Engineering Design – MEng

In addition to the general requirements for entry into a graduate program in Engineering, students must hold a four-year engineering undergraduate degree or equivalent, with at least a B- average (equivalent to a McMaster 7.0 GPA out of 12) in the final year in all courses in the discipline, or relating to the discipline, in which the applicant proposes to do graduate work.

Students with a degree in Science, Technology or Mathematics will also be considered.

IELTS/TOEFL: International students are required to present a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall (minimum requirements 5.5 in reading and writing and 6 in listening and speaking). Minimum TOEFL score is 88.

Candidates may be enrolled on a full- or part-time basis. Full-time students will complete the degree in twelve consecutive months of study. Students are admitted for September. Part-time students will normally be expected to complete the program in 28 months.

McMaster students may receive advanced standing for up to two courses (note that a maximum of two 600-level courses can count towards a SEPT graduate program) with the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

International applicants are encouraged to apply early as the visa application process may take 3 months or more.

30 credit units are required to complete this degree and tuition is paid per credit unit. Please view the per-unit fees here.

Students enrolled in multiple academic years ( e.g. January admission) pay the fees corresponding for the academic year the term is within. The University reserves the right to correct typographical errors or to adjust the Tuition and Fees schedule at any time it deems necessary.

Other Fees:

• Application Fee: $150.00
• Online Interview Fee (Kira Talent): $60.00
• Non-refundable deposit upon acceptance: $500.00

Step 1: Click on the link above to open your application with McMaster University. Alternatively, please click here.

Step 2: Answer all application-related questions.

• When you reach the question in the application relating to “Research Interests,” please keep this in mind:
  • Design thinking can be applied in any field/industry/sector and our students have addressed many diverse challenges. Please provide up to three areas of design in which you are interested.
  • There are three spaces where you can enter the “research interest” in the Research Interest question. Please use the following convention to enter your interests in Engineering Design):
    Topic Area – Field/Industry/Sector – Technologies applied.
  • Example:
    Virtual Care – The health and wellness of hospital patients – Smart technologies, AI/ML, IoT, virtual reality, etc.

Step 3: Register for your online interview (Kira) and ensure that you complete the $60 payment. Note that the $60 is in addition to your $110 application fee. They are separate charges.

• The registration and payment link are embedded in your application questions.

Step 4: Gather, and upload all required documents.

• Your current resume or CV, including academic and professional experience
• Your clearly written Statement of Interest (This is a letter explaining your interest in the program, at a maximum of 2 pages).
• Recent IELTS or TOEFL scores (within the last 2 years) required for international students. Minimum IELTS score 6.5 overall (minimum requirement 5.5 in reading and writing and 6 in listening and speaking). Minimum TOEFL score is 88. Note that if your medium of instruction was English and this is documented on your transcripts, you do not need to submit an ELP test.
• Transcripts from all post secondary institutions you have attended.
• Please note that all documents must be uploaded before application submission. CV, SOI, IELTS/TOEFL and Transcripts are uploaded in the same section of the application.

Step 5: Add Academic Referee contact information.

• Contact information for 2 Academic References must be entered in online application. Referees will be contacted via our electronic referencing system
  • Academic references are to come from instructors most familiar with your academic work.
  • In cases where an applicant has been away from academic study for 5 or more years, we will consider one professional reference and one academic reference.
  • Please note that we do not accept reference letters uploaded by the applicant.

Step 6: Pay $110 application fee, and submit application.

• Only submit your application once all the above documents have been uploaded, you have entered contact information for both academic references, and you have paid your Kira fee.
• *Applications will not be reviewed unless all items noted above are submitted at the time of application*.

Step 7: Complete your Kira interview.

• Applicants will be sent a link to complete their Kira interview within one week of application submission and Kira fee payment.
• Applicants will not receive a link unless they have fully submitted their application, and have submitted the $60 Kira fee payment.

Step 8: You will be contacted if there are any issues with your application. Please do not email about the status of your application. Applicants will be contacted once a decision regarding the application has been made.

• Please note that if you are accepted to one of our programs, you will be required to pay a non-refundable $500 deposit. This deposit is non-refundable if you withdraw your acceptance.

Important Notes:

• Applications will not be reviewed until all required documents are uploaded, the referees have responded, and the Kira online interview has been completed. All applications must be completed in full in advance of the application deadlines in order to be considered.
• Official transcripts are not required unless an applicant is granted an offer of admission. Documentation sent via post will not be considered for your application.
• Applications will not be considered until we receive copies of transcripts noting grades up to at least Term 7 of your undergraduate studies.

The Rotary Club of Burlington, in collaboration with students from the W. Booth School of Engineering Practice & Technology, spearheaded the Wheelchair Project to empower wheelchair users in urban Kampala, Uganda. Recognizing the limitations posed by the city’s rough terrain, the project focused on developing a locally manufactured propulsion system to enhance mobility and reduce user fatigue. Through an immersive design process involving extensive interviews and observations, the team identified critical insights into the challenges faced by urban wheelchair users. These insights guided the exploration of a wheelchair with a planetary gearset to help overcome the difficulties of rough terrain. Since implementation, the project has significantly increased wheelchair production, fostering local employment and boosting the economy. This initiative has profoundly impacted users’ lives, promoting greater accessibility, independence, and quality of life. For more details, refer to the McMaster Daily News article here. 

The purpose of this project was to advance McMaster University’s transportation approach amidst increasing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions. Initially considering vertical parking structures, the team reimagined the parking experience, focusing on sustainable mobility solutions instead. By challenging the status quo of traditional parking and conducting extensive stakeholder analysis, they identified key trends and developed a prototype app to assess parking demand and promote alternatives like Smart Parking, Autonomous Vehicles, and Light Rail Transit. This app provided real-time data to optimize parking and encourage sustainable transportation. Notable insights revealed that integrating these technologies could significantly reduce the need for new parking structures. This shift offered multiple benefits, including reduced emissions, cost savings, and enhanced convenience for users. The project faced challenges, such as resistance to change and the complexity of integrating new technologies, but ultimately provided a forward-thinking solution aligned with McMaster’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. 

The Master of Engineering Design project team began by analyzing past work and identifying gaps to establish a robust foundation. Collaborating extensively with CERRA (Canadian Emergency Responders Robotics Association), they clarified needs and objectives, revealing critical challenges. During the “Empathize and Discover” phase, interviews with former first responders and traffic collision victims highlighted insights such as the need for improved situational awareness and quicker response times. A creative design workshop and role-playing simulations deepened understanding, emphasizing issues like the emotional responses of victims. The team then developed and tested “The Guardian” platform, which enhances drone deployment for first responders, significantly improving situational awareness and inter-agency communication between first responders and drone pilots. The prototype demonstrated benefits such as faster scene assessment and improved coordination, distilled into recommendations for standard operating procedures and IT integration, embodying a human-centred design approach and iterative prototyping process. 

This project aimed to enhance the quality of life for residents of Long-Term Care (LTC) homes by supporting the overburdened staff, particularly Personal Support Workers (PSWs). Initial research identified significant challenges faced by LTC facilities, with a shift in focus from resident experience to supporting PSWs due to the toll of COVID-19 on staff. Utilizing the design thinking process, the team engaged in comprehensive interviews with primary beneficiaries, including social workers and the CEO of the Ontario PSW Association. This led to the development of an educational mentorship application that integrates virtual technologies to bridge the gap between formal education and real-world practice. The app supports PSWs through training, peer connection, and mental health resources, ultimately improving the care environment for both staff and residents. The project’s community impact lies in fostering a supportive ecosystem for PSWs, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of LTC homes.