McMaster University's business school takes its name from Michael DeGroote, the Hamilton-raised entrepreneur whose gift funded it. Undergraduates do a four-year Commerce degree on the main campus in west Hamilton. The MBA is best known for its co-op option, which puts paid work terms inside the programme, and some graduate teaching happens at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington. It suits students who want a big-name Ontario school without Toronto rent.
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Official website: degroote.mcmaster.ca
McMaster University
Co-op option with paid work terms
AACSB
Hamilton and Burlington
CA$45,000 – CA$62,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate programmes
CA$15,000 – CA$19,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on degroote.mcmaster.ca before you apply.
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 86
MBA (Co-op)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 92
Accelerated MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 92
Master of Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 92
One of Canada's longest-running co-op MBA programmes.
A Commerce degree inside a large research university.
Graduate teaching at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington.
Co-op MBA students work paid terms at banks, insurers, manufacturers and public bodies across Ontario.
Commerce graduates go into accounting, finance, marketing and consulting, often in Toronto.
Graduates of eligible programmes can apply for a post-graduation work permit.
Undergrad
Mid-January
Postgrad
Early spring rounds
McMaster's campus is in Westdale, bordered by Cootes Paradise marsh and the Royal Botanical Gardens trails. Buses run downtown in about 20 minutes.
Hamilton grew up on steel, and ArcelorMittal Dofasco still runs on the bay. Rent is lower than Toronto's, and GO trains get you to Union Station in about an hour.
Letter of acceptance from McMaster University
Ontario provincial attestation letter
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
Undergraduate Commerce applications go through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre, usually by mid-January. MBA and Master of Finance applications run in rounds from autumn to spring, and international applicants should aim for the earlier rounds.
Commerce and the graduate programmes start in September.
You'll need a study permit. McMaster University sends a letter of acceptance, and most students also need a provincial attestation letter. The permit application goes online to IRCC with proof of funds and biometrics.
The co-op MBA, Commerce and the Master of Finance draw the most international applicants. Commerce needs strong secondary results with maths; the MBA wants a good bachelor's degree, and a GMAT or GRE can strengthen the application.
McMaster gives entrance awards to strong international undergraduates. Graduate students can be considered for DeGroote awards and external funding. Co-op pay offsets part of the MBA cost.
