DeGroote School of Business
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Admissions

Learn about the admissions process and criteria below

 

Two students in business attire look at a tablet held by the woman while she points at the screen with a stylus.

Start your DeGroote MBA journey

At DeGroote, we’re committed to supporting you from your first inquiry to long after graduation. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your options or ready to apply, our Admissions team is here to guide you every step of the way. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional, personalized service and encourage you to connect with us—attend an event or schedule a coffee chat with our recruitment team to learn more.

We take a holistic approach to admissions. Your academic background, professional experience, references, and test scores all matter—but we understand that strength in one area can balance another. Each application is reviewed in full to ensure we recognize your potential.

Step 1: Start with a preliminary assessment

Begin by completing our online pre-assessment form. You will answer a series of questions that take about 5-minutes and you will be required to upload:

  • A digital copy of your resume, or
  • Your LinkedIn profile

Our team will review your information and help you navigate the next steps.

Submit assessment

Step 2: Submit GMAT or GRE scores

The GMAT is typically required for Full-time program applicants. However, for Fall 2025, GMAT waivers are available on a case-by-case basis. Even if a waiver isn’t granted, your application will still be fully considered.

Step 3: Prepare to start your application

To prepare for your application and formal submission please ensure preparation of the following:

  • English language proficiency results (if applicable)
  • Two (2) references
  • Your professional resume
  • Kira Talent online video interview prep
  • Application fee

Step 4: File your application with McMaster University

With support from our team, you’ll finalize your application by submitting a formal application with McMaster Graduate Studies.

Am I eligible?

Let out team support you in finding out which of our programs is your best opportunity, and if you are eligible for a GMAT Waiver.

Get pre-assessed

Application deadlines

Please keep in mind that we process applications on a rolling basis, and both admissions and scholarship decisions are made between application deadlines.

You do not need to wait for a deadline to apply, and decisions are typically made within 4-6 weeks. The likelihood of receiving an offer and/or scholarship is the same across all recruiting rounds. This means that applying in earlier rounds does not increase your chances of receiving an offer or scholarship, nor does applying in the last round decrease them.

Full-time MBA / Full-time MBA with Co-op Accelerated MBA / Blended Learning Part-time MBA
Early Bird: September 17, 2025
Accelerated MBA Applicants, McMaster Graduates Only
Early Bird: September 17, 2025
Deadline for Early Bird Entrance Scholarship
Round 1: October 15, 2025 Round 1: November 5, 2025
Round 2: November 25, 2025
DeGroote Scholarship Competition Awards Deadline
Round 2: February 5, 2026
DeGroote Scholarship Competition Awards Deadline
Round 3: February 28, 2026
Ontario Graduate Scholarship Deadline
Round 3: March 25, 2026
Round 4: May 31, 2026
Final Domestic Application Deadline
Round 4 (Accelerated MBA): April 30, 2026
Round 4 (BLPT MBA): May 15, 2026

Admission requirements


Full-time MBA

Degree

Completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

 

Work experience

1 year of postgraduate work experience is required.

 

GPA

Recommended B average (equivalent to a McMaster 8.0 GPA out of 12) or higher.

GPA will be calculated using the two most recent years of undergraduate or graduate study, 20 courses, or the equivalent of 60 academic credits. A combination may be used and is determined on a case-by-case basis.

 

GMAT or GRE

  • Completion of the GMAT is required for application to the Full-Time MBA program. For Fall 2025, a GMAT waiver is being offered based on the following criteria:
  • A GPA with a minimum academic average of B+ in the last 2 years of an undergraduate degree (or 20 courses, or the equivalent of 60 academic credits).
  • If a candidate has two or more degrees, the most recent degree must meet the minimum academic average requirement listed above.
  • GMAT waivers are not guaranteed, and approvals are made on a case-by-case basis.
  • Applicants who receive a GMAT waiver and accept an offer of admission will be required to attend a Quantitative Refresher course prior to the start of the MBA program in September.

If a GMAT waiver is not awarded, your application will still be welcomed and reviewed equally. Submission of one of the below tests will be required at the time of application.

In lieu of the GMAT, applicants can also submit one of the following as a part of the application:

  • GRE
  • MCAT
  • CFA Level 2 (Passed)
  • Canadian CPA
  • PEng

 

English language proficiency

Required for applicants:

  • Whose previous degree was not completed with the language of instruction being English.
  • Who have been residents in an English-speaking country for less than four years.
  • Who have completed less than three years of full-time post-secondary education with English as the primary language of instruction, excluding ESL courses.

Acceptable English Language Proficiency Tests:

  • Academic IELTS (Overall score of 7)
  • TOEFL (Overall score of 100)

References

Two (2) references are required.

