• Four graduate-level courses
• Participation in the professionalization workshop in first year of program
• Comprehensive examination
• Thesis with defense

Admission Requirements for PhD Degree

For applicants who hold a Master’s degree, the primary requirements are distinction in their previous graduate work (equivalent to at least a McMaster B+), and strong letters of reference.

Normally a student will have completed the requirements for an MA degree in anthropology before their admission into the doctoral program. Since application for the program is usually made before completion of the MA degree, a student may be accepted conditionally on completion of the MA degree.

For purposes of admission, an MA in anthropology from any other university is considered equivalent to that awarded by McMaster. Equivalence also is recognized between an MA degree achieved by examination, by course work alone, by thesis, or by major research paper. It should be noted, however, that students who have major gaps in their anthropological background will be required to undertake additional work after admission into the program.

A student who is already registered in the MA program at McMaster may apply for the department’s PhD program. Registration in the MA program does not guarantee admission into the PhD program.

In some circumstances, exceptionally qualified students holding an Honours BA in Anthropology may be offered direct entry into the PhD program.

Admission to the doctoral program is very competitive and is based on a consideration of demonstrated scholarly excellence, suitability of research interests, availability of appropriate supervision, and availability of openings. Most successful applicants have sufficient background in their area of specialization within anthropology to benefit from advanced training in the field. Completion of the minimum requirements for acceptance into the doctoral program does not guarantee acceptance. It should also be understood that all applicants for the doctoral program for a given year, whether already enrolled at McMaster or not, normally will have been considered together during the second term of the preceding year. A discussion of required application materials and procedures can be found in this handbook.

Only under exceptional circumstances will the department consider for admission any student who has taken two prior degrees in anthropology at McMaster.

Important: If English is not your native language

Applicants are required to submit evidence of their proficiency in the English language as part of their application. The most common evidence is a score on one of the following exams:

• TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based)
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section
• MELAB: minimum score of 90

Applicants who have completed an academic ESL program through Canadian academic institutions may petition to have this considered in lieu of TOEFL

Funding

Students to whom we offer admission are automatically considered for financial assistance from funds available to the Anthropology Department – no special forms need be filled out. Funding is awarded on academic excellence and the availability of funds (amounts vary from year to year.) Funding is open to all domestic students. This fall, 62% of our returning MA & PhD students and incoming MA & PhD students have earned a major external scholarship. The total of these major external scholarships is just under $550,000

The Harry Lyman Hooker Senior Scholarship: These awards are given to Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents who are entering the first year of a Master’s or Doctoral program at McMaster in those Humanities or Social Sciences disciplines or fields of study that receive funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (or its successor).

All applicants should also review the McMaster Ontario Graduate Scholarship process.

Masters

• There is no guaranteed minimum level of funding for students in the Masters program, but students offered a place in the Thesis program are typically offered funding for two years.
• Applicants should apply for the SSHRC CGS masters if they meet the eligibility requirements. Deadline: Early December each year. Please choose McMaster as one of your three choices for University.

Travel Scholarships

• Department of Anthropology Fieldwork and Conference Funds. There are two rounds typically October and March. Funding for conference attendance is open to all full-time graduate students in the department. Fieldwork funding is open to all full-time students in the PhD program.
• The Schmid Family Travel Fund: Open to Masters or PhD enrolled full time at McMaster. The funds are to be used to support travel to present at conferences or undertake field research relevant to anthropology. Number available varies.
• The Edith M Wightman Travel Scholarships: The award is available to students registered in or, admitted to a McMaster graduate program in ancient history or, archaeology, to help support travel costs associated with thesis research or sponsored archaeological projects in Europe and the Mediterranean. Number available varies.
• SGS Grant in Aid for Research Travel and Field Work: The School of Graduate Studies Research Travel and Field Work Fund (SGS Grant) is designed to support highly meritorious students whose Ph.D. research and scholarly activity requires travel to, and extended stay at, locations more than 200 km from McMaster. The fund is intended to support projects that are critical for completion of the PhD thesis and that normally would not be possible through other means.

Bursaries

There are some funds available for bursaries, awarded on the basis of financial need. Students should apply directly to Student Financial Aid.

GSA/SGS Bursary: Bursaries are set at a current value of $500.

Applications may be submitted at any time. A maximum of three bursaries will be awarded each academic year. Please note that graduate students are only eligible to receive one GSA bursary per academic year.

Alternatively, students in health-related research (social psychology) may want to apply to the Canadian Institute of Health Research Doctoral Research Awards.

All applicants should also review the McMaster Ontario Graduate Scholarship process