Begin your journey with the Master of Science in Midwifery program in 3 steps
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STEP 1 Jump to information on requirements for admissions & program eligibility
Review the program’s requirements
Click here to jump to information on requirements for admissions & program eligibility
STEP 2 Jump to information on preparing your application
Prepare your application
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STEP 3 Submit your application online
Submit your application online
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STEP 2: Prepare Your Application
Applicants to the Master of Science in Midwifery will be required to provide the following information and documents in their application:
1. A statement of interest answering specific questions (more info)
2. Academic history and academic transcripts (more info)
3. A resume/curriculum vitae (CV) (more info)
4. Three references (more info)
5. Answers to program-specific questions (more info)
6. Information on English language proficiency (more info)
7. Thesis-stream applicants only: a sample of academic writing (more info)
Find details on each requirement below, and click or press the + button for more information.
Download the optional Application Checklist to help you prepare, collect, and organize all the information and documents you will need for your your application.
Facilitated Admissions Processes
McMaster University’s Graduate Midwifery Program understands that applicants can face specific biases, barriers, or challenges during the admissions process and when pursuing higher education. As such, we offer facilitated admissions stream for applicants who self-identify as Indigenous and applicants who self-identify as Black.
1. Your Statement of Interest
Applicants are asked to complete a statement of interest (personal statement) that responds to the following questions:
- Briefly outline your professional qualifications and clinical midwifery experience.
- What are your long-term career goals?
- How will the McMaster Master of Science in Midwifery degree contribute to meeting these goals?
- Briefly describe a midwifery issue of interest which you would like to focus your research or scholarly activities around during your master’s degree.
- Outline the personal attributes (e.g., communication skills, innovativeness, organization, etc.) you possess, and how they will contribute to your overall success in graduate school.
For applicants to the thesis-stream program only:
- Comment on the fit between the McMaster Midwifery Research Centre and potential supervisors and your academic goals.
In responding the above questions, your statement of interest should describe how your personal experiences have prepared you for this degree. You should also be identifying your specific area of interest to provide us with insight into your motivation and interest in the Master of Science in Midwifery degree program.
Your statement should be no longer than 1250 words, and can include subheading to separate your responses to the 5 or 6 questions you are answering.
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2. Your Previous Education & Academic Transcripts
Applicants are asked to share details and academic transcripts of all post-secondary studies they have undertaken, including current studies and all non-midwifery-related post-secondary studies, even if a degree has not been awarded.
Electronic documents are required for the online application process. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for use in your online application.
Transcripts must include:
- Your full name,
- The name of the issuing institution,
- The name and date of issue of the degree/diploma/certification,
- A list of the courses taken during your studies, including:
- Date/term of course,
- Couse name (and course code, if applicable),
- Final grade achieved,
- Course weighting.
- A description or key describing the intuitions grading scale (if applicable).
We can also accept official transcripts for your application. To be considered official, in addition to the above general requirements of a transcript, the transcript must have been sent directly from the issuing institution to our program. Documents submitted by an applicant/student are not considered official for the purposes of admissions.
Official transcripts can be sent as a physical copy via mail/courier or electronically using the below information.
Mail/courier:
Midwifery Graduate Program
McMaster University
HSC, 4H24
1280 Main St W
Hamilton ON L8S 4K1
Canada
Electronic:
midwiferymasters@mcmaster.ca.
If you intend to have an official transcript sent to us as part of your application, please contact us in advance so that we can confirm when it has arrived.
Applicants should note, if you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to provide official transcript(s) as a condition of your offer. However, you will have until the end of your first term in the program to provide them.
If a transcript is not in English, you must provide a translated version completed by an official translator. Both the original untranslated transcript and the official translation must be submitted.
Applicants are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining documents and/or having them translated.
Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in midwifery should still complete the steps above for any post-secondary academic work completed and for all midwifery-related education (even if a degree was not issued.)
Please note: Failure to disclose all previous post-secondary education may affect your application’s evaluation and eligibility for acceptance or registration in the program.
3. Your Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Applicants will be asked to provide an up-to-date resume or CV.
It should also demonstrate that you meet the program’s midwifery experience requirement of two years of full-time (or equivalent) clinical experience as a practicing midwife. Time spent in clinical settings while a student (e.g., student placements, clerkship, etc.) or working in a different profession/role (e.g., as a nurse, student volunteer, physician, etc.) will not count towards this requirement.
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4. Your Three References
Applicants must provide the names and contact information for two (2) academic references and one (1) professional reference.
The Masters of Science in Midwifery Program uses an electronic reference system, and your referees will receive an email asking them to complete a secure online reference form. Referees can also choose to upload an additional document (such as a letter) to their online reference if they choose. Referees will have until seven days after the posted application close date to provide a reference.
Your academic reference can be from a faculty member in a midwifery education program or another post-secondary faculty member who can speak to your academic potential. Acceptable academic references for Indigenous applicants include a NACM co-chair, an Elder, or an instructor from an Indigenous Midwifery Education Program.
Note for Applicants to the Course-Based Program Stream
Applicants to the Course-Based Program Stream who have not completed post-secondary studies or completed their studies more than five years ago can choose to provide one (1) academic reference and two (2) professional references. If doing so, ensure you select “Professional in lieu of Academic Reference” as the reference type in the online application system for one of your professional references.
All applicants to the Thesis-Based Program stream must provide two (2) academic references and one (1) professional reference.