Applicants are encouraged to seek one academic and one professional (current or former direct supervisor or manager) reference. If this is not possible, two academic or professional references are acceptable.

 

Kira online interview

Applicants are required to complete an online interview prior to the submission of their application. We also encourage you to carefully review the application instructions, deadlines, and required.

Applicants will receive the Kira interview link one (1) business day after starting their application and completing the Select Program section. If you require any accommodation for the interview, please reach out to mbaadmissions@mcmaster.ca.

 

Professional resume

A professional resume is required for application.

All applicants are encouraged to utilize the DeGroote School of Business MBA Resume template. Please complete all sections of the template to the best of your ability.

 

Application fee

A $150.00 CAD application fee is required for application to each DeGroote MBA program. Payment must be made at the time of application by credit card. Please note that applications will not be reviewed until all components are completed and received

Full-time MBA with Co-op

Degree

Completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

 

Work experience

Although work experience is an asset, no post-graduate work experience is required.

 

GPA

Recommended B average (equivalent to a McMaster 8.0 GPA out of 12) or higher.

GPA will be calculated using the two most recent years of undergraduate or graduate study, 20 courses, or the equivalent of 60 academic credits. A combination may be used and is determined on a case-by-case basis.

 

GMAT or GRE

Completion of the GMAT is required for application to the Full-Time MBA program. For Fall 2025, a GMAT waiver is being offered based on the following criteria:

  • A GPA with a minimum academic average of B+ in the last 2 years of an undergraduate degree (or 20 courses, or the equivalent of 60 academic credits).
  • If a candidate has two or more degrees, the most recent degree must meet the minimum academic average requirement listed above.
  • GMAT waivers are not guaranteed, and approvals are made on a case-by-case basis.
  • Applicants who receive a GMAT waiver and accept an offer of admission will be required to attend a Quantitative Refresher course prior to the start of the MBA program in September.

If a GMAT waiver is not awarded, your application will still be welcomed and reviewed equally. Submission of one of the below tests will be required at the time of application.

In lieu of the GMAT applicants can also submit one of the following as a part of the application:

  • GRE
  • MCAT
  • CFA Level 2 (Passed)
  • Canadian CPA
  • PEng

 

English language proficiency

Required for applicants:

  • Whose previous degree was not completed with the language of instruction being English.
  • Who have been residents in an English-speaking country for less than four years
  • Who have completed less than three years of full-time post-secondary education with English as the primary language of instruction, excluding ESL courses.

Acceptable English Language Proficiency Tests:

  • Academic IELTS (Overall score of 7).
  • TOEFL (Overall score of 100).

 

References

Two (2) references are required.

Applicants are encouraged to seek one academic and one professional (current or former direct supervisor or manager) reference. If this is not possible, two academic or professional references are acceptable.

 

Kira online interview

Applicants are required to complete an online interview prior to the submission of their application. We also encourage you to carefully review the application instructions, deadlines, and required.

Applicants will receive the Kira interview link one (1) business day after starting their application and completing the Select Program section. If you require any accommodation for the interview, please reach out to mbaadmissions@mcmaster.ca.

Full-Time MBA with Co-op applicants may be invited to an additional one-on-one interview with a member of our Career and Professional Development team after the submission of their application.

 

Professional resume

A professional resume is required for application.

All applicants are encouraged to utilize the DeGroote School of Business MBA Resume template. Please complete all sections of the template to the best of your ability.

 

Application fee

A $150.00 CAD application fee is required for application to each DeGroote MBA program. Payment must be made at the time of application by credit card. Please note that applications will not be reviewed until all components are completed and received.

Accelerated MBA

Degree

Completion within the last 10 years of a Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Business Administration from a recognized Canadian or American university.

Candidates that have completed the following degrees may also apply:

McMaster University

  • Bachelor of Commerce, Integrated Business and Humanities (IBH)
  • Bachelor of Engineering Management
  • Bachelor of Technology (BTech), who started the program in 2019 and later, from one of the following streams
    • Automation Systems Engineering Technology (Co-op)
    • Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology (Co-op)
    • Biotechnology (Co-op)
    • B.Tech students are also required to complete the 2 courses (Please see GPA Section)

Western University

  • Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies

 

Work experience

Two (2) years of postgraduate work experience are required.

One (1) year of work experience is recommended for McMaster University graduates from the following programs:

  • Bachelor of Commerce
  • Bachelor of Commerce, Integrated Business and Humanities (IBH)
  • Bachelor of Engineering Management (BEng Management)
  • Bachelor of Technology (BTech) from the following streams
    • Automation Systems Engineering Technology (Co-op)
    • Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology (Co-op)
    • Biotechnology (Co-op)

Undergraduate Co-op or internship placements adding up to 12 months or more of work from these degrees will be considered to meet the work experience requirement if they are noted on official transcripts.

