STEP
STEP Certificate
Your Summer Transition to McMaster Undergrad
The Summer Transition through English Prep (STEP) program is an intensive seven-week academic English bridging program designed for English-Language Learners who wish to pursue their undergraduate studies at McMaster University and almost meet the university’s language proficiency requirements. During the STEP program, students will develop the academic English skills necessary for a successful transition in September, into their first-year undergraduate program.
2024 Program dates
July 2 – August 16, 2024
From STEP to McMaster Undergrad
Acceptance into the STEP program includes a conditional offer of admission from an undergraduate program. Following the successful completion of the STEP certificate, students move on to their undergraduate studies at McMaster University, ranked as one of the Top 100 universities in the World and fourth in Canada. McMaster has 25 direct-entry programs in the following six faculties: Business, Engineering, Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.
For more information on undergraduate programs and their academic admission requirements, please check out the McMaster Future Students page.
PROGRAM goals
During the STEP program, students will:
- strengthen critical and analytical skills through readings, inquiry-based approaches, and reflective practice
- enhance skills for developing general, academic, and discipline-specific vocabulary
- implement best practices for academic communication, such as discussions, papers, and presentations
- deepen their understanding of English structure and grammar
- reinforce information literacy skills and best practices for academic integrity
- heighten academic survival skills – e.g., notetaking, time management, group work, test-taking
- learn to convey ideas effectively in an academic context
Program Details
Incoming students must meet the academic requirements for their undergraduate program of choice and must have obtained the minimum scores from one of the following English Proficiency tests:
| Minimum Required Scores |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading subtest | Writing subtest | Speaking subtest | Listening subtest | Overall score | |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| TOEFL | 20 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 86 |
| CAEL | 60 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 70 |
| CAE | 176 | 176 | 160 | 160 | 180 |
| Duolingo | – | – | – | – | 115 – 119 |
For more information on the academic requirements of our undergraduate programs and the application process, please visit the McMaster Future Students page.
The tuition for the 2024 session is $6,950. Tuition does not include textbooks, supplementary fees, UHIP, and residence.
During the STEP program, students will be offered on-campus housing in the Mary E. Keyes Residence.
Mary E. Keyes Building Amenities:
- Secure entrances with access to two 24-hour Service Centres
- Wi-fi, central air-conditioning, and weekly house cleaning service
- Quiet Study Lounge
- Access to a shared laundry facility
- Dedicated Housing & Conferences Services Community Advisor (CA) student staff will be available for questions, support, and light evening and weekend programming.
Room Amenities:
- Exclusive access to 1 of 4 bedrooms in a Mary E. Keyes Residence suite.
- Bedroom is equipped with a twin-sized bed, chair, desk with a bookshelf, closet, garbage bin, and recycling bin.
- A washroom (includes sink, wall mirror, garbage bin, toilet, and shower) shared with one other person in the suite.
- Shared access to a kitchenette and living area in your suite with 3 other suitemates.
- Kitchenette includes fridge, microwave, glass cook-top, toaster, kettle.
- Weekly cleaning service for common area, kitchenette and washroom (please remain in your bedroom while the Housing team members complete their weekly suite cleaning).
- Please bring your own bed linens and bath linens along with any cookware or utensils you may need.
Dining During your Stay:
- No meal plan is required for the summer months between July to August. Please visit hospitality.mcmaster.ca for up-to-date hours of operation.
- If you confirm your stay to transition into the academic year, a meal plan is required, and you will select this meal plan as part of your academic year residence application. Your meal plan for the academic year will start towards the end of August 2024.
Cost of Residence during the STEP Program: $2,137
How to apply for residence:
- The Residence Application is open. Visit the Housing website for more information.
- STEP students must apply for summer housing and if applicable, academic year housing on the Residence Portal before 4:00 p.m. EDT on June 3rd, 2024.
- You will be assigned a room in Mary E. Keyes residence for the summer based on information provided on your application. Roommates can be requested but are not guaranteed. Move-in is Sunday, June 30th, 2024.
- Students that have applied to residence and completed the STEP program are guaranteed academic year residence if they choose.
- After applying to academic year housing, HCS will send students an email communication in early to mid-June with a designated timeslot to log into the Residence Portal and choose your academic year building and roommate through the self-selection process.
- For information about the fall and winter room selection process, and to learn more about the residence application including accommodation and roommate requests, please visit the How to Apply page on the Housing website.
Questions? Contact Housing:
- Visit the Housing Live Chat by clicking the speech bubble located in the bottom right corner of the website, and live agents will be able to assist you.