Fact Sheet 2015-2016
Name of University
Exchange Office
Website
Email
Social Media
Address
Fax
Telephone
McMaster University www.mcmaster.ca
BizX International Exchange Program
http://bizx.degroote.mcmaster.ca/
bizx@mcmaster.ca
www.facebook.com/bizxexchange
www.twitter.com/degrootebizx
1280 Main Street West,
DeGroote School of Business, Rm. 104
Hamilton Ontario, Canada
L8S 4M4
289-780-8683
905-525-9140 ext 26534
Contact Persons
Function
Contact Data
Ms. Sriyani Dissanayake
Program Co-ordinator
Tel: 905-525-9140 ext: 26534
E-mail: dissanay@mcmaster.ca
Tel: 905-525-9140 ext: 23972
E-mail: malikm@mcmaster.ca
Mr. Mandeep Malik
Director
Nomination Deadline
Application Deadline
Orientation Sessions
Beginning of Classes
Exam Period
Fall Term (Sep-Dec)
March 1, 2015
March 31, 2015
September 2015, date TBA
September 8, 2015
December 9 - 22, 2015
Document Checklist
 Nomination letter mailed to us from the exchange coordinator
Winter Term (Jan-Apr)
March 1, 2015
March 31, 2015
January 2016, date TBA
January 5, 2016
April 12 – 29, 2016
 Online Application:
https://issapps.mcmaster.ca/exchange_app/login.php?redirect=incoming.php
 Resume (Uploaded in the online application)
 Official Transcripts (with English translation and grading system attached, if
applicable)
 Proof of English Language Proficiency (If applicable)
Type of Agreement
 Faculty Student Exchange
Level/Courses/Programs
offered (per agreement)
 Undergraduate (These students are not allowed to take master or graduate courses)
Nomination Details
Please include the following information with your student’s nomination email by
March 1, 2015:
 Last Name
 First Name
 Email Address
 Term(s) of exchange
 Undergraduate or Graduate Level
How To Apply
Upon receipt of student nomination details, the BizX Office will contact each student
with details on how to apply through our online application system. Students will
need to complete the online application, which will include uploading supporting
documents (resume, statement of interest, personal photo).
*Please do not send us additional scanned or printed copies of the online application*
The host institution is asked to please send original copies of the following:
with English translation and grading system attached
(If applicable, see Language Assessment below).
All applications and supporting documents must be received by March 31, 2015.
Language of Instruction
 English
Language Assessment
TOEFL is not required, but students must be able to prove proficiency in English at
the university level and be able to write and participate in class discussions. If not
currently studying at an English-speaking institution, a letter from the exchange
coordinator or university professor must be submitted along with the nomination letter
confirming that the student’s language skills have been assessed at the home institution
and they are sufficient for the student to participate in a study abroad/exchange
program at the university level.
Course Selection
Course Calendar: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/CALENDAR/current/
Course Timetable: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/scheduling/coursett.html
Course Load per semester: Full-time studies at McMaster equates to 12 or 15 units per
semester (4 or 5 courses).
Undergraduate exchange students will be registered in Level 3 at McMaster, and
should expect to mostly take Level 2 and Level 3 courses. Enrolment in Level 4 and
many Level 1 courses is generally reserved for McMaster students. Access to Level 1
elective courses may be given, space permitting. Students must look at the course
listings in the McMaster Course Calendar and list their preferred selections on the
online application. Students should be aware that not all courses listed in the Calendar
are offered every year, so this is just a provisional selection to indicate what kind of
courses students are interested in. Actual course registration for both Semester 1
and Semester 2 takes place in mid-June and is done online. Students must be
prepared to be in e-mail contact with their McMaster academic advisors in late May
(when the timetable for the coming year is published) and early June to get approval
for their final course selection. This will depend on course offerings, timetable and
eligibility.
Course Restrictions:
The Economics program is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and not part of the
School of Business. This may affect some students’ eligibility for Commerce courses
depending on the agreement between McMaster and a partner university. Majority of
your courses must be commerce courses.
