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Graduate School

What is Grad School?

Graduate or ‘grad’ school is a category of higher education encompassing programs which require one or more previous university degrees as a prerequisite to admission.

Master's Degrees

Master’s degrees are typically one- or two-year programs involving academic course work and, in some cases, research or experiential components. Example types offered across Canada include:

  • Master of Arts (M.A.)
  • Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
  • Master of Science (M.Sc.)
  • Master of Education (M.Ed.)
  • Master of Laws (L.M.M.)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A)

Master’s programs typically require an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite.

Doctoral Degrees (PhD)

Degrees granting a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) often involve a multi-year commitment of coursework, faculty mentorship, and/or examinations. Doctoral degrees typically culminate in the development, communication, and ‘defence’ of a large-scale innovative research project called a dissertation.

Doctoral programs in Canada typically require a Master’s degree as a prerequisite.

Student Success Centre (SSC) Resources

The following resources are provided by McMaster’s central Student Success Centre (SSC):

Graduate and Professional Schools Fair View Event Page on SSC Site

This annual event helps students to explore options for after graduation.

Guide to Grad School Open Grad School Guide on SSC Site

If you are considering Grad school and wondering how to navigate the process, the SSC’s guide will help you explore and plan with more clarity.

Related Resources

The following resources and programs may be of interest to students considering graduate school:

Advanced Policy Analys Program (APAP) Learn More

Completing a Master’s degree, or another graduate degree, can help you become eligible for one of the Government of Canada’s top recruitment and leadership development programs.

Canada Graduate Scholarship Masters (CGS-M) Learn More on the Graduate Studies Page

Undergraduate students applying to Master’s programs are eligible to apply for the CGS Masters Awards Program. Deadlines are typically in Fall Semester.

Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) Masters: Info for Level IV Student Applicants

The Canada Graduate Scholarship Masters (CGS-M) Awards Program supports students in all research disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The selection process and post-award administration are carried out by McMaster, under the guidance of the three agencies.

Undergraduate students applying to Masters programs are eligible to apply for the CGS Masters Awards Program. (Deadlines in Fall Semester.)

Further Education Events

Here are some upcoming Further Education events:

Master of Public Policy in a Digital Society - Information Sessions

Economics Graduate Program Info Session

Economics, Further Education