Graduate from a Physical or Occupational Therapy entry-level degree program or a four (4) year health relevant program, with a minimum of a B+ average (equivalent to a 9.0 on a McMaster’s 12-point scale) in the final year of the program.

• Statement of Interest (SOI) outlining the proposed training plan (supervisor and research area), research interests and experience; and, long term career goals.
• SOI should be a maximum of 2 pages, single spaced, 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font.
• Resume/Curriculum vitae indicating past academic and professional experience
• Official transcript(s) from all university and post-secondary experience.
• If applicable, evidence of eligibility to be registered in your professional affiliation.
• If applicable, a declaration of any disabilities, as well as details concerning accommodations provided by your education institution(s). Please refer to section 6.5 of the School of Graduate Studies website for more information.

• Number of References: 2
  Type of References: At least one of which must be from an academic source, unless more than 5 years have elapsed since the applicant last registered in a university course. Any professional referees must be able to comment on the applicant’s academic abilities.

If the applicant’s native language is not English, an official copy of the TOEFL score (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test report form is required. These test results need to be less than 2 years old. The McMaster’s TOEFL Institution code is 0936. Please attach your TOEFL or IELTS test report form to your application.

Minimum test score required for the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program are:

• If your first language is not English, a TOEFL minimum score of 100 (for iBT score), 237 ( on the computer-based) or 580 (paper-based)
• Applicants can also submit an IELTS (Academic, not general): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section.
• MELAB: 85 minimum score

More information about English Proficiency Requirements can be found on the Future Students website.

Applicants who have completed an academic ESL program through Canadian academic institutions may petition to have this considered in lieu of TOEFL.

In accordance with the Self-Identification Policy of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) applicants who wish to apply are to complete the supplementary Self-Identification Application. Information on the policy, application requirements and the online applicant can be found on the Indigenous Students Health Sciences Office website.

Applicants wishing to apply to the Rehabilitation Science Program with the Indigenous specific requirements must go the McMaster University’s Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP) to read and complete the Self-Identification Application.

Please note that only endorsed FIAP applications will be reviewed under the Ingenious specific criteria for admissions for the Rehabilitation Science program.

The Self-Identification Application is used for all Faculty of Health Science programs and only needs to be completed once even if an applicant has applied to multiple programs. Applicants wishing to apply through McMaster’s FIAP need to complete the self-identification application in addition to the Rehabilitation Science application and submit by the program application deadline. The FIAP self-identification application is submitted to McMaster’s Indigenous Health Task Force (IHTF) through the online application housed on the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (ISHS) Office website. Incomplete applications past the program(s) admission deadline will not be considered.

Please visit the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (IAHS) office for more information.

Graduate from a health-relevant Masters program, with a minimum B+ average on all graduate courses taken (equivalent to a 9.0 on a McMaster’s 12-point scale).

Without an MSc degree: Graduate from a four (4) year health relevant bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of a A- average (equivalent to a 10.0 on a McMaster’s 12-point scale) in the last year of the program.

• Statement of Interest (SOI) outlining the proposed training plan (supervisor and research area), research interests and experience; and, long term career goals.

• SOI should be a maximum of 2 pages, single spaced, 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font.

• Resume/Curriculum vitae

  •  Indicating past academic and professional experience

• Official transcript(s) from all university and post-secondary experience.

• Two (2) Writing Samples

• If applicable, evidence of eligibility to be registered in your professional affiliation.

• If applicable, a declaration of any disabilities, as well as details concerning accommodations provided by your education institution(s). Please refer to section 6.5 of the School of Graduate Studies website for more information.

• Number of References: 2

• Type of References: At least one of which must be from an academic source, unless more than 5 years have elapsed since the applicant last registered in a university course. Any professional referees must be able to comment on the applicant’s academic abilities.

If the applicant’s native language is not English, an official copy of the TOEFL score (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test report form is required. These test results need to be less than 2 years old. The McMaster’s TOEFL Institution code is 0936. Please attach your TOEFL or IELTS test report form to your application.

