What is a McMaster Student ID card?
Your ID card identifies you as a McMaster University student: it displays your student number, name, photo, and contains an encoded magnetic strip. You will be able to use this card to obtain a variety of University services.
Please note: your card remains the property of McMaster University and if you cease to be a McMaster student, the card must be returned to the Office of the Registrar.
Why do I need one?
Your McMaster Photo ID identifies you as a McMaster University student and permits you access to services on campus or online. In addition, you must present your student card in the Registrar’s Office to make inquiries about your personal academic record.
Exams
McMaster student photo ID cards are required at all examinations as the method of identification.
In-person exams
- If you seat yourself at an exam without a student ID card, you will be asked for a valid piece of government photo ID.
- If you arrive without any identification, you will be required (before being seated) to obtain a single-use supplementary photo ID. A $30.00 fee is applied to your student account. No extension of the examination will be permitted to compensate for any delay encountered to obtain a temporary ID.
- The supplementary photo ID is available in IWC B122, a half hour before and after the exam start time.
Where can I use my card on campus?
Library Card: The bar code on the card will enable you to borrow materials through the McMaster Library system and access the digital collections.
University Campus Store: Your card can be used as a charge card at the Campus Store.
Recreation Card: You can use your ID card to access the David Braley Athletic Centre. In addition, your ID card entitles you to the discounted McMaster student rate for admission to varsity sports competitions and for the purchase of additional services.
Hospitality Services: The McMaster student ID card is a meal card for those living in residence. Off-campus students may elect to put money on their card to be used at on-campus and select off-campus dining locations. Please contact Hospitality Services for more information.
Student card pick-up
Requirements to pick up your student card:
- Acceptable photo uploaded to Mosaic (Student Center > Personal Information > Demographics)
- Government photo ID (driver’s license, PR card, passport etc.)
- Course enrolment in fall and winter terms
- First card is free of charge. Replacement cards are $30.
If you have uploaded a photo, visit RO Student Services in Gilmour Hall, 108 to pick-up your card.
If you are an international undergraduate Level 1 student, you can pick up your card in the Student Success Centre, Gilmour Hall 110.
If you live in residence, visit MacExpress in Commons 115 to have your student card printed. Your meal plan is pre-loaded to the student card.
Photo requirements
Still haven’t uploaded your photo? Please do so ASAP! Upload your photo through Mosaic Student Centre > Personal Information > Demographics.
To be considered acceptable, your uploaded photo must:
- Be recent and similar to a passport photo (head shot only, looking straight into the camera)
- Have a neutral or smiling expression
- Be in colour, in focus and of good quality (scanned photos of your driver’s license, passport or health card are not acceptable)
- Be on an uncluttered background and of you alone (no other people or animals permitted in photo)
- Not contain props (i.e. hats, sunglasses or graduation caps)
Maximum file size of your photo must be 3MB or less to be successfully uploaded. - If you are a graduate students or former McMaster student with a student card from your McMaster undergraduate years, you must upload a new photo in Mosaic. Please visit the Registrar’s Office to have the old photo deleted from Mosaic and a new card printed. The first student card for graduate students is free of charge.
Uploaded photos not meeting the above criteria will be deleted, resulting in delays in receiving your student card.
Having issues uploading?
- Check your file size. If your jpg image is too big, you will get a generic error message. The file should be less than 3MB in size. Try picking a different picture with a smaller file size or resize your image in Paint or Photoshop.
Photo upload button not active or you need to upload your photo again?
- Contact us through our online chat, available at the bottom right corner of any page on this website during operating hours. A button will appear that says “Chat with us now”. Connect with a Student Service Professional Monday to Thursday between 10am and 3:30pm. MAC our chatbot is available to assist you 24-7!
- Open the photo in a photo editing software and ‘save as’ a jpg file and make sure the size is less than 3 MB. Please do not simply rename the photo file from .jpeg to .jpg, this will not change the file format.
- Before uploading the photo, clear your browser cache and/or change browsers (Chrome, Firefox or Edge) to try again.
What if it’s lost or stolen?
If your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the Student Services in Gilmour Hall 108 to have the card invalidated. Replacement cards can be created for a $30 fee.
Replacement cards
If you have lost your card, you can request a new card by following the instructions below:
- Make a payment of $30 to your McMaster student account via online banking.
- Join the virtual line to pick-up your new student card in GH-108.
- Wait for a text message inviting you to the office to pick-up your card.
- Don’t forget your government photo ID.
