How to Apply

Admission requirements include:

  • Previous graduate training in a relevant field (for example, social sciences, health professions, policy, business, legal or administrative professions); a Master’s degree is preferred;
  • An A- or higher grade average in past graduate coursework;
  • Completion of at least one graduate-level statistics half-course (students without this preparation may be admitted but would be required to take a graduate statistics course in addition to the other required courses for the program);
  • A mature intellectual interest in health policy topics and high scholarly promise;
  • Strong letters of recommendation; and,
  • Meeting or exceeding University requirements for graduate admission, as detailed in the current Graduate Calendar.

Applicants should plan to enroll on a full-time basis. Part-time enrollment is unavailable.

Application Procedure

  1. Identify a potential faculty supervisor and contact supervisor(s) of choice well in advance of applying to the program.  This is important to establish that there is mutual interest in a supervisory relationship, to ensure that the faculty member is currently inviting new doctoral students, to get a preliminary assessment of your preparation and relevance of previously completed graduate coursework toward some curriculum requirements for the PhD.  Potential supervisors may request a telephone or in-person interview with prospective applicants.
  2. Complete and submit the following forms:
    • McMaster University School of Graduate Studies Application Form *note, a list of supporting documents will be requested after you have submitted both the on-line application and the application fee.
      Please order the following materials to be sent directly to the program, on your behalf:
    • Confidential Report on Application for Admission
    • Two letters of recommendation submitted confidentially by your references
    • A 1,000 word statement of interest
    • A certified copy of your TOEFL scores, if applicable, completed within the last 2 years
    • Official transcripts from every university you have attended (undergraduate and graduate)
    • A copy of your current Curriculum Vitae in a conventional format (there is no form for this)
    • An Application for Coursework Waiver, if appropriate.

All materials must be submitted by mail or hand delivery, in hard copy, unless otherwise indicated. Forms and supporting material submitted cannot be returned. Submit application materials to:

Admissions, Health Policy PhD Program
McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, CRL-201
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada

Application Deadline

For Fall entry, complete application materials should be submitted no later than 15 January each year.

Prospective students should ensure that all application materials arrive by the deadline, as applications will be reviewed only when complete. Applications received after the annual deadline may be reviewed, space permitting, but will have a lower chance of acceptance and be less competitive for scholarship or fellowship funding.

Important: The information on this website is frequently updated and may change at any time. Please consult the McMaster Graduate Calendar for policies during the current academic year. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Health Policy PhD Program directly for up to date information.