Admissions

Application Instructions

The online application system will be available as of October, 1, 2013 for September, 2014 admissions. We are no longer accepting applications for September, 2013.

Please apply online through the Graduate Studies Online Application site.

M.A. Application - Supporting Document Checklist

1. Completed online application.

2. Application fee of $100 (Canadian) made payable by credit card or if paying by certified cheque the amount is $115 (Canadian) and must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies, GH-212.  The certified cheque or money order is payable to McMaster University.

3. A 250 word statement of interest in pursuing graduate studies.

4. Personal resume and/or C.V.

5. One official transcript of all academic work completed to date, sent directly from the issuing institution(s).  Transcripts not received in institutionally sealed envelopes will not be accepted. Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.

6. Two (2) confidential letters of recommendation. The online application will ask you to supply the names and emails of two instructors most familiar with your work. Once you submit your application, your referees will receive an email with instructions on how to submit the confidential letter of recommendation.

7. For those applicants whose native language is not English an official TOEFL test score is required. The official report must be sent and recieved by our department no later than February 15th deadline.  A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 92, paper-based of 580 or computer-based of 237 is required.

Ph.D. Application - Supporting Documentation Checklist

1. Completed online application.

2. Application fee of $100 (Canadian) made payable by credit card or if paying by certified cheque the amount is $115 (Canadian) and must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies, GH-212.  The certified cheque or money order is payable to McMaster University.

3. A 500 word statement of interest in pursuing graduate studies.  Please note that the statement of interest is a crucial element of the application process. Public Policy applicants should highlight the comparative nature of their research and policy area which concerns them.  International Relations applicants should identify the international, transnational or global elements of their research projects.  All applicants would benefit from indicating particular faculty members or research clusters that overlap with their projects.

4. Personal resume and/or C.V.

5. One official transcript of all academic work completed to date, sent directly from the issuing institution(s).  Transcripts not received in institutionally sealed envelopes will not be accepted. Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.

6. Three (3) confidential letters of recommendation. The online application will ask you to supply the names and emails of three instructors most familiar with your work. Once you submit your application, your referees will receive an email with instructions on how to submit the confidential letter of recommendation. Although there is only space for the names of two (2) referees on the application, a third referee is required for our Ph.D. program. Please download the confidential report form and send it to your referee to complete and submit to our department.

7. For those applicants whose native language is not English an official TOEFL test score is required. The official report must be sent and recieved by our department no later than February 1st deadline. A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 92, paper-based of 580 or computer-based of 237 is required.

Your supporting documents must be sent directly to:

Manuela Dozzi, Administrative Assistant
Department of Political Science, KTH-527
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M4

It is your responsibility to ensure that all required documents have been received by the deadline date of February 1st (PhD applications) or February 15th (MA applications).

Applications will be accepted if post-marked February 1st (PhD) or February 15th (MA). If possible, please send all documentation in one package. Transcripts and references must be in separate signed/sealed envelopes. No application will receive consideration until the application fee and full documentation is received.