Minimum test score required for the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program are:

• If your first language is not English, a TOEFL minimum score of 100 (for iBT score), 237 ( on the computer-based) or 580 (paper-based)
• Applicants can also submit an IELTS (Academic, not general): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section.
• MELAB: 85 minimum score

More information about English Proficiency Requirements can be found at the Future Students website.

Applicants who have completed an academic ESL program through Canadian academic institutions may petition to have this considered in lieu of TOEFL.

In accordance with the Self-Identification Policy of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) applicants who wish to apply are to complete the supplementary Self-Identification Application. Information on the policy, application requirements and the online applicant can be found at the Future Students website.

Applicants wishing to apply to the Rehabilitation Science Program with the Indigenous specific requirements must go the McMaster University’s Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP) to read and complete the Self-Identification Application.

Please note that only endorsed FIAP applications will be reviewed under the Ingenious specific criteria for admissions for the Rehabilitation Science program.

The Self-Identification Application is used for all Faculty of Health Science programs and only needs to be completed once even if an applicant has applied to multiple programs. Applicants wishing to apply through McMaster’s FIAP need to complete the self-identification application in addition to the Rehabilitation Science application and submit by the program application deadline. The FIAP self-identification application is submitted to McMaster’s Indigenous Health Task Force (IHTF) through the online application housed on the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (ISHS) Office website. Incomplete applications past the program(s) admission deadline will not be considered.

Please visit the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (IAHS) office for more information.

Graduate from a health-relevant Masters program, with a minimum B+ average on all graduate courses taken (equivalent to a 9.0 on a McMaster’s 12-point scale).

Without an MSc degree: Graduate from a four (4) year health relevant bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of a A- average (equivalent to a 10.0 on a McMaster’s 12-point scale) in the last year of the program.

Applicants applying to the Dual RS PhD/PT MSc, please refer to the Physiotherapy page for more information regarding specific admission requirements. Please note that students must meet the admission requirements of both the Rehabilitation Science PhD program and the MSc Physiotherapy program. Applicants must be enrolled in the specified pre-requisite courses by the application deadline of December 31 for the MSc PT (i.e., the course must be listed on an official transcript).

Statement of Interest (SOI) outlining the proposed training plan (supervisor and research area), research interests and experience; and, long term career goals.

SOI should be a maximum of 2 pages, single spaced, 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font.

Resume/Curriculum vitae indicating past academic and professional experience
Official transcript(s) from all university and post-secondary experience.

Two (2) Writing Samples If applicable, evidence of eligibility to be registered in your professional affiliation.

If applicable, a declaration of any disabilities, as well as details concerning accommodations provided by your education institution(s). Please refer to section 6.5 of the School of Graduate Studies website for more information.

Number of References: 2
Type of References: At least one of which must be from an academic source, unless more than 5 years have elapsed since the applicant last registered in a university course. Any professional referees must be able to comment on the applicant’s academic abilities.

If the applicant’s native language is not English, an official copy of the TOEFL score (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test report form is required. These test results need to be less than 2 years old. The McMaster’s TOEFL Institution code is 0936. Please attach your TOEFL or IELTS test report form to your application.

Minimum test score required for the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program are:

• If your first language is not English, a TOEFL minimum score of 100 (for iBT score), 237 ( on the computer-based) or 580 (paper-based)
• Applicants can also submit an IELTS (Academic, not general): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section.
• MELAB: 85 minimum score

More information about English Proficiency Requirements can be found at the Future Students website.

Applicants who have completed an academic ESL program through Canadian academic institutions may petition to have this considered in lieu of TOEFL.

In accordance with the Self-Identification Policy of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) applicants who wish to apply are to complete the supplementary Self-Identification Application. Information on the policy, application requirements and the online applicant can be found at the Future Students website.

