Cutoffs

McMaster deadlines, September 2027 entry

OUAC closes January 15, 2027 for everyone. At McMaster University, 62 programs publish their own dates on top of OUAC's.

Every date here says where it came from. Dates from last cycle are labelled as such and are never shown as this year’s. Confirm anything you are about to act on with McMaster.

Dates McMaster prints on its program listings

From each program’s own entry on OUInfo for 2027 entry, grouped where several programs carry the same wording. These are the dates that differ program to program — the ones a student reading only OUAC’s calendar would miss.

Supplementary applications at McMaster

36 programs at McMaster ask for more than marks. McMaster’s own pages had not published this year’s closing dates when we read them, so no date is printed as current — what they showed is below.

Not yet dated for 2027

checked 2026-08-15

McMaster’s page still showed last cycle’s date, or no date, when we read it. What it said is quoted so you know what to expect; it is not this year’s deadline.

  • Engineering, Computer Science, iBioMed and Bachelor of Technologylast cycle's date

    A Kira Talent supplementary application — not CASPer. Four questions: three video responses (1 minute to prepare, 2 to answer) and one written response (10 minutes). There is a 0 fee paid through OUAC. You only complete it once even if you apply to several Faculty of Engineering programs; the invitation arrives from Kira within 10 business days of applying.

    "Your supplementary application deadline is Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)." The page also says the application will not open until October 22, with no year attached.

    Check McMaster’s page

  • Honours Health Sciences (BHSc)not published yet

    A mandatory supplementary application. Every row of McMaster’s timeline has been reset to "Coming Soon" for this cycle — questions, portal access and offer dates alike. Their warning is worth reading twice: "Supplementary Applications portal access is time limited. Extensions are not granted."

    Coming Soon — every timeline row on McMaster’s page currently reads this.

    Check McMaster’s page

  • Arts & Science (OUAC code MX)last cycle's date

    A mandatory two-part form. Part A is five questions with a 1,500 character limit each; Part B is an equity/facilitated-admissions section every applicant must complete. Needs a MacID, which arrives about a week after your OUAC application. McMaster states plainly that using generative AI to help write it "will be considered an infringement of academic integrity".

    "all supplementary applications must be submitted by 1 February 2026, 11:59pm EST" — and the posted questions are headed 2026, i.e. last cycle’s.

    Check McMaster’s page

All 36 McMaster programs that need more than marks, and what each asks for

Scholarship application deadlines

Only the awards that need an application have a date. Most entrance money at Ontario universities is automatic on your average, with nothing to submit.

Last cycle’s dates, for planning

2026 cycle

McMaster had not published this year’s dates for these when we checked. Last year’s tell you roughly when to expect them — they are not this year’s deadlines.

  • February 19, 2026The Access Award$10,000
  • February 19, 2026The McMaster Brighter World Entrance Award$5,000

Every entrance scholarship at McMaster, and what your average is worth

When McMaster decides, and what happens after

In McMaster’s own words to guidance counsellors, from the OUAC resource guide (September 2026 entry). That guide was written for last cycle, so a line carrying a specific 2025 or 2026 date is marked — the pattern holds, the date does not.

When offers go out

First Round: Late February to early March. Based on 4U/M grades available as of the end of February. Students must present a minimum of 3 courses with final grades and registration in any remaining required courses (for a minimum of 6 enrolled courses), or 6 interim grades, including all required courses, to be completed by June 30, 2026. o Note: Some by-selection programs will not make offers during this round.last cycle’s date

Second Round: Late April to early May. Based on six 4U/M courses, including all required courses available as of early May. Where students are unable to present grades for six 4U/M courses, we will assess them on the available grades, provided they are registered in any outstanding courses with a completion date of June 30, 2026.last cycle’s date

Deferring your offer

Students may submit a request to defer their offer for a period of 1 year.

We review requests on a case-by-case basis and make decisions on deferrals in late August.

If we grant a deferral, the student may not attend any educational institution (including high school) for the deferral period.

Tuition deposit

Visa and McMaster English Language Development applicants are required to submit a $2,000 tuition deposit. https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/payment-methods/#tab-10

OUAC dates that apply to everyone

The 2026–27 (entry September 2027) schedule from OUAC’s counsellor site, checked 2026-08-20. The source. The dates you act on yourself; the school-to-OUAC and OUAC-to-university transmission dates are on the full calendar.

  • August 2026youThe OUAC relaunches Ontario Universities' Info and starts posting application material for fall 2027 admission. This is the month the information appears, not the month you can apply.
  • Mid-September 2026not published by OUACyouThe OUAC application opens for Ontario high school students. OUAC has not published an exact date for this cycle — anything you see online naming a specific day is not coming from OUAC.
  • January 15, 2027youThe deadline for Ontario high school students to submit their completed application. This is the one date everybody knows — but several supplementary applications land before it. The OUAC still processes applications received after this date, though individual university deadlines then apply.
  • May 28, 2027youThe latest date you can expect a response if you applied by January 15 — an offer, a refusal, or a deferral of admission.
  • June 1, 2027youThe earliest date a university can require you to respond to an offer or pay a deposit. Scholarships, financial aid and residence all count as part of the offer: you may accept them earlier if you want to, but nothing can be demanded of you before this date.

The full OUAC calendar, with what is next

Deadline reminders

Supplementary applications close before the January OUAC deadline, and some land in early December. We’ll email you before the ones that apply to you.

We send your email address and the programs you’ve starred, so the reminders are the right ones. Your marks and your average are never sent — they stay in this browser. Deadline emails only, and you can reply to stop them.

Everything else about McMaster: every program, range and policy