The following items must be submitted in support of your application:

1. Transcripts for ALL post-secondary education: Please upload scanned legible copies of your transcripts as attachments with your application. Transcripts must show a breakdown of grades achieved in all courses studied. If your application is recommended for admission to the program, you MUST provide original (hard copy) transcript(s) of academic work completed to date at ALL post-secondary institutions attended, sent directly from the issuing institution(s). If the final transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.

Please note, non-English transcripts must be translated and notarized. Original paper copies of translations must be provided along with original paper copies of the official transcripts.

Documents sent to support an application cannot be returned.

Hints for scanning your transcripts

• If your transcripts are double-sided, and/or have shaded areas, please place a white sheet of paper on the side not being scanned. This should create a much clearer scan.
• Check your scanned file for clarity before uploading to your application!

If we can’t read it, we can’t review it. Illegible documents can cause an applicant’s file to be dismissed before review, so please check your files before submitting your application.

2. Two confidential academic references from instructors most familiar with your academic work: Please note that McMaster University uses the Electronic Referencing System. The online application system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf to the referee email addresses you have entered. The request will not be sent until you have fully submitted your application, so you may want to contact your referees early to avoid delays in processing your application.

• References should be from referees who are able to comment on the applicant’s performance and skills regarding study and/or work experience for the purpose of evaluating the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the GDCE program.
• The referee must clearly indicate their academic appointment status in their reference.
• Recommendations must be provided directly from the referees and must be received within two weeks of the application deadline.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS:

• One reference must be from a teacher or professor for a course you have taken (this can include continuing education).
• The 2nd reference may be a work supervisor (someone who monitors your performance) who has an academic appointment and can speak to your academic abilities.

3. A statement of interest: A one-to-two page written statement of interest must include the following sections:
   • Relevance of GDCE to your career.
   • Summary of academic and professional achievements to date that are relevant to the GDCE program.
   • Familiarity with online learning
   • How you plan to manage your time for the GDCE program and your career.

The statement of interest must be uploaded as an attachment with your application. We do not accept email or mailed submission of documents without prior consent of the department.

4. An up to date Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Your CV must be uploaded as an attachment with your application.

5. TOEFL score (if applicable)– If English is not your native language, an official copy of your TOEFL score or IELTS test report form is required. Please upload a copy of this as an attachment with your application. A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 (580 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) or a minimum overall IELTS score of 65 is needed for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Please upload a copy of this as an attachment with your application.A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 (580 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) or a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each category) is needed for the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Students who have completed a post-secondary degree from a program where the language of instruction is English are not required to provide a TOEFL or IELTS scores. If your transcripts do not note that instruction was in English, you will need to provide evidence of this.

We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2024 entry to the GDCE program. We will be accepting applications for September 2025 from January 2025, with expected application deadline of March 30th, 2025.

Applications are submitted via the School of Graduate Studies online application portal. Please click on the “apply now” button after you have reviewed all of the application procedure and collected all the required documents. Scanned copies of documents are accepted at the time of application for assessment of applicants. Official copies must be sent directly from the issuing institution(s) before beginning in the program.

All completed applications will be evaluated, 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 to complete our assessment of applicants.

If the application is approved, a recommendation is submitted to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences) for approval. Successful candidates will receive a emailed 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.

Please submit all original transcripts and TOEFL (if applicable) to:

Gabi Watson, GDCE Manager
Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology Program
McMaster University
Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact– Health Sciences Centre Room 2C
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1

Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Process:

The Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology (GDCE) program strives to admit students from a broad range of academic and personal backgrounds while valuing diversity and inclusiveness. To best represent our population we welcome applications from Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) learners via our Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP). All applications received through the FIAP are reviewed exclusive of the general applicant pool. Applicants who wish to be considered under the Indigenous application process must submit the Self-Identification Application in addition to their application to the GDCE program. Applications to the Self-Identification Application can be submitted to the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge.  One self-identification application is used for all Faculty of Health Sciences programs that have a facilitated Indigenous admissions stream. The Self-identification Application must be completed by whatever the earliest deadline date is for the programs for which you have applied to.