Applicants wishing to apply to the Rehabilitation Science Program with the Indigenous specific requirements must go the McMaster University’s Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP) to read and complete the Self-Identification Application.

Please note that only endorsed FIAP applications will be reviewed under the Ingenious specific criteria for admissions for the Rehabilitation Science program.

The Self-Identification Application is used for all Faculty of Health Science programs and only needs to be completed once even if an applicant has applied to multiple programs. Applicants wishing to apply through McMaster’s FIAP need to complete the self-identification application in addition to the Rehabilitation Science application and submit by the program application deadline. The FIAP self-identification application is submitted to McMaster’s Indigenous Health Task Force (IHTF) through the online application housed on the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (ISHS) Office website. Incomplete applications past the program(s) admission deadline will not be considered.

Please visit the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (IAHS) office for more information.

See our Program Overview page to review the specific requirements for each respective program.

• For applicants applying to MSc thesis, PhD thesis, and PhD Dual degree option, review the list of supervisors on the website and connect with a supervisor
• While applicants are not required to find a supervisor before applying, it is highly encouraged that you connect with potential supervisors and have received confirmation of supervisor support prior to applying to the program. Please review our website to determine the list of faculty members currently accepting students. Supervisors Accepting New Students
• If you are unable to secure a supervisor, please list three proposed supervisors that you are interested in working with. We expect that you have reached out to any proposed supervisors that you list in your application.

Transcripts 

• All post-secondary academic work completed to date must be sent to the program office. Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the program office in a sealed envelope.
• Please note that all transcripts, degree certificates and diplomas submitted to McMaster University become the property of the University and will not be returned.
• For international transcripts, please include both the original language document and a certified English translation. It is also important to include the official grading scale and legend.
• We advise that applicants submit unofficial or scanned copies of transcripts as part of the online application. This will allow the Admission Committee to assess your academic eligibility sooner.

Transcripts should be mailed to:
ATTN: Rehabilitation Science Program
McMaster University
School of Rehabilitation Science
1400 Main Street West, IAHS 403
Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7

English Language Proficiency Tests 

• Please include your English Language Proficiency test scores in your application. For more information regarding the English Proficiency requirements, please visit https://future.mcmaster.ca/admission/language/
• Applicants who have completed a university degree where the primary language of instruction is English may have this requirement waived. Please connect with our program for more information.

Writing Samples 

• PhD Thesis and PhD Dual degree applicants need to provide 2 writing samples.
• MSc Thesis Based applicants do not need to submit writing samples.

To apply, visit the McMaster University Application site to proceed with your application: https://gs.mcmaster.ca/how-to-apply/

For RS PhD Dual Degree Applicants: 
Submit your application to the following Program Description: “Rehabilitation Science – PhD”. In the application, there will be a question where you can indicate that you are applying for the dual degree program. Please specify if you are applying to the MSc(OT)/PhD (RS) or MSc(PT)/PhD(RS)

• Pay a $110.00 application fee. At the end of your on-line application the system will prompt you to make a payment.
• This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a credit card or Interac payment. The Student Accounts and Cashiers website indicates acceptable methods of payment.
• Your application will not be considered for admission until your application fee payment has been processed.
• After submitting your application and paying for your application, McMaster University uses an Electronic Referencing System to contact your referee. By entering the email address of your referee through the online application, the system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf to the referee.

• Completed applications are reviewed and assessed by the Rehabilitation Science Admissions Committee. If you are applying for the Thesis based program and meet the eligibility requirement, your application may be shared with supervisors that you’ve listed as proposed supervisors. Please note that only completed applications are reviewed. If there is a missing component in your application, you will be contacted by the RS Administrative Staff.

The staff will contact applicants if there are any outstanding or missing admission materials. Please note that incomplete applications cannot be assessed.

The Rehabilitation Admissions Committee reviews all submitted and completed applications. The committee will make the final admission decisions.

Applicants will receive notification of admission decision (offer of admission or decline for admission) from the School of Graduate Studies. Admission decisions are final.