Overview
All applicants, domestic and international, must meet the same criteria (see Admission Requirements) and apply through the Ontario Rehabilitation Science Programs Application Service (ORPAS). The ORPAS application portal opens mid-October each year and closes early January. Late applications are not accepted.
Applicant & Admission Numbers
| Year | # of Applications | # Admitted |
| 2024 | 514 | 32 |
| 2023 | 427 | 37 |
| 2022 | 471 | 32 |
| 2021 | 533 | 32 |
| 2020 | 416 | 32 |
Note: The admission process and requirements undergo an annual review and are subject to change. The School of Rehabilitation Science reserves the right to change the admission process and requirements at any time without notice. Every effort will be made to inform prospective applicants of any changes in a timely manner.
Information Box Group
Speak with a Student Ambassador
SLP Student Ambassadors will be happy to answer questions about graduate student life at McMaster and their experiences within the SLP program. Visit the Student Ambassadors page to see a list of Student Ambassadors.
Please put “Question to Ambassador” in the subject line to ensure that your message doesn’t get lost. Please also note that all ambassadors are volunteers as well as current graduate students with busy schedules, so kindly allow 48 hours for their responses.
Admission Requirements
Please carefully review all of the admission requirements. The admission requirements are the same for all applicants, domestic and international, regardless of previous job or life experience. All minimum requirements must be met to be considered for admission.
Resumes, volunteer experience, statements of interest, and letters of reference are NOT required and will not be considered if submitted.
Academic Requirements
Applicants must have a 4-year baccalaureate degree (120 units or credits or equivalent):
- The degree can be in any university discipline; none are favoured.
- The degree must be completed from an accredited institution.
- Applicants may apply in the fourth year of their degree but must provide proof of degree conferral prior to June 30, of the year they are accepted into the program.
A minimum sub-GPA of 3.3 (B+ or 77%) on the ORPAS scale, over the last 2 years or 60 units of university academic study is required.
ORPAS will calculate sub-GPA for undergraduate coursework completed at Canadian universities and US institutions.
- Grades will be converted to the ORPAS scale to calculate your sub-GPA.
- Use the ORPAS – GPA Calculations page to review how your sub-GPA is calculated by ORPAS and the types of courses included or excluded.
- Grades from all graduate work will be included in the sub-GPA and calculated by the program separately. Graduate courses are weighted the same as undergraduate work.
- For applicants who apply during their fourth year of their degree, the sub-GPA will include fourth year fall term grades up to December.
The MSc (SLP) Program will calculate your sub-GPA if graduate work has been completed and/or if ORPAS is unable to calculate your sub-GPA, such as when international education has been completed or your degree was granted from a college.
Applicants are required to complete four prerequisite courses with a minimum grade in each course of 3.0 (B or 73%) on the ORPAS scale. Each course can be a full credit course (6 units) or half credit (3 units).
- Grades will be converted to the ORPAS scale. If you submit prerequisite grades below the minimum, we will not accept them and would deem your application ineligible.
- Prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited university. College courses may not be used, even if transfer credit was granted.
- Applicants are required to accurately record all 4 of their prerequisite courses on the ORPAS Prerequisite Module of their application for consideration.
Prerequisite courses can be in-progress at the time of application. If a prerequisite is in-progress, it must meet the following criteria:
- You must be enrolled by the application deadline, in the winter term – spring/summer enrollments are not accepted in the year you wish to enter the program.
- Your transcripts, due to ORPAS by January 30, must show that you are enrolled in the course.
- Your final transcripts, due to ORPAS by June 30, must show that you have completed the course and achieved the minimum required grade.
- Courses that are in-progress at the time of application should have a grade of IPR entered on the ORPAS application.
When completing your application, if your prerequisite course syllabus is not available online, you can upload the document to the Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) system on ORPAS. In the ORPAS Prerequisite Module, enter a link to your university homepage and include a comment indicating that you have uploaded the syllabus via SAM.
