McMaster provides support to many under-represented groups and enhances this with mentoring, scholarships, and targeted programs. These includes multiple access schemes specifically designed for female students, including financial aid and free programs. 

Scholarships and bursaries 

McMaster University awarded more than $11.6 million in scholarships to females in 2021-22. For context more than $7.4 million in scholarships were awarded to males that academic year. As well, females received more than $7.4 million in bursaries, compared to $6.6 million granted to males.

Scholarships and bursaries are available based on a wide range of criteria to encourage women to study in a variety of areas and to envision multiple career paths. These scholarships include:

• Adella Margaret Bragg Scholarship: An undergraduate scholarship for Indigenous females from Six Nations Grand River Territory
• Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship: Encourages women to enter the Canadian capital markets
• Women Engineering Scholarships: Four awards, each valued up to $3,000, to female graduate students to enhance their professional development through conferences and workshops on the issues of gender equity and equality
• Gender Equity in Engineering Travel Award
• Bank of Canada Master’s Scholarship Award for Women in Economics and Finance
• The Zonta Women’s Club of Hamilton Scholarship and Kathryn Ann Williamson Bursary: MBA in-course financial aid
• EMBA Women in Leadership Scholarship for community leadership in business
• EER Reeves Scholarships: Helps female students in English and History with travel costs associated with doctoral research.
• General Motors Entrance Scholarship: Variable number awarded to female students in Engineering.
• Yves and Cynthia Bled Canadian Future Achievers Award for Women in Engineering
• Daughters for Life Foundation: Provides young female scholars from the Middle East, including Israel, funding to pursue their Higher Education in Canada