Address: 1280 Main Street West, L8S 4L8 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Health Sciences, Engineering, Nuclear Science
Founded in 1887, McMaster University is a public research university renowned for its medical school, problem-based learning (PBL) approach, and research in health sciences, engineering, and nuclear science.
McMaster University is based in Hamilton, a steel city at the western end of Lake Ontario, and has about 37,500 students and 7,600 staff. It was founded in 1887 in Toronto and moved to Hamilton in 1930, where it has grown into one of the main research universities in Ontario. The campus is next to the Royal Botanical Gardens, and a large share of engineering and science work sits within a short walk of the central quadrangle.
McMaster has changed how medicine is taught. In 1969 its medical school adopted problem-based learning, in which small groups work through clinical cases instead of attending lectures, and the approach has spread to many other schools. Researchers at McMaster, led by David Sackett, also developed evidence-based medicine, the habit of basing clinical decisions on the best available research.
The university also has a nuclear reactor, the first of its kind at a Canadian university, operating since 1959 and used for isotope production, materials research and teaching. The Nobel laureate Bertram Brockhouse, who developed neutron scattering techniques, was a professor here, and Myron Scholes, a Nobel laureate in economics, is among the alumni. Engineering offers co-op options in the main disciplines and a strong programme in engineering physics.
Partnerships with Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s hospital support clinical research, and the university also works with steel and manufacturing companies in the region. Teaching is in English. Domestic tuition is moderate, international undergraduate fees are higher, and admission to the health sciences programmes is very competitive.
Hamilton is much cheaper than Toronto, 70 km to the east, and GO trains link the two. Waterfalls and the Niagara escarpment are close to the campus. About 205,000 people have graduated from McMaster, including the astronaut Roberta Bondar and the comedians Martin Short and Eugene Levy.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Materials, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Member of U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities. Strong partnerships with Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Research collaborations in nuclear science (McMaster Nuclear Reactor), materials, and advanced manufacturing.
Research:
A research-intensive university with significant contributions in health sciences (evidence-based medicine, PBL), nuclear research, materials science, water research, and automotive engineering.
Famous Alumnis:
Bertram Brockhouse, Myron Scholes, Roberta Bondar, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Tihomir Orešković
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
7600
Current students***:
37500
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
205000
Pros
Renowned for problem-based learning, strong medical school and health sciences programs, significant research impact, particularly in health and nuclear sciences, compact and attractive campus.
Cons
Located in Hamilton, which may be perceived as less cosmopolitan than Toronto or Montreal by some, some programs are highly competitive, student housing can be limited.
Best For
Students interested in health sciences, engineering, or nuclear science, valuing innovative teaching methods like problem-based learning and strong research opportunities in a supportive campus environment.
For students who like the physics, life sciences and data analytics focus of this institution but want another option nearby, McGill University fits well: it also offers graduate certificate and graduate diploma programmes and covers ecology and sustainability as well.
Where this institution leans on physics, life sciences and data analytics, Queen's University does the same, and it is slightly smaller, at about 31,000 students against roughly 37,500 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Toronto offers a comparable education in physics, life sciences and data analytics: it is larger, enrolling about 97,500 students against roughly 37,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Where this university leans on materials, life sciences and data analytics, Western University does the same, and it covers mechanical engineering as well, and is slightly larger, at about 43,000 students against roughly 37,500 here.
University of Calgary takes a similar route through life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, and it is also a public institution and also offers certificate and diploma programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in the United States, takes a similar route through materials, life sciences and data analytics; it covers agriculture as well, and is larger, enrolling about 57,200 students against roughly 37,500 here.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where physics, materials and life sciences also form the core, and it has almost the same size, at about 37,458 students, and is also a public institution.
The closest overseas parallel on materials, life sciences and data analytics is University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, located in the United States; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers mechanical engineering as well.
The closest overseas parallel on physics, materials and life sciences is The University of Manchester, located in the United Kingdom; it is slightly larger, at about 46,500 students against roughly 37,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Beyond national borders, Imperial College London stands out as a comparable school for physics, materials and life sciences; it covers mathematics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 20,500 students against roughly 37,500 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is McMaster University?
It is at 1280 Main Street West in Hamilton, Ontario, about 70 km west of Toronto.
How large is the university?
About 37,500 students and 7,600 staff.
What is McMaster best known for?
Health sciences, engineering, nuclear science and its problem-based approach to medical education.
What is problem-based learning?
It is a teaching method where small groups work on clinical or real-world problems instead of relying mainly on lectures. McMaster adopted it in its medical school in 1969.
Does McMaster have a nuclear reactor?
Yes. The McMaster Nuclear Reactor has operated since 1959 and is used for research, isotope production and teaching.
What language is used for teaching?
English.
How much does it cost?
Domestic tuition is moderate and international undergraduate fees are higher. Check the current schedule for your programme.
Does McMaster offer co-op?
Yes, in engineering, science and several other programmes.
Who are famous alumni?
Bertram Brockhouse worked there as professor, and Myron Scholes, Roberta Bondar, Martin Short and Eugene Levy studied at McMaster.
Is Hamilton affordable?
Yes. Rents are lower than in Toronto, which is linked to Hamilton by GO trains.
Biomedical Sensors, Engineering, Medical Devices, User-Centered Design
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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