To apply to McMaster University’s MD/PhD Program, you must complete two separate online applications. Both must be completed in the fall of the year preceding matriculation.

The first application is through the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) and is to the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. It has a fluctuating yearly deadline of early October.

The second application is to the MD/PhD Program itself and is through the McMaster School of Graduate Studies. It is due November 1 by 11:59PM.

You must complete both applications to be considered for admission to the MD/PhD Program. Detailed information about OMSAS and the McMaster School of Graduate Studies applications is available on their respective websites. During application season (from September 1 to November 1), you can also message us on Twitter @McMasterMDPhD with your questions.

The McMaster MD/PhD Program has two application deadlines.

The deadline for the first application, completed through the Ontario Medical School Application Service, fluctuates yearly and is in early October.

The deadline for the second application, completed through the McMaster School of Graduate Studies, is November 1 by 11:59PM.

Application deadlines are set by their respective administrative bodies and are strict. We are unable to consider late applications under any circumstances.

Applicants may not use the same letters of reference for their MD and MD/PhD Program applications. We appreciate that finding referees who can write strong letters of support is a difficult task and will, however, allow the same individuals to be used for both MD and MD/PhD Program applications.

Applicants should ask their referees to provide a separate letter in support of their MD/PhD Program application. Letters of reference are an important component of the admissions process and should focus on a candidate’s past research experience and suitability for a research-oriented medical career.

Yes. We welcome applications from current first year MD students in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine’s MD Program, as well as MSc and first year PhD students in graduate programs at McMaster. Applicants who are in their second or final year of MSc studies are also eligible to apply, however, they may be asked to complete their MSc degree requirements prior to beginning their PhD in the MD/PhD Program.

Applicants from the MD Program should contact the MD/PhD Administrative Assistant (mdphd@mcmaster.ca) and complete the School of Graduate Studies’ application by November 1 of Medical Foundation 1.

Applicants from graduate programs should contact the MD/PhD Program Director, discuss transfer plans with their thesis supervisor, and complete both the School of Graduate Studies’ application by November 1 at 11:59PM and the Ontario Medical School Application Service requirements by early October of the year preceding matriculation.

Unfortunately, we do not allow for transfer into the MD/PhD Program from medical or graduate students not at McMaster. 

The MD/PhD Program endeavours to train the next generation of leaders in Canadian health care. Admission to the program is highly competitive and three qualified candidates will be granted admission each year. To be considered, applicants must complete two separate online applications. The first is through the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) and the second is through the McMaster School of Graduate Studies.

As a part of their OMSAS application, candidates will be required to complete the Critical Analysis and Reasoning (CARS) section of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer™) test. As part of the MD/PhD application, candidates will be required to submit an academic CV and a personal statement.

In reviewing applications, the admissions committee will consider academic performance Grade Point Average (GPA), CARS score, CASPer score and research productivity. This will be gauged through publications, presentations, research awards and involvement in research-related extra-curricular activities. Letters of reference will also be consulted as will the personal statement. A holistic review of candidates is conducted at this stage.

Candidates who are successful in this initial evaluation process will be granted the opportunity to interview in person. Interviews are held at the Hamilton campus of McMaster University (conditions permitting) or online and are multiple-mini interview (MMI) style.

Following interviews, the top ranked candidates will be offered admission to the program.

Offers for interview are sent out in early January of the year of matriculation. Admission offers are sent to successful candidates a few weeks following the multiple-mini interview (MMI).

McMaster is world renowned for its research productivity, especially in the health and biomedical sciences. There are options for students to complete their PhD within the following programs:

• Biochemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Biology
• Health Policy
• Health Research Methodology
• Medical Sciences
• Neuroscience (MiNDS)

If you are interested in completing your PhD in a program that is not listed, please contact the MD/PhD Administrative Assistant (mdphd@mcmaster.ca) prior to submitting your application.

Agreement of a proposed research supervisor is not required for application to the MD/PhD Program. On acceptance of an offer of admission, the MD/PhD Program Director will work with the incoming student to identify a thesis supervisor. Senior MD/PhD students are also able to assist in this process.

While a proposed research supervisor is not a prerequisite for admission, we do want to hear about applicants’ research interests. It may therefore be helpful to identify a few researchers with whom you see yourself possibly completing your PhD.

All MD/PhD students are guaranteed a baseline stipend during their PhD years. The amount of this stipend varies by the graduate program in which the student is completing their PhD. Further information on specific stipend amounts is available at each program’s website.

During their MD years, students are refunded $9,000 of their MD tuition in the form of a bursary. Students in the MD/PhD Program pay ‘grandfathered’ MD tuition, such that their tuition levels stay at those of the MD class which they matriculate with.

We encourage all applicants to consider applying for external funding awards through Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) while applying for the MD/PhD Program. Students who do not enter the Program with external funding are provided with assistance and guidance in applying for these awards throughout the course of their training.

Nearly all our students are funded through external awards and many hold highly competitive and prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Our Program is designed to be flexible. Students requiring more time in a portion of their training will be allowed to extend their tenure as agreed upon by the student’s thesis supervisor, MD Program and the MD/PhD Program director.

The MD/PhD Program operates its own independent admissions process. Students applying to the MD/PhD Program are given offers only to our Program and not the MD Program. It is expected that those applying to the MD/PhD Program will have a strong desire to complete formal research training and incorporate research into their future career. Students are not permitted to transfer from the MD/PhD Program into the MD Program and every effort is made to ensure students complete both their research and clinical training.

We are always happy to hear from prospective students. Message us on Twitter @McMasterMDPhD.