Regardless of your program, Commerce or Integrated Business and Humanities, you will graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree.

Both the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees are recognized university Business degrees and cover the same foundational Business courses. It is only the preference of the University as to how to name their degree.

If you are studying a curriculum outside of the standard Ontario high school curriculum, please review admission requirements using the search tool here.

If you are an international student studying the standard Ontario high school curriculum, the following applies:

• For our Commerce program, you are required to complete six 4U/M courses, including both Advanced Functions and Calculus and Vectors Grade 12 U level math, as well as Grade 12 U level English. These courses are included in your admission average along with your next top three best grade 12 M or U level grades. 
• For our Integrated Business and Humanities program, you are required to complete six 4U/M courses, including Calculus and Vectors Grade 12 U level math and Grade 12 U level English. These courses are included in your admission average along with your next top four best grade 12 M or U level grades.  

The anticipated admission average for the Commerce program is in the mid to high 80s.

The anticipated admission average for the Integrated Business and Humanities program is between 88 and 92%, with heavy influence from the supplementary application.

Use the Future Students cost estimator to give you a sense of your costs for attending. Please note that the fees shown are unofficial estimates for the school year and are subject to change. 

All incoming remarkable international students enrolled full-time in any undergraduate program within the Faculty of Business receive the Global Business Scholar II Award, a value of $25,000 ($10,000 for first year and renewable at $5,000 each year upon good academic standing).

Visit Cost Estimator 

To recognize the incredible accomplishments of our future students, all incoming international students will automatically receive the Global Business Scholar II Award valued at $25,000 total. You will receive $10,000 in your first year, and the award will renew at $5,000 each year, depending on good academic standing. The eligibility criteria required to be met to receive the award:

• You are paying international tuition fees
• You are enrolled in courses full-time (fall and winter) in a program in the Faculty of Business
• You are cleared offer of admission conditions

International students can also apply for the Global Business Scholar I Award valued at $32,500 and the DeGroote School of Business Dean’s Global Excellence Award valued at $210,000 via McMaster’s AwardSpring  platform (available after you apply and get your MacID). 

Please see here for more information on three new International Entrance Awards available at the DeGroote School of Business.

• Global Business Scholar I Award 
• Global Business Scholar II Award 
• DeGroote School of Business Dean’s Global Excellence Award

Learn more about the DeGroote School of Business by corresponding with our undergraduate ambassadors to learn more about their student experience at DeGroote in either the Commerce or Integrated Business and Humanities programs. You can also ask them about the support available at DeGroote and what it’s like to be a part of the DeGroote community.

Please note that this service is not a live chat.

McMaster’s Future Students page details the admission requirements for students attending school outside of Canada; admission requirements can be searched by country/region or by curriculum of study. For questions, please reach out to the Registrar’s Office. Additional one-on-one support via a virtual meeting with DeGroote’s undergraduate Admissions Officer is also available here.

We offer several peer mentorship programs to help incoming international students successfully navigate their first year of university in a new country. During the summer, you will be automatically paired with an upper year student through the International Buddy Program and then transitioned into the Archway program, which combines peer and staff support, for extra guidance as the school year begins.

Students in the Faculty of Business can also join the First Year Orientation Program (FYOP), which connects you with an upper-year student in the same program and hosts networking events related to academic, personal, and professional development.

International Student Services also provides ongoing, specialized support as you progress through your degree and new needs emerge. From help with settlement, immigration advising, and social events, including group activities to explore Hamilton, one-on-one student success coaching, and English language support, we have the resources available to help you flourish.

Please review this webpage for information. The Student Success Centre also typically holds webinars on how to apply for a study permit from February to June.

Yes, international students are eligible to participate in our 12-16 month internship program. Please see here for more details about the program.

The DeGroote School of Business resides on McMaster University’s main campus, centrally located in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario. It is a historic campus with 300 acres of conservation space at the western end of Lake Ontario. Hamilton is one of the largest cities in Canada, meaning plenty of opportunities to explore the city’s arts, culture, and natural beauty while pursuing your degree. See here for more information about Hamilton, and also explore this website.

DeGroote students will soon find a new home on the McMaster University campus, the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery (MCCD). This 10-story building will be the premiere destination for students across McMaster to discover, learn, and collaborate to solve business problems.

Yes, international students are eligible to participate in the exchange program and study abroad for a one-semester or year-long experience in third year; for more information, please see here. Students can go on exchange in a variety of countries—McMaster has 90 partnerships with universities globally, and DeGroote has exclusive partnerships with 18 top business schools.

DeGroote has a significant international student population; international students make up 27% of our 2023 cohort. Further, DeGroote prioritizes inclusive excellence, meaning that we deeply value the diversity of our community and work to foster a culture of equity, inclusivity, and respect. Inclusion is an important part of day-to-day life at McMaster; for example, students can choose from a range of food options that recognize diverse dietary needs.

We have 10+ DeGroote-specific clubs and committees through the DeGroote Commerce Society. The McMaster Student Union (MSU) has 300+ clubs related to academics, culture, recreation, religion/spirituality, and social issues.

$100,000 is also available through the DeGroote Experience Fund to support DeGroote students in experiential learning opportunities locally and globally, including case competitions, conferences, service trips, and more.