Your professional reference should come from individuals who have worked with you as a manager or a senior colleague who can attest to your suitability for this program.
Note for Applicants to the Course-Based Program Stream
Applicants to the Course-Based Program Stream who have not completed post-secondary studies or completed their studies more than five years ago can choose to provide one (1) academic reference and two (2) professional references. If doing so, ensure you select “Professional in lieu of Academic Reference” as the reference type in the online application system for one of your professional references.
All applicants to the Thesis-Based Program stream must provide two (2) academic references and one (1) professional reference.
Your referee’s contact information will be entered directly into the eReferences section of your online application. They will immediately receive a request to complete your reference after you click the “Send To Recommender” button.
We will require the following information for your referee:
- Reference Type (Academic Reference, Professional Reference, or Professional in lieu of Academic Reference)
- First name
- Last name: If your referee only has a single name, please enter a period into the Last Name field, indicating that they have a single name.
- Name of their Institution/organization
- Position or title
- Their relationship to you: e.g., Instructor in an undergraduate course, research supervisor, etc.
- Email address: If possible, use your recommender’s institutional or corporate email address. Submissions from anonymous email addresses (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) may be subject to additional review.
- Telephone (Optional)
- Personal message to recommender (Optional): A note to your referee will be sent to them with our message. It can be helpful to highlight the application’s closing date in your message.
The Student Success Centre at McMaster University has provided a guide on asking someone to be a reference for grad school. You can download it here (pdf).
5. Your Answers to Program-Specific Questions
There are three short-answer questions you will be asked to answer directly inside the online application.
- Some applicants may have experienced barriers or challenges which may have impacted their academic history. If you feel this applies to you, please share this information with the admissions committee. (your response is optional)
- How many years of full-time experience do you have working as a midwife (one year of full-time experience is equivalent to approximately 1900 hours)? Please do not include any time spent as a student or trainee midwife. (your response is required)
- Part-time students can expect to spend an average of 15-20 hours on schoolwork each week, and full-time students can expect to spend an average of 30-40 hours on schoolwork each week. Please describe specific strategies you will use to meet the time demands of the program. (your response is required)
Each answer should be no more than 200 words, and you should consider writing out your answers to these questions before starting your online application. This way, you can copy and paste your answers directly into the online application.
There are 7-8 questions that ask you to select either “Yes” or “No” in response, and your response is required.
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7. Information on Your English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose primary language is not English will be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency.
The most common way applicants provide evidence of English language proficiency is by:
- Indicating that they have completed a university degree at an institution in which English is the language of instruction, or
- Sharing the results of an English language proficiency test in their online application.
The Midwifery Graduate Program accepts the following test results as evidence of English language proficiency.
- A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 overall with a minimum of 22 for reading, 24 for speaking, 24 for listening, and 22 for writing.
- A minimum overall minimum IELTS score of 7.0.
Some applicants may be exempt from providing English language proficiency test scores.
For example:
- Applicants whose primary language IS English but did not complete a university degree at an institution in which English is the language of instruction.
- Applicants whose primary language is NOT English but have completed an Academic ESL program through a Canadian academic institution.
If you think one of those situations may apply to you, please contact us before submitting your application.
Some applicants may be exempt from providing English language proficiency test scores.
For example:
- Applicants whose primary language IS English but did not complete a university degree at an institution in which English is the language of instruction.
- Applicants whose primary language is NOT English but have completed an Academic ESL program through a Canadian academic institution.
If you think one of those situations may apply to you, please contact us before submitting your application.
More information on English language proficiency requirements is available here on the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.
7. A Sample of Your Academic Writing
Applicants to the thesis-based program stream must provide a sample of their academic writing.
The academic writing sample could be something written when you were a student in an undergraduate or graduate program, such as a major essay, research paper, or thesis. It could also be something you have published, such as an article in a journal or a chapter in a book. It could also be a piece of professional writing you have done as a part of your professional work, such as clinical guidelines for your practice.
If you have any questions about appropriate academic writing examples, please contact us.
Applicants to the course-based program stream are not asked to provide a sample of their academic writing.
Applicants should be aware that meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission as limited space is available, and the admission process is expected to be competitive.
NEXT STEP: Submitting your aplication
STEP 3: Submit your application online Jump to Step 3: Submit your application online
Find information on submitting your application online
Learn More & Get Your Questions Answered
Meet With Us One-on-One Book a Time to Meet
Meet with a member of the Masters of Science in Midwifery program team to chat about the program or ask questions about the application process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) FAQs
Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Masters of Science in Midwifery program and its application process.
The School of Graduate Studies’ Academic Calendar details the policies and procedures affecting graduate programs at McMaster University, including admission, enrollment, academic progression, financial matters, academic integrity, codes of conduct, appeals procedures, dates and deadlines, etc. Applicants are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar and contact us should they have any questions.
Next Program Start
Spring 2025 (May 2025)
Important Dates and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Domestic Applicants (Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents):
- Course plus capstone stream: Janaury 10, 2025 – new, extended deadline
- Thesis steam: Janaury 10, 2025 – new, extended deadline
International Applicants:
- Course plus capstone stream: Janaury 10, 2025 – new, extended deadline
- Thesis steam: Janaury 10, 2025 – new, extended deadline
Admissions Decisions Expected by:
- Applications submitted on or before October 31, 2024: mid-December, 2024.
- Applications submitted on or before January 10, 2025: mid-February, 2025.