Stream I students are health professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, etc.

All candidates will be assessed on their potential ability to become independent researchers in their own clinical field. The research training provides them with additional competence in research methodology which will be integrated with their established clinical skills.

Full-time Stream I students who enter in July, and plan a thesis-based MSc, normally complete the minimum course requirements by the following April. Preliminary thesis work (e.g., selection of topic) often commences by April and culminates in a defense during the following academic year. Some students elect to take additional courses in their second year and delay their defense accordingly.

Full-time students who enter in July and plan a course-based master’s usually graduate in one-and-a-half to two years. Taking the co-op option will delay the student for eight months.

Stream II students often come from backgrounds in health, social or biological sciences. The training received by these students is intended to provide the skills necessary for them to function as researchers in the health care system.

Prior training in mathematics, statistics or the biological sciences is not a prerequisite. Students with background in health studies, kinesiology, health economics and other social sciences are encouraged to apply. Applicants with previous experience in health-related research settings tend to have an advantage over other applicants.

It is common for full-time students admitted in this stream to take two years to complete the program. Candidates with some background in health sciences usually complete the program in a shorter time period than those without. Preliminary thesis work (e.g., selection of topic) often commences by April of the first year and culminates in a defense during the following academic year.

Full-time students who enter in July and take the course-based master’s usually graduate in one-and-a-half to two years.

Stream II students are encouraged to carefully examine information about the research interests of HRM faculty and indicate in the Statement of Interest up to three possible faculty members who share their research interests (review the MSc supervisors).

MSc Applications for September 2025 entry into the program will open September 15, 2024. The deadline to submit an application is January 15, 2025.

All completed applications are examined, but meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission. Those that meet the general requirements of the University and program are assessed by our Admissions Committee.

Interviews may be required for full-time Stream II students to complete our assessment of applicants and to match candidates with potential supervisors.

If the Admissions Committee approves the application, a recommendation is submitted to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences) for approval. Successful candidates will receive a letter of offer from the Assistant Registrar of the School of Graduate Studies. All applicants are expected to respond within the specified time to the School of Graduate Studies when accepting or declining an offer. Applicants who cannot be placed will receive notification from the Chair of the Admissions Committee.

Normally, students start the HRM MSc Program at the beginning of July and take HRM 721, which is offered Tuesday and Friday mornings until mid-August. However, in some cases students may opt for a September start date. A September start date may be of more interest to Stream II students.

Material sent to support an application cannot be returned.

The following items, along with the application fee, are required before your online application will be considered complete.

1. One official transcript of academic work completed to date

Please upload scanned copies of transcripts for the application review. Please note that if the application is recommended for admission to the program, original transcripts will be required.

2. Two confidential letters of recommendation from referees

Important note: Referees will receive the emailed e-reference form from the system after the applicant has submitted the application and paid the application fee.

Two confidential letters of recommendation from referees who are able to comment on previous academic and work experience for the purpose of evaluating the applicant’s ability to successfully complete this graduate program are required. Recommendations must be provided directly from the referees. Please note that McMaster University uses the Electronic Referencing System. By entering the email address of your referee through the online application, the system will automatically send an e-reference request on your behalf. If, for some reason, you are unable to use the Electronic Referencing System, you can download the Reference form (PDF).

3. A two-page statement of interest, including field of specialization

A two-page candidate statement that addresses (but is not limited to) the following: the applicant’s career objectives, how the HRM Program is relevant to the applicant’s career objectives, preparation to date, a description of the applicant’s research interests, including ultimate career aspirations, field of specialization, a description of how your research interests correspond to the field of specialization and a list of three possible faculty members who share the applicant’s research interests. Also identify how each faculty member will complement and help explore the applicant’s area of research.

Please indicate your field of specialization, as one of:

• Clinical epidemiology
• Health technology assessment

Learn more about fields of specialization.

Applicants who are not sure that they want to specialize should select HRM Classic as their field of specialization. Once enroled in the HRM program, you can declare your field of specialization based on the advice from your supervisor.

Please upload the two page candidate statement of interest to the online application system.

4. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV)

Please upload an up-to-date CV to the online application system.

5. A short statement of funding

A short statement of funding indicating the applicant’s source of funding and/or what efforts are being made to secure funding. Please indicate whether you require funding. Full funding for 2023-2024 ($19,400) of full-time Stream II MSc students is our goal. In some cases, supervisors can provide a full stipend, in other instances, this may not be possible.

Please indicate under what conditions you will work with a supervisor:

• I am only interested in working with a supervisor who can provide a full stipend
• I will consider working with a supervisor even if they can provide a partial stipend
• I will consider working with a supervisor even if they cannot provide a stipend

Please upload the short statement of funding to the online application system.

6. A Declaration of Employment form

Please upload the Declaration of Employment form (.doc) to the online application system.

7. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, if applicable

If English is not your native language, an official copy of your TOEFL score or other evidence of competency in English is required. A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 (580 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) is needed for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Students taking the IELTS are required to achieve a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each category. Refer to the School of Graduate Studies for more information.

Please upload scanned copies for the application review. Please note that if the application is recommended for admission to the program, an original TOEFL will be required.