3 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	McMaster Honours Health Sciences OUAC MNS Remove	Waterloo Health Sciences (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WF Remove	Western Medical Sciences OUAC ESM Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	90%“Minimum 90% to be considered.”	83–90%“Mid-80s regular, High 80s co-op”	83–90%“Mid to high 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U SBI4U SCH4U	ENG4U SBI4U SCH4U	ENG4U MCV4U SBI4U SCH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of MCV4U, MDM4U, MHF4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U 1 of Calculus & Vectors 4U, Advanced Functions 4U, Data Management 4U Biology 4U Chemistry 4U 1 non-Math, non-Science, non-Technology 4U/M credit +2 more on the program page	Any Grade 12 U English (min. 70%) Biology (min. 70%) Chemistry (min. 70%) Any Grade 12 U Mathematics (min. 70%)	English, ENG4U Calculus and Vectors, MCV4U Biology, SBI4U Chemistry, SCH4U Note: +1 more on the program page
More than marks?supplementary application	Yes OUAC application deadline: January 15, 2027. Admission is by selection. You will not be considered without a completed supplementary application. The supplementary application is due in early/mid-February. Applicants will be notified of the details. Find further details on the program website: Usually closes before January 15	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	No	Available	Available
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	240	233	1,000
What you study	Health Informatics Human Biology Others in Subjects Related to Medicine	Biological Sciences Health Informatics Others in Subjects Related to Medicine Social Policy	Biological Sciences Chemistry Health Informatics Human Biology
What it is	This program covers the science of how the human body works and how health systems use technology and data. Unlike a pre-med program, it does not guarantee entry into medical school and instead prepares you for careers in health research, data analysis, or public health. It suits students who are strong in science and math but want flexibility to explore health fields beyond clinical practice.	This program teaches the science behind human health, public health systems, and how technology supports medical care. You'll study biology, chemistry, and data systems alongside social and policy issues in healthcare. The co-op option lets you work in hospitals, research labs, or health organizations while you study, which suits students who want real workplace experience before deciding on a health career path.	Medical Sciences is a four-year undergraduate program where you study human biology, chemistry, and related sciences to prepare for health professions or medical research. Unlike a general science degree, it focuses specifically on the foundational knowledge needed for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or graduate health programs. The program includes optional co-op work terms, letting you gain hands-on experience in labs, hospitals, or health settings alongside your coursework. It suits students drawn to understanding how the human body works and considering careers in health care or biomedical fields.
The door tomajors you reach through it	health sciences	health sciences	biochemistry medical sciences microbiology neuroscience
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Western University on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.