Pre-approved courses linked in the chart are only examples, not a limited list. If your course is not on the pre-approved list and you would like it assessed, please open the chatbot and click “Prerequisites” then “Are my Courses Accepted?” and follow the prompts to submit your course for review. Please note that the pre-approved course assessment process is only available for courses taken at institutions in Canada or the USA. International prerequisite courses will only be assessed as part of your application after you have formally applied to the program.
| Prerequisite | Details | Min. Grade | Pre-Approved Courses | Not Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINGUISTICS | Perceptual processes and psycholinguistic variables related to normal development and use of speech, language and hearing (phonetics, introductory linguistics, psycholinguistics) | B (3.0 on the ORPAS scale) or higher | Linguistics Pre-Approved Courses | Courses teaching another language (including sign-language), writing courses |
| PSYCHOLOGY | A second-year or higher course. Study of human behaviour, normal or abnormal (child development, developmental psychology, aging and perception, cognition) | B (3.0 on the ORPAS scale) or higher | Psychology Pre-Approved Courses | |
| HUMAN ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY | Human anatomy/physiology relevant to speech and hearing including speaking, hearing, breathing, and swallowing. | B (3.0 on the ORPAS scale) or higher | Human Anatomy/Physiology Pre-Approved Courses | Animal A&P courses, cellular biology courses, neuroanatomy courses, courses that do not cover the areas relevant to SLP |
| STATISTICS/RESEARCH METHODS | Can be any statistics or research methods course (qualitative or quantitative) | B (3.0 on the ORPAS scale) or higher | Statistics/Research Methods Pre-Approved Courses | Research project courses |
Non-academic Requirements
You must be proficient in spoken and written English. If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of English-language proficiency. The only exception to this requirement is for those who have completed an entire university degree in the following places:
- Canada
- USA
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is the only acceptable evidence and is required by the ORPAS application deadline.
TOEFL requirements:
- You must achieve a score of 100 (iBT) on the TOEFL test (Reading 24, Speaking 26, Listening 24, Writing 26).
- The TOEFL score must not be more than 2 years old at the time of the ORPAS application deadline.
- The TOEFL score must be sent directly from the TOEFL Centre to McMaster University (McMaster code: 0936, Department code: 55).
If you are an international applicant, completed courses at an international institution or have completed exchange work (excluding the US), you must submit the following required documentation to ORPAS to ensure your application is complete:
- World Education Services (WES) assessment
- WES evaluations must be sent directly to ORPAS by WES and must be received by the application deadline.
- Original transcripts sent by the originating institution(s). –See the ORPAS Transcript Requirements for assessment of international transcripts and exchange work
- TOEFL (if applicable)
- ORPAS Online Prerequisite Module
If your transcripts are not in English, your ORPAS application must include:
- Notarized English copies of transcripts and prerequisite course descriptions
- A grading legend from the university explaining the grading scale is also encouraged
Application & Selection Process
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that ORPAS receives the application and all required supporting documentation by the deadlines. If the application is not complete, or if supporting documentation is not received by the deadlines, the application will not be considered.
Per the McMaster Graduate Academic Calendar, admission is competitive and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Final decisions on matters of admission rest with the Graduate Admissions and Studies Committee for each Faculty or the Graduate Associate Dean acting on the committee’s behalf. The admission decision is not subject to appeal.
Health professionals are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that maintains public confidence in the integrity and dignity of our professions. In selecting students, we are looking for individuals who will conduct themselves in a manner befitting our professions. As such, any and all communications and interactions with the Program before and during admission are considered part of the admission process and may be taken into account during admission deliberations. Admission may be denied to applicants who communicate or act in a manner that may be considered inappropriate or unprofessional regardless of academic standing.
Expandable List
The top-ranked (approximately 150) applicants will be invited to participate in virtual multiple mini-interviews (MMIs). We will notify you by email about the date, time and process, including a link to pay the $55 non-refundable fee. To complete the MMIs, you will need a computer with a webcam, microphone and stable internet connection. To be considered, we must receive your request for accommodation by the specified time and date in the invitation letter.
