Undergraduate Visiting Student Researcher or Observer Application (UGVSR/UGVSO)

Welcome. To get started, please select your applicant category:

I'm applying as an Undergraduate Visiting Student

Please note: Selecting “Mitacs GRI Candidate” is intended only for individuals who have already been formally accepted into the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program and are expected by McMaster. This option acknowledges that some requirements of the McMaster application process have already been completed through the Mitacs GRI application and vetting stages.

If you select this option without an existing, preapproved relationship with Mitacs, you may be required to reapply and complete any requirements you indicate have already been met.

For your privacy, please note that many personal details are not shared between Mitacs and McMaster University. We appreciate your patience in providing any information that may also have been part of your Mitacs application.

Click to show or hide the Category definitions...

All candidates are individuals who are currently registered in an undergraduate degree program at another university, and who have made arrangements through their home institution and an undergraduate program or researcher at McMaster to spend time at McMaster in a non-credit capacity. While they are visiting students, they will not be enrolled in a degree program nor for-credit courses* at McMaster. They are not part of any official exchange agreement, although there may be an agreement between the McMaster program and their home institution.

Undergraduate Visiting Student Researchers (UGVSR) come to McMaster to engage in research activity that forms part of their degree program requirements. Their visit is tied to a research project or supervised research experience arranged either through a McMaster researcher or an undergraduate program.

Undergraduate Visiting Student Observers (UGVSO) come to McMaster to gain practical exposure by shadowing or observing professionals or academics in a non-participating capacity. Their activities consist of observation only. Observerships in a clinical setting do not involve clinical activity, direct patient interaction, or hands on research tasks.

* UGVSR/UGVSO candidates wishing to pursue for-credit Undergraduate courses at McMaster must additionally apply on Letter of Permission through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). You can learn more about this separate application category here: Visiting student/Letter of Permission (LOP) | Office of the Registrar | McMaster University

Please begin this process as early as you can. Your application must be submitted and complete no fewer than 12 weeks before the intended start date of your research placement or observership at McMaster University.

Please note that this form cannot be saved and completed later. Before you begin, we kindly encourage you to review the pre‑application checklist so you can complete and submit the form without interruption.

✓Before you can apply, it is the responsibility of the Undergraduate Visiting Student Researcher or Observer to identify a McMaster supervisor.

If your host supervisor has not been arranged through an external research sponsoring organization such as Mitacs GRI, you must also contact your McMaster supervisor to confirm their willingness to host you.
While we are not able to identify or contact supervisors on a candidate’s behalf, the  McMaster Experts page and the relevant Faculty page can be helpful starting points for finding a suitable supervisor.

✓ You must submit an English Language Proficiency test that is accepted by McMaster. Your test scores must meet the minimum requirements for direct entry to undergraduate programs, as outlined here: English Proficiency - Future Students

A waiver request is available on the application for applicants who have studied at an English‑medium university for at least one year, or who have lived in an English‑speaking country for at least four years.

✓ Your application will also require an up‑to‑date transcript from your home institution that confirms you are in good standing.

✓ You must also obtain a letter from your home institution confirming their approval for you to visit McMaster for a research placement or observership.

Page 1 of 6

Academic Information

( * indicates required information)

Name of HOME Institution

Confirm HOME Institution City and Country

Program of Study

Degree Title

Faculty / Department

HOME Institution Supervisor or Officer Information

If you do not have a direct supervisor at your home institution, please provide the most appropriate university contact instead, such as a faculty advisor, department chair, or program administrator.

HOME Supervisor/Officer First Name

HOME Supervisor/Officer Last Name

HOME Supervisor/Officer Faculty & Department

HOME Supervisor/Officer Email

HOME Supervisor/Officer Phone Number

Sign-Off on HOME Institution Supervisor or Officer Approval (check the box)

I confirm that my home institution supervisor or officer is aware of this information and has agreed to all of the details provided above.

Page 2 of 6

Supporting Documents

( * indicates required information)

English Language Proficiency

The language of study and research at McMaster University is English. You must submit an English Language Proficiency test accepted by McMaster. Your test scores must meet the minimum requirements for undergraduate programs, as outlined here: English Proficiency - Future Students

I wish to be considered for a waiver of this test requirement.

English Language Proficiency Test

PDF or Word, under 50 MB ONLY

Exemption is not automatic and is granted at the discretion of University Undergraduate Admissions. Please answer honestly so we can determine whether you may be eligible for waiver consideration.

Have you attended, in full-time academic studies, an accredited English medium University for at least one year immediately prior to the anticipated start date of your placement at McMaster?

Yes

Have you resided in an English speaking country for at least four years immediately prior to the anticipated start date of your placement at McMaster?

Yes

As it turns out, you are not eligible for consideration of a test waiver. Please upload an approved English Language Proficiency test as required above.

You are eligible for consideration of your test waiver request.

In place of your test results, please upload or enter the details that support your waiver eligibility.