VISA:
Study Permit/Temporary
Resident Permit
Exchange students to Canada for a study period of 6 months or less
DO NOT require a Study Permit. Students coming for a period of more than 6
months MUST obtain a Study Permit at a Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High
Commissioner in their home countries. Students on a 6-month study period MUST
apply for a Study Permit if they wish to work on campus during their study
period.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requires a Temporary Resident Visa to
enter Canada from citizens of some countries. Please contact the nearest Canadian
Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioner for more information or visit:
http://www.cic.gc.ca
Expenses
Following is an estimate (in Canadian Dollars):
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Fall (4 months)
Fall & Winter (8 months)
Accommodation
On campus:
$2645.00 – 3542.50
Off campus:
$1400.00 – 2500.00
On campus:
$3985.00 - 6485.00
Off campus:
$2800.00 - 5200.00
Food
$1000.00-1400.00
(on-campus)
$1905.00 - 3375.00
(on-campus)
Public Transport (HSR)
(Hamilton Street
Railway)
HSR is free for fully
registered students
Local Bus Fare: $2.55
HSR is free for fully
registered students
Local Bus Fare: $2.55
Books
$600.00
$1200.00
University Health
Insurance Plan (UHIP)
$228.00
$456.00
Personal Expenses
$1000.00
$2000.00
*Meal plans are compulsory
for on-campus students*
University Health Insurance
Plan (UHIP)
All exchange students are charged for Ontario’s University Health Insurance Plan
(UHIP). UHIP is mandatory for all exchange students. For more details visit
www.uhip.ca
Students may be exempt from UHIP if they can show coverage by one of UHIP’s preapproved plans. Requests for UHIP exemption must be submitted by September 29th
(Fall or Full year exchange) or January 29th (Winter exchange). For a full list of preapproved health plans visit: http://www.uhip.ca/exempted.aspx
Accommodation
On-Campus
http://housing.mcmaster.ca/Residence_Admissions/index.php
Exchange students usually live in Bates Residence (furnished apartments). If the number
of applications exceeds the number of available rooms, a lottery system will determine
the final offer.
Meal plans are mandatory.
Please note that residence accommodation is only available to Undergraduate students
*Please note that all McMaster residences will be closed during the December holiday
break. All students will be required to move out during this period. Full year exchange
students will be able to leave things in their room over the break but won't be able to
enter the building until the residences re-open in January. Students generally travel
during this period, return home, or stay with friends.
**Students with disabilities requesting on-campus accommodations must submit the
‘Special Accommodations Request’ form as part of their online residence application.
http://housing.mcmaster.ca/Residence_Admissions/Special_Accom.html
Off-Campus
http://macoffcampus.mcmaster.ca
McMaster University is ideally located close to many affordable housing options
suitable for incoming exchange students. Off-campus housing provides students with the
ability to live in close proximity to campus while experiencing shared living with other
Canadian students. Through McMaster’s Off-Campus Resource Centre, exchange
students can browse through rental listings for shared housing in the nearby Community
of Westdale and surrounding area.
To browse availability, visit the Off-Campus Resource Centre at the link below.
Rental listings can be found at the left-hand menu under ‘Search for Rental Housing’.
Students are advised to search under all categories, with attention to ‘Student Rentals’
and ‘Sublets’ http://macoffcampus.mcmaster.ca
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Useful links
International Student Services/MacAbroad: https://iss.mcmaster.ca/
Student Wellness Centre: http://wellness.mcmaster.ca/
Student Accessibility Services: http://sas.mcmaster.ca/
Student Success Centre: http://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/index.php
Athletics and Recreation: http://www-athrec.mcmaster.ca
Libraries: http://library.mcmaster.ca
Financial Matters: http://studentaffairs.mcmaster.ca/parents/banking_financial.html
Clubs and Organizations: http://future.mcmaster.ca/student-life/clubs-athletics/
Important Dates & Deadlines 2015/2016 (For Reference Only)
Fall Term – September - December
Term Dates (including exam period)
Residence Applications Open (Fall/Full Year exchange
students)
Deadline for Residence Applications (Fall/Full year
exchange students)
SOLAR – Online Course Registration
Exchange Orientation
Classes Begin
Last Day for Course Registration – Drop & Add
Mid-term Recess
Classes End
Exam Period
Winter Term – January - April
Term Dates (including exam period)
Classes Begin
Residence Applications Open (Winter exchange
students)
Deadline for Residence Applications (Winter exchange
students)
SOLAR – Online Course Registration
Last Day for Course Registration – Drop & Add
Mid-term Recess
Classes End
Exam Period
September 8 – December 22, 2015
TBA
TBA
Early June - TBA
First week of Class - TBA
September 8, 2015
September 16, 2015
October 12 – October 17, 2015
December 8, 2015
December 9 - December 22, 2015
January 5 – April 29, 2016
January 5, 2016
TBA
TBA
Early June – TBA
January 13, 2016
February 15 - 20, 2016
April 8, 2016
April 12 - 29, 2016
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