To ensure a fair and equitable admissions process, the McMaster Speech-Language Pathology Program utilizes the sub-GPA as calculated by ORPAS to determine the top-ranked applicants invited to the MMIs. As such, any questions or concerns about your sub-GPA should be communicated to ORPAS via email at orpas@ouac.on.ca. The average sub-GPA (on a 4.0 scale) of applicants receiving interviews for admission from the last 5 years is listed below, by year.
- 2020 – 3.86
- 2021 – 3.90
- 2022 – 3.89
- 2023 – 3.88
- 2024 – 3.88
There are 5 oral and 2 written stations during the MMIs. Applicants who have not been invited to interview will not continue through the application process and are welcomed to apply again the following year. To ensure a fair and equitable interview process, all assessors are provided with anti-bias and diversity training prior to evaluating students.
The Speech-Language Pathology Program does not provide feedback to applicants concerning their performance on the MMI. Information regarding the ranking, scoring or any calculations for admission is confidential and will not be shared with applicants.
Applicants should understand that where it is discovered that any application information is false or misleading, or has been concealed or withheld, the application will be deemed invalid, and the matter will be forwarded to the Office of Academic Integrity. If the student has already been admitted and registered, withdrawal from the university may be required, pending a university investigation.
Why are MMIs used?
McMaster has always been an innovator in the field of medical education. The Multiple Mini Interview is one example of how McMaster has approached an accepted process, like the traditional interview, and revolutionized it. Researchers at McMaster hypothesized that increasing the number of encounters for each interviewed applicant would lead to a more reliable assessment of the individual. This proved to be exactly the case. The Multiple Mini Interview increases the overall reliability of the interview in judging an applicant’s merits. It also dilutes the effect of a single misrepresentative showing by an applicant in any one interaction. Pioneered at McMaster in 2002, the Multiple Mini Interview has been adopted at other schools across both Canada and the United States and internationally.
What to expect from a MMI
The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) consists of a series of short, carefully timed interview stations in an attempt to draw multiple samples of applicants’ ability to think on their feet, critically appraise information, communicate their ideas, and demonstrate that they have thought about some of the issues that are relevant to healthcare practice.
During the MMI, applicants will move between virtual interview “stations” in a multi-station circuit. Each station lasts eight minutes. At each station, applicants will interact with a single assessor. Topics to be discussed in interviews may include but are not limited to, communication, collaboration, ethics, health policy, critical thinking, awareness of health issues in Canada, and personal qualities.
Applicants have reached this stage of the admissions process because their academic performance has been sufficiently high. For this reason we will not test applicants’ specific knowledge in any given subject. We are, however, trying to assess the applicant’s ability to apply general knowledge to issues relevant to the culture and society in which they will be practicing should they gain admission to (and graduate from) the Speech-Language Pathology program. Equally important is the applicant’s ability to communicate and defend their personal opinions.
Applicants who completed the virtual interview are ranked on a combination of their interview score (75% of final ranking) and their sub-GPA (25% of final ranking).
Offers of admission are made using the overall rank in conjunction with other factors from your ORPAS application and virtual interview (i.e., interview integrity).
We admit approximately 32 students into the MSc (SLP) Program annually.
Applicants will be notified of the admission decision via the email address that was provided to ORPAS in the online application. Applicants will receive either an offer of admission, notification that they are on the waiting list, or a decline letter. Consult ORPAS Key Dates for the decision date.
Applicants being offered admission must complete the online offer of acceptance to ORPAS, satisfy the conditions of their offer, and pay a non-refundable deposit fee of $500 (credited toward tuition). You accept the procedures and methods by which applicants are chosen. You are required to comply with all instructions and meet the deadlines to qualify your application.
Registration in McMaster University’s MSc (SLP) Program implies that you accept the academic regulations of the Faculty of Health Sciences School of Graduate Studies and the School of Rehabilitation Science, in addition to the program objectives and methods of evaluation.
Deferral requests are not normally considered.