PDF or Word, under 50 MB ONLY

Or, type or copy-and-paste your document here:

Up-to-Date Transcript

Your application will also require an up‑to‑date transcript from your home institution that confirms you are in good standing. This transcript may be either official or unofficial.

Up-to-Date Transcript (Official or Unofficial)

PDF or Word, under 50 MB ONLY

HOME Institution Letter of Confirmation / Permission

You must also obtain a letter from your home institution confirming their approval for you to visit McMaster for a research placement or observership.

HOME Institution Letter of Confirmation / Permission

PDF or Word, under 50 MB ONLY

Research Placement or Observership

Page 3 of 6

Funding

( * indicates required information)

Funding Source

Government Scholarship Program

Please describe the nature of your McMaster Funding Source

Please provide any relevant details about your Funding Source

Research Project or Observership Information

( * indicates required information)

Below, you will enter the information for your Host Supervisor. This is the McMaster faculty member whose research you will support or whose work you will observe during your placement. Identifying a McMaster supervisor is the responsibility of the candidate.

HOST Supervisor First Name

HOST Supervisor Last Name

HOST Supervisor Faculty & Department

HOST Supervisor McMaster Email

HOST Supervisor Phone Number

Description of the research or observership (objectives and responsibilities) and how this placement relates to your program of study.

Sign-Off on HOST Supervisor Approval (check the box)

I confirm that my McMaster Host Supervisor is aware of, and has agreed to all of the above information.

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Location and Dates

( * indicates required information)

Location(s) of the Research or Observership

In-Person Basis Start Date

In-Person Basis End Date

Days between Start/End Dates

🛑 ERROR: Your End Date must be later than your Start Date.

🛑 ERROR: Your Start Date cannot be in the past.

⚠️Please note: Longer placements may affect the status and travel documents required to enter Canada. If you are unsure whether your placement could be impacted, please contact visiting@mcmaster.ca for guidance. You may continue with your submission.

Remote Basis Start Date

Remote Basis End Date

Days between Start/End Dates

🛑 ERROR: Your End Date must be later than your Start Date.

🛑 ERROR: Your Start Date cannot be in the past.

Obligations and Responsibilities

Page 5 of 6

( * indicates required information)

Please review the following:

Research Ethics

Having the appropriate ethics certifications and approvals may be required before you can participate in a research placement or observership. You can learn more on the McMaster Research and Innovation website by clicking here.

Sign-Off on Ethics Requirements (check the box)

I agree to follow any ethics awareness or certification process as instructed by my host supervisor.

Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities

'The Code' reinforces McMaster’s commitment to foster an ethical, safe, inclusive and fair campus environment that is conducive to learning and that values integrity, inclusiveness and teamwork. You can learn more and download a PDF copy of the complete code by clicking here.

Sign-Off on 'The Code' (check the box)

I understand that I have an obligation to familiarize myself with 'The Code' as it applies to the Undergraduate Visiting Researcher role in order to ensure I am aware of my Rights and Responsibilities to the McMaster University Community.

Performing Research in Canada

As a Canadian university, much of the research conducted at McMaster is subject to federal guidelines and oversight through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). You can learn more about research in Canada by clicking here.

Sign-Off on Governance (check the box)

I acknowledge that the Government of Canada sets standards and policies that influence research conducted at McMaster University.

About you...

(You may learn more about the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by clicking here.)

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Contact Information

( * indicates required information)

CANDIDATES: Please enter your name and sex exactly as they appear on the passport or travel documents you will use to enter Canada.

Last / Family Name

First / Given Name

Middle Name

Sex

Date of Birth

Phone Number

PREFERRED Email Address

ALTERNATE Email Address

Status in Canada

Country of Citizenship (HOME)

Please contact visiting@mcmaster.ca if you need more information on the status or travel documents you'll need to visit Canada.

I have a preferred first name that is different from the first name provided above.

Preferred First Name

Permanent Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Mailing Address

Same as Permanent Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

FINAL SIGN-OFF AND REVIEW

In completing this application, you have already confirmed the following:

✅ Home institution supervisor or officer approval of the details provided in the Academic Information section.

✅ McMaster supervisor willingness to host, and agreement on the details provided in the Research Project or Observership Information section.

✅ Your commitment to follow any Ethics awareness or certification process as instructed by your host supervisor.

✅ That you understand your obligation to familiarize yourself with “The Code” as it applies to the Undergraduate Visiting Researcher role, including your rights and responsibilities within the McMaster University community.

✅ Your acknowledgement that the Government of Canada sets standards and policies that impact research at McMaster University.

(Use the Back button below if you' d like to update or verify your entries before submission.)

FINAL SIGN-OFF: I confirm that the information provided in this application is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false statements may affect my application.

Yes, see my digital signature below

Click to Sign...

⚠️ One final note before you submit. Your permanent and mailing addresses will be verified when you click Submit. If the system cannot validate your address, you will be given the option to fix the address or skip validation. Please choose Fix if the system’s suggestion is accurate, or Skip if you are confident that the address you entered is correct.