Full-time studies 

• Six 3-unit (single semester) courses (or equivalent) at the graduate level, including two core courses (GLOBALST 710 in Fall semester, GLOBALST 709 in Winter semester), two other Globalization courses, at least one of which should be offered by IGHC, and two electives (which students may concentrate in a single discipline). 
• A 40-page Major Research Paper (MRP, GLOBALST 708): each student is required to prepare a proposal for his/her MRP and identify a potential supervisor and second reader during the winter term. The MRP will be completed during the spring/summer session and will be graded as a pass or a fail. 

Part-time studies 

• Part-time students usually complete one course per semester to finish within three years. 
• Courses are 13 weeks and students must attend one three-hour seminar on campus per course per week. 
• Few courses will be taught in the evenings; if you cannot attend daytime classes you will not be able to complete the degree. 
• Please note that we are unable to provide financial support or teaching assistantships (TA-ships) for part-time students. 

Admission Requirements for Master’s Degree 

• Four-year Honours Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Humanities or Social Sciences. Students with degrees in undergraduate Honours programs outside the Humanities and Social Sciences where there is a component of relevant courses will also be considered. 
• An average GPA of B+ or better in the final 30 units (10 senior courses), or equivalent. 
• Facility in a second language and experience in another country or with an international organization are assets. 
• Degrees and grades from foreign universities are evaluated for their equivalency to McMaster’s. 
• These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission which is on a competitive basis. 
• We are unable to pre-screen applications/transcripts to determine eligibility; you must apply to the program to have your application reviewed. 

Required Documents:

Official Transcripts 

• All post-secondary academic work completed or in progress at the time of application. 
• Transcripts from institutions where you completed courses on Letter of Permission and/or as part of Student Exchange Programs must also be included. 
• Unofficial pdf transcripts are accepted for your application.
• Official transcript hard copies must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Institute on Globalization & the Human Condition (IGHC) to clear your conditions.
• If the final transcript does not show that all degree requirements have been met or the degree is conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required. 

Two Academic References 

• From instructors most familiar with your academic work. 
• McMaster University uses an 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 AFTER the application is submitted. Referees may require 2-4 weeks to complete a reference report. Referees MUST complete their reference report BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE OF January 31st. Please keep this in mind when you are working on your application. 

Statement of Interest 

• To be uploaded as a PDF document to your online application. 
• Maximum of 500 words (i.e., two double-spaced pages). 
• To communicate your specific research interests and their relevance to the Globalization studies 
• To explain your academic preparedness to undertake and complete your research, and predicted training outcomes. 

Curriculum Vitae 

• To be uploaded as a PDF document to your online application. 

Writing Sample 

• It can be a previous report, research paper, or any assignment that demonstrates your writing ability. 

English Language Proficiency (if applicable) 

• This document is required from those whose university studies were completed at an institution where English is not deemed the official language of instruction and/or from those whose native language is not English. 
• One official copy of an applicant’s English language proficiency exam dated within 2 years of the application due date. 
• The most common English Language proficiency exams: 
• TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet-based), 237 (computer-based) or 580 (paper based), minimum of 20 per band. Please use TOEFL department code 080 other Social Sciences. 
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section. 
• Other English language tests may be accepted. More details about the University’s English Language Requirements can be found in “Section 2.1.12” of the School of Graduate Studies Graduate Calendar. 
• Submit English Language Proficiency exam results as a scanned document uploaded through your online application. 

How to Apply

Each applicant is required to complete the Graduate Studies Online Application which opens in November each year and submit the above supporting documents to complete the application. Hard copies of the transcripts and English Language Proficiency exam results are to be sent to:
 

Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition
C/O Rhiannon Muirhead
KTH 724
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1
Canada 

Application Deadline

• Our application portal closes on February 28, 2024
• Students are encouraged to apply in sufficient time to meet the scholarship deadlines.

View Information for Newly Admitted Students

The majority of our students receive competitive funding package that may include: 

• Graduate scholarship range from $3000 to $5000. 
• A teaching assistant-ship involves 130 (a half TA or for one course) or 260 (a full TA or for two courses) hours of work over the academic year and valued $5800 or $11600.  

Additional Scholarships (on a competitive basis):

Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents 

The Harry Lyman Hooker Senior Fellowship 

• Given to students who are entering the first year of a Master’s or Doctoral program at McMaster in those Humanities or Social Sciences disciplines or fields of study that receive funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (or its successor) 
• Master’s award is valued at $18,000 for one year 
• Students are nominated for the competition in March 

CGS-M (Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s) 

• CGS-M supports students in all disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). 
• The selection process and post-award administration are carried out at the university level, under the guidance of the three agencies. 
• Valued $17,500 for 12 months, non-renewable
   

Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) 

• Master’s students, who apply for a CGS-M and choose McMaster as one of their institutions, will be considered for McMaster’s central competition for the OGS award, no separate application is needed. 
• By answering Yes to the question, “Do you wish to be considered for the OGS” on the Graduate Program Application form, applicants are considered for faculty OGS awards no matter if they applied for SSHRC or not. 
• Valued $15,000 

Wilson Leadership Scholar Award 

• Recognizes and cultivates leadership potential and prepares undergraduate and graduates students to serve as Canada’s next generation of leaders. 
• Graduate winners can hold the award in any year of graduate study and earn up to $25,000 in a combination of direct scholarship and experiential funding. 
• The award will involve an estimated 15 hours/month commitment from September to November and January to March 

International (VISA) Students 

Tuition Scholarship 

• Tuition scholarship are available to VISA students on a competitive basis 
• These are awarded to help off-set the cost of tuition 
• No separate application needed
   

For information about other major scholarships and awards competitions, please visit School of Graduate Studies: Awards & Funding

Academic Advising 

• The Graduate Advisor (Director of IGHC) provides academic advising to students for course selection, MRP topics and supervisors, and any other academic related questions. 

MRP Workshops 

• IGHC hosts two MRP workshops in the beginning of the winter term to help students start with their MRPs. 

MRP Work-In-Progress Colloquium 

• IGHC hosts an MRP work-in-progress colloquium in May for the students to talk about their MRPs as works in progress, and to receive feedback and suggestions from their peer students and professors on how they might make improvements as they go forward with their projects. Incoming students are invited to this event for them to connect with the professors and current students early and to learn about the program in a more in-depth way. 

Globalization MA Student Research Support Fund 

• An Institute fund is available to support the research activities of its Globalization MA students.  The fund’s primary function is to contribute toward the costs of expenses that are incurred in field research for the Major Research Paper. Other research activities (e.g. conference presentation) will also be considered, depending on available funds. Students are expected to pursue additional funds from other sources.

Who are we? The Faculty of Social Sciences comprises over 200 full and part time faculty and staff members researching and teaching in twelve departments. We’re also home to over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students.