Order e-transcripts, narratives, transcript supplements, verification letters/forms and diploma replacements using Parchment. More information for employers and third parties is available on the Services webpage.
How does Parchment work?
Parchment Ordering Services uses Adobe Blue Ribbon Certification to securely send your credential to you or a third party such as an educational institution or employer. The credential is tamper-proof, displaying the adobe blue ribbon certification symbol.
When setting up your account, please make sure you have all the required personal identifiers (name, birthdate, student id, last four digits of your SIN). The system will automatically pull your official transcript data and send it to the destination of your choice within 1-2 hours. Diplomas and letters are processed manually.
To request a replacement or duplicate of your parchment or diploma, please submit a Parchment order. Duplicate diplomas are issued in the current format with the original name at the time of convocation. Please return the original (if applicable) to the address below for another parchment to be issued.
Where do I send my damaged diploma?
McMaster University
Office of the Registrar, Student Services
Gilmour Hall, 108
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8
How much does it cost for a replacement or duplicate of my parchment or diploma?
The replacement or duplicate diploma fee is approximately $37.50 USD ($50 CDN) based on the current exchange rate.
Can I have it couriered or pick it up?
You can either pick up your diploma on campus in Gilmour Hall, 108, RO Student Services or have it couriered via FedEx.
Courier fees (based on current exchange rate):
Within Canada – $22.50 USD ($30 CDN)
International – $75.00 USD ($100 CDN)
Please note that the replacement fee and the courier fee are combined for one transaction on your credit card.
How long will it take to receive it?
Please allow 7 business days to issue a new parchment/diploma. The Registrar’s Office uses overnight courier via FedEx to most Canadian provinces and the continental United States of America. International delivery timelines vary. Please check our office hours if you would like to pick up your diploma.
What if I have a legal name change?
Please submit your request for a name change via Mosaic Service Request before requesting the replacement diploma.
How do I receive my original diploma if I didn’t attend my convocation ceremony?
If you graduated in Spring 2024, your diploma is on file in RO Student Services, GH-108. Please submit a Mosaic Service Request using the Diploma Delivery form to pick-up or have your diploma couriered.
Note for spring 2024 graduates, if you completed the convocation form in and requested courier, your diploma will be mailed out at the end of June. You are not required to submit a Service Request in Mosaic.
Parchment e-Transcripts
We now use Parchment Ordering Services, a secure and easy way to order an official McMaster e-transcript and/or enrolment letter.
When setting up your Parchment account, make sure you have provided all the required personal identifiers (full name, date of birth, student ID and the last four digits of your social insurance number). The system will automatically pull your official transcript and send it to the email destination of your choice. The email is sent using Blue Ribbon Certification technology and is a secure way to transfer your credentials.
Please note that if you are applying for a program through OUAC, you will need to submit a transcript request via the OUAC Application Centre. PDF transcripts from Parchment are not accepted.
If you are waiting for your transcript to note your degree awarded, please check your unofficial transcript in Mosaic prior to submitting the order in Parchment.
What is the processing time for e-Transcripts?
The e-transcript will be sent out within 1-2 hours when the authentication process is completed. If the system cannot identify your student record, RO Student Services will review your order and manually pull your transcript based on the information provided. Please allow 3 business days for processing.
The Transcript with Supplement is a manual process and requires 3-5 business days for processing.
What is the difference between e-Transcript and Transcript with Supplement?
Most students and alumni will use the e-Transcript order to request their official transcript.
Students/alumni in the following programs will use the Transcript with Supplement order:
- Physician Assistant
- Medicine
- Bachelor of Technology – Software Engineering Technology
- Integrated Science
Orders from alumni outside of these four programs will be cancelled and money refunded. Please avoid the delay and select e-Transcript.
Can an attachment be included with the e-transcript?
Please upload your cover letter or attachment when requesting your e-transcript and it will be included in the email to the recipient.
What are the next steps after placing the order?
- Always make sure you have logged out of your session.
- Check the status of your order in Parchment. You will receive a message if we cannot authenticate your identity.
- If the transcript is being sent to you, check your email for your e-transcript from Parchment.
How do I request an official paper transcript?
We encourage all alumni to use Parchment e-transcripts but in some situations, a sealed official paper transcript is mandatory. Mosaic access is required. Once you have access to Mosaic, you will need to follow these steps to order.
Alumni may request a verification letter from McMaster University to verify their degree or educational information. There are two options:
Mosaic Letters via Download & Email
By accessing Mosaic, alumni can download or email a verification letter to a third party. This is the fastest way to verify your degree awarded and educational information. More information about the types of letters available and how to use Mosaic is available.
Parchment Custom Verification Letters & Forms
If a standard letter does not suffice, please submit an order in Parchment. There is a $30USD fee per order. Please check Parchment and your email for the status of your order. If you would like your letter mailed to a third party via Canada Post, please add the mailing address to the special instructions text box or explain your request in a document and upload it to your order in Parchment. Please allow 10-15 days for processing.
Forms
If you need to have a form completed by the Registrar’s Office, please upload/attach the form to your Parchment order. Your form will be completed and delivered via Parchment. If you would like your form mailed to a third party via Canada Post, please add the mailing address to the special instructions text box or upload a document to your order in Parchment. Please allow 10-15 days for processing.
Authentication / Apostillation of Documents
Foreign Governments and organizations sometimes require documents be authenticated before they will accept them. For information about how to have Canadian documents authenticated so that they will be accepted for use abroad, please visit the Global Affairs Canada website and/or the Government of Ontario website.
Please note that as of January 11, 2024, Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention), a multilateral treaty, the main purpose of which is to facilitate the circulation of public documents (e.g., birth certificates, corporate powers of attorney, diplomas etc.) issued by one country to be used in another country.
If you are travelling to a Hague signatory country, your authenticated documents will be issued apostilles which may not require further legalization at consulates or embassies. Please check with the relevant consulate, embassy, and end destination recipient for their document requirements.
Download and share your McMaster University e-Diploma
Are you a McMaster graduate from Spring 2024 who wants to download their e-Diploma? Follow the steps below.
If you are a graduate prior to 2024, hold tight because we will be sending you information on how to download your e-Diplomas soon.
- Visit diplomas.mcmaster.ca and select the “Download” button.
- Log in with your MacID. Having troubles with your MacID? Get help here.
- Select the size and format that you would like to generate.
- Save the pdf to your device and share the way you would any other document.
Verify a McMaster University e-Diploma
Are looking to verify the validity of a diploma that was given to you from a McMaster graduate? Follow the steps below.
- Visit diplomas.mcmaster.ca and select the “Verify” button.
- Select the way you would like to verify the e-Diploma: scan the QR code on the e-Diploma OR upload a PDF of an e-Diploma
- If you chose “Scan the QR code on the e-diploma”:
- Give the “diplomas.mcmaster.ca” permission to access your camera
- Hold the camera up to the QR code on a physical or PDF copy of the e-Diploma.
- A message will appear indicating whether the e-Diploma is valid or not.
- If you chose “Upload the e-diploma pdf file”:
- If you chose “Upload the e-diploma pdf file”:
- Select the pdf file from your files.
- A message will appear indicating whether the e-Diploma is valid or not.
- If you chose “Scan the QR code on the e-diploma”:
Earlier versions of digital diplomas, including those hosted on the blockchain, have been decommissioned.
