The PhD in Geography at McMaster University is offered through the School of Geography and Earth Sciences, within McMaster's School of Graduate Studies, and focuses on three research areas: environment and health, social geography, and spatial analysis. The program provides access to field, laboratory, and modelling facilities within a multidisciplinary research environment. Students undertake original doctoral research under faculty supervision, and the degree culminates in a dissertation defended before an examination committee. The program is thesis-based and is completed on a full-time basis over a nominal length of four years, with typical entry in September and a typical application deadline in January. Graduates are prepared for research and academic careers in geography and related fields, as well as applied roles in government, environmental planning, and spatial analysis. The credential awarded is a Doctor of Philosophy in Geography.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants normally hold a completed Master's degree with distinction in their previous graduate work, equivalent to at least a McMaster B+ average, along with strong letters of reference. Admission directly from a Master's program without completing the degree, or in exceptional cases directly from a Bachelor's degree, is possible where the applicant shows sufficient promise including at least an A average; such students are reviewed after one year and may instead be registered as a Master's candidate. Official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended are required. Admission is competitive: meeting the minimum average does not guarantee a place, and the relevant Faculty's Graduate Admissions and Studies Committee makes the final decision. Applicants whose primary language is not English must supply an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 per band) or a TOEFL iBT score of at least 92, unless exempted for having completed a degree taught in English.