Black Applicants
Facilitated Black Admissions Program (FBAP)
The Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University acknowledges the barriers and challenges of Black students accessing postgraduate education programs and opportunities. The MSc Programs have a Facilitated Black Admissions Program (FBAP) for individuals who self-identify as Black.
To be eligible, the applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who self-identifies as Black, including:
- Black African,
- Black Caribbean/West Indian,
- Black North American,
- Black Latinx and/or
- a multi-racial student who has and identifies with their Black ancestry.
Black applicants wishing to apply for the FBAP must:
- Apply to the program through ORPAS following the program-specific application process (i.e., indicate that you are applying through the FBAP).
- Complete the separate FBAP application, if invited by McMaster.
- Applicants meeting the minimum admission criteria, who receive an email invitation to interview and pay the interview fee, will receive an email containing a link to the FBAP application. Applicants wishing to be considered for this stream must access the link and complete the application by the due date outlined in the email.
- At the time of application to the FBAP, applicants will have the option to complete a personal statement (maximum 250 words) to highlight one or more of the following:
- Their interest in applying through the FBAP;
- Their reasons for choosing this profession;
- Circumstances that may have impacted their experiences to date; and/or
- Any other information pertaining to their personal/professional contexts they wish to share.
- If applicants choose to complete the personal statement, it will be reviewed by the admissions committee and interview assessors, which consists of an interprofessional panel of majority Black faculty and clinicians. The statement will be used to provide context to applicants’ interview responses and to ensure an opportunity for their voices to be heard.
Indigenous Applicants
Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP)
The Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University acknowledges the barriers and challenges for Indigenous students accessing post-graduate education programs and opportunities. The MSc Programs have a Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP) for individuals with Indigenous North American (First Nation, Inuit or Métis) ancestry.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (in 2015) called on all levels of government to:
- increase the number of Indigenous professionals working in the health care field,
- ensure the retention of Indigenous health care providers in Indigenous communities and
- provide cultural competency training for all health care professionals.
These principles guide the MSc Programs in working toward an environment for all students, patients and educators to create focused learning opportunities of cultural awareness and humility.
References: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, United Nations; National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada., Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada., & United Nations. (2015). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.
Applicants wishing to apply through the FIAP must:
- indicate you are applying through the FIAP in the ORPAS application.
- Applicants meeting the minimum admission criteria will receive an email invitation to interview
- complete the Facilitated Admissions Self-Identification application.
- The deadline for submitting this application is the same as the ORPAS application deadline for the Program
Indigenous Health Learning Lodge (IHLL)
The Indigenous Health Learning Lodge (IHLL) works alongside the Faculty of Health Sciences towards creating a learning environment that is culturally safe – to work with humility to enable sustainable systems change and to advance the work around concepts of truth, reconciliation and anti-colonization with all aspects of Indigenous health and well-being. The IHLL is solely dedicated to providing services, supports and programs for the academic success and wellbeing of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster. Examples of our programming include Elders in residence, mentorship, graduate/professional development, student leadership, and community collaborations. IHLL also engages with broader Indigenous communities and knowledge shares with non-Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and departments interested in Indigenous health.
Entrance Requirements
Expandable List
Upon acceptance of an offer of admission to the McMaster Speech-Language Pathology Program, students are required to complete all of the following program specific requirements. These items are not required at the time of application.
In addition to a copy of your transcript being submitted to ORPAS, McMaster University requires an official transcript sent directly from your post-secondary institution to confirm that you have cleared academic conditions (e.g. Degree completed by June 30, successful completion of prerequisite course(s), maintaining good academic standing for in progress courses).
Students graduating from a McMaster undergraduate program do not need to submit final transcripts.
Note: If you received a firm offer and no courses were in progress at the time of application, further transcripts are NOT required.
Deadline
June 30
Submission Instructions
Transcript can be e-mailed (preferred) or mailed directly from your post-secondary institution. Please address to:
slpadmin@mcmaster.ca
SLP Program Coordinator
McMaster University, School of Rehabilitation Science
1400 Main Street West, IAHS 403
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 1C7
To secure your place you must pay your $500 tuition deposit. This deposit is non-refundable and the total amount will be credited towards your first semester’s tuition.
