600-level that is offered within our department; no external courses whether in another department of Engineering or in another faculty will be acceptable for this course.

Consistent with all other students taking the M.A.Sc. degree program, you must complete 20 months of work towards your thesis project. The Accelerated Option will allow up to 8 months of work towards that project to have been completed prior to admissions into Graduate Studies. The 8 months of research will be accomplished starting after the penultimate year of undergraduate studies with a departmental supervisor for two summer terms or one summer term and the MATLS 4K06 senior thesis.

A maximum of 8 months of work will be counted towards the M.A.Sc. project prior to enrolling in Graduate Studies

You must apply to Graduate Studies by the end of the final year of their undergraduate program and are expected to begin either in May or September of the year you graduate. You must follow the normal application procedures to Graduate Studies and must meet the requirements of the department and Graduate Studies pertaining to any applicant interested in joining the M.A.Sc. program. Failing to enter Graduate Studies will have no influence on your undergraduate transcript.

Student working on machine. Hands-on experience.

Additional requirements

Transcript

Please attach to online application
Transcript of academic work completed to date. If the final transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, an copy of your diploma is also required.
Official copy of these documents will be required if an offer of admissions is made.

Letters of recommendation

Letters of Recommendation are submitted electronically. Please follow the directions that are provided once you have initiated your application.

English Language Proficiency

Please attach to online application
Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language. Such applicants are required to supply this evidence as part of their application. Applicants may be exempted from this requirement if they have completed a university degree at which English is the language of instruction (Please attach proof – letter from institution)
The most common evidence is a score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Equivalent scores on other recognized tests may also be considered.
Minimum accepted TOEFL scores (as outlined in the Graduate Calendar for the Faculty of Engineering):
- iBT: (Internet Based Test): 88
- Paper Based Test: 550
- Computer Based Test: 213
- The IELTS is also accepted, with a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each category.
Please note that TOEFL scores expire after two years. Only current tests will be considered.
The McMaster University Institution Code is 0936.
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering’s Code is 69.
Students who have completed an Academic ESL program through Canadian academic institutions may petition to have this considered in lieu of TOEFL. Please attach all documents/proof to online application

Statement of Interest

Please attach to online application
Simply a few paragraphs indicating the type of research you are interested in pursuing.

Resumé – (Optional)

Please attach to online application
In the same format as you would submit for an employment opportunity.

Acceptance Deadlines

Applications are available for review by all faculty members until the acceptance deadline. If a faculty member is interested in your application, you may be contacted by the member on or before the acceptance deadline. Applicants do not need to find a supervisor before they apply.

Due to high volume of applications, the department cannot provide status requests.

Applications open 11 months prior to start of term. Deadlines are listed below. If you cannot have all of the required materials submitted by these deadlines, we cannot guarantee that a decision concerning your application will be processed by the time of your desired entry date (especially if you need time to obtain a student visa).

For May Admission:
- International Students Deadline: November 15
- Domestic Students Deadline: February 1
- Acceptance Offer Deadline: on or before February 25

For September Admission:
- International Students Deadline: March 15
- Domestic Students Deadline: June 1
- Acceptance Offer Deadline: on or before June 30
For January Admission:
- International Students Deadline: July 15
- Domestic Students Deadline: October 1
- Acceptance Deadline: on or before October 30

Due to high volume of applications, the department cannot provide status requests.

Tuition and funding

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers the following funding for MASc students:

Approximate annual salary:*

Domestic – $27,343.50

International – $30,643.50

2021/22 Tuition and Fee amounts for “Research” programs can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website.

*Subject to change. This is valid only for 2021/22 academic year. Specific financial details will be provided in your offer letter.

Co-op and Student Life

Graduate Co-op

Master’s and PhD students may complete 4 to 12 months of co-op experience in various types of organizations, including corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, startups and research institutions.

Explore Co-op
Engineering Graduate Society

The EGS actively supports engineering graduate students through events, workshops, bursaries, and collaboration with various campus organizations, focusing on representation, community building, and academic and professional development.

Visit the EGS site
Life in Hamilton

Hamilton, also known as The Hammer or Steeltown, is a thriving city close to the U.S. border and Toronto, with easy access for students commuting from the Greater Toronto Area via the on-campus GO Bus Terminal.

Discover Hamilton, ON