Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Faculty of Health Sciences

Neuroscience Graduate Program

Application

We will begin accepting applications for Fall 2025 admission in October. The deadline to complete applications, including reference letters, is January 14, 2025. No late applications will be accepted.

Admission Requirements

The McMaster Neuroscience Graduate Program seeks to attract the brightest graduate minds to the field.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field and our program embraces the full range of research areas. Thus, students from a range of different undergraduate programs will have appropriate backgrounds for admission to the neuroscience graduate program:

  • Applicants who hold a four year honors undergraduate degree in a field relevant to neuroscience research with a B+ average in the final year are generally admissible.
  • International applicants must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL) or Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.
  • Applicants to the PhD program should have the same background in neuroscience as master’s applicants.
  • Students showing outstanding potential and high academic standing may be accepted directly to the PhD program.

The admissions committee will review applications after the deadline to identify promising candidates. The selection is based on:

  • Academic success
  • Research experience
  • Statement of research interests
  • Letters of recommendation

Information Box Group

Required documents and information

  1. Names and email for two academic references
  2. A curriculum vitae (CV)/resume
  3. One page (~500 word) Statement of Interest in graduate studies in neuroscience at McMaster University
  4. Transcripts from all previous post secondary institutions attended

Got a question?

Review our frequently asked questions.

If you do not find the answer or require additional assistance, please email us. We can usually answer questions within two business days.

Do you have questions for our current students? Ask a student ambassador or email one of the students in our Students of MiNDS Association (SOMA).

Thank you for your interest in the neuroscience graduate program at McMaster University.

Indigenous applicants

To best represent our population, we welcome applications from Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) learners via our Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP).

All applications received through the FIAP are reviewed exclusive of the general applicant pool. After review, applications that are deemed eligible are distributed to all faculty members who are currently recruiting graduate students (also exclusive of the general applicant pool).

How to apply to the Neuroscience Graduate Program

Start by browsing the Neuroscience Graduate Program website:

  1. Identify your area of interest and potential supervisors
  2. Contact potential supervisors. Each student considered for the program must be supported by a faculty member.

Fill in your application to McMaster University:

  1. Complete the online School of Graduate Studies (SGS) application for admission to the Neuroscience Graduate Program at McMaster University.
  2. The steps below list the information that you will be asked to submit to complete your application to the Neuroscience Graduate Program.
    1. Provide information about the areas of neuroscience research/field of study you are interested in pursuing.
    2. List one to three supervisors that you may be interested in working with. Refer to our frequently asked questions page for more details about finding the supervisor that is right for you.
    3. Submit contact information for two academic references. They must be faculty members. Both references must be received by your application deadline, so be sure to follow up with them before the deadline if they have not completed the reference.
    4. Upload a one page statement of your interest in neuroscience research and graduate studies in our program.
    5. Upload a current curriculum vitae (CV)/resume
    6. Upload a copy of your transcripts from all post secondary institutions you have attended (including a copy of the back page/grading scale used) in one combined PDF. Either a scanned version or one that you have downloaded from your university are acceptable. Note, you must submit a transcript, grade reports will not be accepted.

Mail the following items to the Neuroscience Graduate Program Admissions (address below):

  1. If your first language is not English, have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send TOEFL scores or Academic IELTS scores. The code for McMaster is 0936. Refer to our frequently asked questions for minimum scores required.
  2. If you are offered admission, original sealed transcripts will be required from every post secondary institution you have attended. Have the original official transcript(s) mailed to us in a sealed envelope from each university that you have attended. These sealed transcripts are not required as part of the application, just the PDF is.

If you are offered admission, have your previous post secondary institution(s) and ETS send your Official Sealed Transcripts and TOEFL scores to:

Neuroscience Graduate Program Admissions
McMaster University – Building #34
1280 Main Street West – PC 303
Hamilton ON L8S 4K1
Canada

Or, have your previous university email us.