Details & Process
Deposit fee payments are made on Mosaic through your Student Centre page (Finances).
Deadline
June 30
Contact
SLP Program Coordinator
slpadmin@mcmaster.ca
All learners entering the Speech-Language Pathology Program must complete the Year One Health Screening Record form as part of the non-academic requirements for their program AND be cleared by the Health Screening Office.
Details & Process
Year 1 Health Screening
Deadline
July 15
Contact
Health Screening Office
hrsadmin@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 22249
CPR Training (BLS or Level C) must be valid for the duration of the program. Proof of certification must be provided prior to starting the program in the fall and must be maintained current throughout the duration of the program. Some placement sites may require a shorter recertification period and students must be prepared to meet the site’s requirements. Training must be completed in-person or via a hybrid model; fully online CPR training is not accepted.
Deadline
July 15
Submission Instructions
Upload a copy of your certificate to the A2L assignment.
Each student requires a photo ID anatomy lab/hospital ID badge for numerous purposes throughout the program, including clinical placements. This card is personalized to each student. Students are required to submit a photo of themselves for processing and will receive their ID badge in September
Note: This is separate from your McMaster Student ID card.
Details & Process
Upload a photo of yourself.
To be considered acceptable, your uploaded photo must:• be recent and similar to a passport photo (head shot only, looking straight into the camera)
• have a neutral or smiling expression
• be in colour, in focus and of good quality (scanned photos of your driver’s license, passport or health card are not acceptable)
• be on a WHITE, blank background
• be in professional dress
• not contain any of people, animals or props (i.e. hats, sunglasses or graduation caps)
• Maximum file size of your photo must be 3MB or less. File type must be JPG.
Deadline
July 15
Submission Instructions
Upload the photo to the A2L assignment
The file must be named as follows: Last Name, First Name – ID Photo
The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) requires incoming candidates and returning students to provide a Police Records Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC). International or Visa students are required to provide a Police Certificate from each country or territory they have resided for more than six months consecutively for the past five years.
In the School of Rehabilitation Science, Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSC) are required to be updated on an annual basis and valid for the entire duration of the program, not just during placements. VSCs are considered valid for one year from date of issue from Police Services. Students may be asked to complete the VSC process more frequently than annually, if required by a clinical site. Failure to do so may result in a student being unable to participate in or complete a clinical placement which can result in delays or inability to complete their program.
An original copy dated after May 1 of your incoming year must be received by the FHS Professionalism Office by July 31. Note that the original copy you submit will not be returned to you unless you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Details & Process
Vulnerable Sector Check – Professionalism Office
Deadline
July 31
Contact
McMaster University
FHS Professionalism Office
1280 Main St. West, HSC 3H46A
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1
Att: Patricia Hartnett
Email: fhsprof@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905-525-9140 ext. 22249
Enrolment will open June 25. First year students must enrol in all of the following courses:
• Fall Term – SGS 101, SGS 201, SLP 711, 712, 713, 714
• Winter Term – SLP 721, 722, 723, 724, 725
• Spring Summer Term – 731, 732, 733, 734
Deadline
Early August (see Graduate Studies website for dates)
Details & Process
You will need to log on to Mosaic and enrol.
Contact
SLP Program Coordinator
slpadmin@mcmaster.ca
The program kit consists of items used in various courses throughout the program. Kits will be distributed during orientation week.
Fee
$320
Deadline
September 25
Submission Instructions
Program kit fee payments are made on Mosaic through your Student Centre page (Finances).