 

GPA

Recommended B average (equivalent to a McMaster 8.0 GPA out of 12) or higher.

GPA will be calculated using the two most recent years of undergraduate or graduate study, 20 courses, or the equivalent of 60 academic credits. A combination may be used and is determined on a case-by-case basis.

  • McMaster University B.Tech students applying to the Accelerated MBA are also required to complete the following 2 McMaster courses with a minimum B grade prior to applying to the program.
    • COMMERCE 2AB3 – Managerial Accounting
    • COMMERCE 2FB3 – Managerial Finance
  • The above-required courses must be completed or in progress by April 15, 2025, the final application deadline.

 

GRE or GMAT

Not Required.

Candidates who fail to meet the above GPA criteria or who wish to strengthen their academic application may wish to submit a GMAT or GRE.

 

English language proficiency

Required for applicants:

  • Whose previous degree was not completed with the language of instruction of English
  • Who have been residents in an English-speaking country for less than four years
  • Who have completed less than three years of full-time post-secondary education with English as the primary language of instruction, excluding ESL courses

Acceptable English Language Proficiency Tests:

  • Academic IELTS (Overall score of 7)
  • TOEFL (Overall score of 100)

 

References

Two (2) professional references are preferred.

Applicants are encouraged to seek two professional references (current or former direct supervisor or manager). If this is not possible, one academic and one professional reference are acceptable.

 

Kira online interview

Applicants are required to complete an online interview prior to the submission of their application. We also encourage you to carefully review the application instructions, deadlines, and required.

Applicants will receive the Kira interview link one (1) business day after starting their application and completing the Select Program section. If you require any accommodation for the interview, please reach out to mbaadmissions@mcmaster.ca.

 

Professional resume

A professional resume is required for application.

All applicants are encouraged to utilize the DeGroote School of Business MBA Resume template. Please complete all sections of the template to the best of your ability.

 

Application fee

A $150.00 CAD application fee is required for application to each DeGroote MBA program. Payment must be made at the time of application by credit card. Please note that applications will not be reviewed until all components are completed and received.

Degree

Completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

 

Work experience

Minimum of 4 year of relevant postgraduate work experience is required.

 

GPA

Recommended B average (equivalent to a McMaster 8.0 GPA out of 12) or higher.

GPA will be calculated using the two most recent years of undergraduate or graduate study, 20 courses, or the equivalent of 60 academic credits. Courses used in GPA calculations for applicants holding master’s or doctoral degrees are determined on a case-by-case basis.

 

GRE or GMAT

Not Required.

Applicants with a GPA below a B may be encouraged to provide supplemental academic materials (e.g., GMAT results with a minimum score of 600, or submit GRE or MCAT results).

 

English language proficiency

Required for applicants:

  • Whose previous degree was not completed with the language of instruction being English.
  • Who have been residents in an English-speaking country for less than four years.
  • Who have completed less than three years of full-time post-secondary education with English as the primary language of instruction, excluding ESL courses.

Acceptable English Language Proficiency Tests:

  • Academic IELTS (Overall score of 7)
  • TOEFL (Overall score of 100)

References

Two (2) references are required.

Applicants are encouraged to seek one academic and one professional (current or former direct supervisor or manager) reference. If this is not possible, two academic or professional references are acceptable.

 

Kira online interview

Applicants are required to complete an online interview prior to the submission of their application. We also encourage you to carefully review the application instructions, deadlines, and required documents.

Applicants will receive the Kira interview link one (1) business day after starting their application and completing the Select Program section. If you require any accommodation for the interview, please reach out to blptinfo@mcmaster.ca.

 

Professional resume

A professional resume is required for application.

All applicants are encouraged to utilize the DeGroote School of Business MBA Resume template. Please complete all sections of the template to the best of your ability.

 

Application fee

A $150.00 CAD application fee is required for application to each DeGroote MBA program. Payment must be made at the time of application by credit card. Please note that applications will not be reviewed until all components are completed and received

Frequently asked questions

If you have questions or concerns about the admission process, curriculum or the program experience, we encourage you to read our frequently asked questions.

View our FAQs

Two men at a desk, one smiling and gesturing with a pen while listening to the other explain something.

We’re here to help

We highly encourage all applicants to submit their profiles for review prior to applying. Complete our pre-assessment form to receive your personalized program recommendation.

Let us know if you have any questions about the admissions process. We’re here to help!