McMaster entrance scholarships

How McMaster hands money out

From the OUAC guide written for guidance counsellors, September 2026 entry. Rules like these change rarely; dates do — check any deadline with the university.

How automatic awards work here

Guaranteed entrance scholarships are based on final admission averages. All awards are non-renewable. https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/entrance-awards

Awards you have to apply for

The McMaster Brighter World Entrance Award for Black students is valued at $5,000 each (50 available).

The Marjorie Anderson Financial Award for Indigenous Students is valued at $80,000 ($20,000 per year).

Access Awards for students from underrepresented groups in the Greater Toronto Area are valued at up to $20,000 per year.

Over $20 million in awards, for international fee-paying undergraduate students entering in fall 2026. https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/ aid-awards-for-international-students

Deadlines

The general entrance award deadline is February 19, 2026 (past), at 11:59 pm (ET) though some award deadlines may vary. To learn more about individual awards, visit: https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/entrance-awards.

Bursaries

General Bursaries are available once a student is enrolled at the university. Applications open in August 2026. https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/entrance-awards

8 you get without applying

• The Marjorie Anderson Academic Grant for Indigenous Students$80,000

  75-80%· renewable

  $20,000 per year ($80,000)

• Joseph IP Entrance Scholarship$10,000

  95-100%

• The Faculty of Humanities Entrance Awards$5,000

  Other Criteria· renewable

  $1,200-$5,000 (a variable number of scholarships available)

• The Kevin A. Lockhart Family Scholarship$5,000

  < 75%· renewable

• The McMaster Chinese Alumni - Peter George International Entrance Scholarships$3,000

  Other Criteria· renewable· international students

• The McMaster University Entrance Award$3,000

  95-100%· international students

• The Woo Family International Entrance Scholarships$3,000

  Other Criteria· renewable· international students

• Faculty-Specific Achievement Awards$1,000

  90-95%

  $1,000 for Humanities and Social Sciences & $500 for Health Sciences

6 that need an application

• The Schulich Leader Scholarships$100,000

  95-100%· renewable

  Faculty of Engineering – 2 awards valued at $25,000 per year (maximum of $100,000 over 4 years) Faculty of Science – 2 awards valued at $20,000 per year (maximum of $80,000 over 4 years)

• The Access Award$10,000

  Other Criteria· renewable· February 19, 2026

  Up to $10,000 per year in aid and award funding towards tuition, compulsory fees, books, equipment and living costs and 1 guaranteed McMaster University work experience. Tenable for up to 4 years.

• Eileen Gray Farley Scholarship$6,000

  75-80%

  2 scholarships of $3,000, and 1 of $6,000

• Application-Based Entrance Awards$5,000

  Other Criteria

• The McMaster Brighter World Entrance Award$5,000

  Other Criteria· renewable· February 19, 2026

  $5,000 (a variable number of scholarships available)

• McMaster University Award of Excellence$220

  Other Criteria· renewable

  Up to $220, 000 over four years