Contact
SLP Program Coordinator
slpadmin@mcmaster.ca
Important Dates
Dates and Deadlines for the 2025 Admission Cycle
Please also reference the ORPAS Key Dates
| September 24, 2024 10:00am – 3:00pm (ET) | Join us for the McMaster Graduate Studies Fair to ask us questions about admissions and the Program. |
| October 10, 2024 | ORPAS opens for applications. |
| November 6, 2024 12:00-1:00pm (ET) | McMaster University SLP Admissions Information Session. Watch the recording here. |
| December 25, 2024 – January 3, 2025 | McMaster University Holiday Closure. |
| January 6, 2025 | ORPAS application deadline. |
| January 30, 2025 | Deadline to submit initial transcripts to ORPAS from all post-secondary institutions attended. |
| Mid to End of February 2025* | MMI offers will be sent out. Interview payment details will also be provided. Please note interview communication will come from the McMaster SLP Program: askslp@mcmaster.ca and KIRA Talent: no-reply@kiratalent.com. |
| March 8-9, 2025 | MMIs take place virtually. |
| April 1, 2025 | Earliest date for offers of admission to be sent out (via School of Graduate Studies) using the email address applicants submitted with their ORPAS online application. |
| April 15, 2025 | First-round offers expire. |
| April 29, 2025 | Provisional acceptances become firm acceptances. |
| June 30, 2025 | Deadline to submit final transcripts to ORPAS, with confirmation that your degree has been conferred (if applicable). Deadline to submit $500.00 non-refundable deposit to confirm your acceptance. |
| September 2-5, 2025* | Orientation Week – Mandatory for students to attend. |
* Dates subject to change.
FAQ
Expandable List
Applications are accessed and submitted through the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS).
No, only the posted requirements are used for admission. Any additional items submitted will not be considered. Please review the Admission Requirements tab to see a full list of requirements.
No. All courses during the academic terms in the MSc (SLP) program have mandatory, in person, on-campus learning requirements and students are expected to be available to participate and attend in person. The MSc (SLP) program begins in the fall of year one and continues over 23 months. All students must complete all courses and advance from semester to semester.
As a professional program (not a thesis/research master’s), students are not offered funding. There are scholarships offered to the top-ranked applicants at the time of admission offer, as well as various in-program awards. Details can be found on our Scholarships & Awards page.
The MSc (SLP) Program uses the sub-GPA as calculated by ORPAS. Please see the ORPAS Application Guide for details – ORPAS Sub-GPA Calculations. The ORPAS grade conversion chart can be found here – Grade Conversion Chart. ORPAS does not calculate international, exchange, or graduate coursework. ORPAS also does not calculate sub-GPA for degree coursework earned at a college. The MSc (SLP) program will re-calculate to include this coursework.
If both course grades fall into the most current 60 units of study then both grades will be used in your sub-GPA calculation.
No, you are not required to maintain a full course load.
The Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University acknowledges the barriers and challenges of Black students accessing postgraduate education programs and opportunities. The MSc Programs have a Facilitated Black Admissions Program (FBAP) for individuals who self-identify as Black.
To be eligible, the applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who self-identifies as Black, including:
- Black African,
- Black Caribbean/West Indian,
- Black North American,
- Black Latinx and/or
- a multi-racial student who has and identifies with their Black ancestry.
Black applicants wishing to apply for the FBAP must:
- Apply to the program through ORPAS following the program-specific application process (i.e., indicate that you are applying through the FBAP).
- Complete the separate FBAP application, if invited by McMaster.
- Applicants meeting the admission criteria, who receive an email invitation to interview and pay the interview fee, will receive an email containing a link to the FBAP application. Applicants wishing to be considered for this stream must access the link and complete the application by the due date outlined in the email.
- At the time of application to the FBAP, applicants will have the option to complete a personal statement (maximum 250 words) to highlight one or more of the following:
- Their interest in applying through the FBAP;
- Their reasons for choosing this profession;
- Circumstances that may have impacted their experiences to date; and/or
- Any other information pertaining to their personal/professional contexts they wish to share.
- If applicants choose to complete the personal statement, it will be reviewed by the admissions committee and interview assessors, which consists of an interprofessional panel of majority Black faculty and clinicians. The statement will be used to provide context to applicants’ interview responses and to ensure an opportunity for their voices to be heard.
The Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University acknowledges the barriers and challenges for Indigenous students accessing post-graduate education programs and opportunities. The MSc Programs have a Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP) for individuals with Indigenous North American (First Nation, Inuit or Métis) ancestry.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (in 2015) called on all levels of government to:
- increase the number of Indigenous professionals working in the health care field,
- ensure the retention of Indigenous health care providers in Indigenous communities and
- provide cultural competency training for all health care professionals.
These principles guide the MSc Programs in working toward an environment for all students, patients and educators to create focused learning opportunities of cultural awareness and humility.
References: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, United Nations; National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada., Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada., & United Nations. (2015). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.
Applicants wishing to apply through the FIAP must:
- indicate you are applying through the FIAP in the ORPAS application.
- complete the Facilitated Admissions Self-Identification application.
- The deadline for submitting this application is the same as the ORPAS application deadline for the Program.
No, all applicants apply the same way and must meet the same requirements.
Due to the volume of such requests, and to maintain the equity and integrity of the admissions process, we cannot offer individual appointments to potential applicants.
No, deferrals of acceptance are not permitted. You would need to reapply and complete the admission process again if you declined your acceptance.
Prerequisite FAQ
Prerequisite courses that match the description on the website will be accepted. If you are unsure about one of your courses, please open the chatbot and click “Prerequisites” then “Are my Courses Accepted?” and follow the prompts to submit your course for review.
Please note that the pre-approved course assessment process is only available for courses taken at institutions in Canada or the USA. International prerequisite courses will only be assessed as part of your application after you have formally applied to the program.
Applicants can take their prerequisite courses at any point in their academic career (i.e. there is no length of time after which a course will not be eligible) to satisfy the prerequisite requirements. Prerequisite courses can be in-progress at the time of application. If a prerequisite is in-progress, it must meet the following criteria:
- You must be enrolled by the application deadline, in the winter term – spring/summer enrollments are not accepted in the year you wish to enter the program.
- Your transcripts, due to ORPAS by January 30, must show that you are enrolled in the course.
- Your final transcripts, due to ORPAS by June 30, must show that you have completed the course and achieved the minimum required grade.
- Courses that are in-progress at the time of application should have a grade of IPR entered on the ORPAS application.
No, prerequisite courses can be completed any time during your academic career.
The MSc (SLP) Program does not choose these courses. Applicants are required to record their prerequisite courses and grades on the ORPAS Pre-requisite Module on their application.
Yes, applicants can complete their prerequisite courses outside of their degree. Prerequisite courses can be in-progress at the time of application. If a prerequisite is in-progress, it must meet the following criteria:
- You must be enrolled by the application deadline, in the winter term – spring/summer enrollments are not accepted in the year you wish to enter the program.
- Your transcripts, due to ORPAS by January 30, must show that you are enrolled in the course.
- Your final transcripts, due to ORPAS by June 30, must show that you have completed the course and achieved the minimum required grade.
- Courses that are in-progress at the time of application should have a grade of IPR entered on the ORPAS application.
Yes, we will accept a prerequisite course from any accredited university, including online courses. Prerequisite courses can be in-progress at the time of application. If a prerequisite is in-progress, it must meet the following criteria:
- You must be enrolled by the application deadline, in the winter term – spring/summer enrollments are not accepted in the year you wish to enter the program.
- Your transcripts, due to ORPAS by January 30, must show that you are enrolled in the course.
- Your final transcripts, due to ORPAS by June 30, must show that you have completed the course and achieved the minimum required grade.
- Courses that are in-progress at the time of application should have a grade of IPR entered on the ORPAS application.
When completing your application, if your prerequisite course syllabus is not available online, you can upload the document to the Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) system on ORPAS. In the ORPAS prerequisite module, enter a link to your university homepage and include a comment indicating that you have uploaded the syllabus via SAM.
Ready to Apply?
Information Box Group
Step 1: Pre-Planning Read the Guidelines
It is important to read the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Program (ORPAS) Student Guide for McMaster University before completing the application.
Step 2: Application Complete the Application
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is submitted with all required supporting documentation by the deadline. If the application is not complete or if supporting documents are not received by the required deadline, the application will not be considered.