What is a McMaster Student ID card?
A unique card that displays your student number, name, photo, and contains an encoded magnetic strip that identifies you as a McMaster University student.
Your McMaster Student ID Card remains the property of McMaster University. If you cease to be a McMaster student, the card must be returned to the Office of the Registrar in Gilmour Hall 108.
- To identify yourself as a McMaster University student when sitting exams or making inquiries about your personal academic record
- To access and pay for various services on campus
Exams
- McMaster Student ID Cards are required at all examinations as a method of identification.
- If you seat yourself at an exam without a McMaster 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 will be applied to your student account which is due for payment in 30 days. No extension of the examination will be permitted to compensate for any delay encountered in obtaining a supplementary photo ID.
- The supplementary photo ID is available in IWC B122, a half hour before and after the exam start time.
With your McMaster Student ID Card, you can do the following:
Access Services: You can use your McMaster Student ID Card to access various services on campus, including:
- Borrowing materials and accessing digital collections at McMaster libraries
- Accessing recreation services, facilities and events
Make Payments: Your McMaster Student ID Card can be used for making payments on campus. Some of the services you can pay for with your card include:
- Food at on-campus, and select off-campus, dining locations
- Merchandise at the Campus Store
- Print on-campus
Please note: your student card has different “accounts” that are used to pay for different services on campus. For example, the Meal Plan account is used to pay for food services, while your Retail Operations Account can be used to pay for other services such as merchandise at the Campus Store. Learn how to add funds to your accounts, here.
Where to pick-up your McMaster Student ID Card
International Undergraduate Students
- If you uploaded your photo by August 11, please pick-up your card in International Student Services, MUSC B118.
- If you uploaded your photo after August 11, please visit the Registrar’s Office, Student Services, GH-108 to have your card printed.
Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Visit the Registrar’s Office, Gilmour Hall, 108 to pick up your McMaster Student ID Card. Scan the QR code on our website or at the office to be placed in line. Please ensure that your photo is uploaded prior to joining the line.
McMaster Continuing Education Students
MCE students can upload a photo to Mosaic and visit the Registrar’ Office in Gilmour Hall, 108 to have their card printed. There is a $30 payment to the student account required.
Instructions
- Log in to Mosaic
- Navigate to the “Student Center” tile
- Navigate to “Personal Information” and then to the “Demographic Data” section
- Select the “Upload Photo” button
- Navigate to a headshot on your device
- Select “Upload”
Photo requirements
Uploaded photos must be:
- Recent
- Similar to a passport photo (headshot only, looking straight into the camera)
- Have a neutral or smiling expression
- In colour
- In focus
- Good quality (scanned photos of your driver’s license, passport or health card are not acceptable)
- Shot on an uncluttered background
- Of you alone (people, animals, props or accessories like hats, sunglasses or graduation caps are not permitted)
- 3MB or less
- Photos must be ‘.jpg’ format
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.
- 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.
- If your photo upload button is greyed out you need to contact us through our online chat to delete your existing photo before uploading a new one.
If you are a graduate student or former McMaster student with a student ID card from your McMaster undergraduate years, you must upload a new photo in Mosaic. Please contact Student Services to have the old photo deleted from Mosaic and a new student ID card printed. The first student ID card for graduate students is free of charge.
If you require a replacement ID card from June 12 to August 25, 2023, complete steps one and two from the following list and then pick up your new card between August 25 and 27, 2023 in MUSC.
After August 27, 2023, ID card printing will return to Gilmour Hall 108. If you have an immediate need for your ID card (i.e., meal plan, gym, exams) please visit GH 108.
Replace your McMaster Student ID Card
If your McMaster Student ID Card is lost or stolen, connect with Student Services in Gilmour Hall 108 to see if it has been turned in. If it has not been turned in, the following steps will help you request a replacement.
- Deactivate your card by logging into your account or connecting with Student Services.
- Join the virtual line to pick up your new McMaster Student ID Card in Gilmour Hall 108.
- Wait for a text message inviting you to the office to pick up your card.
- Bring government-issued photo ID to your appointment.
- When you receive your card, a $30 fee will be applied to your Student Account which is due in 30 days. You can make a payment to your McMaster Student account via online banking.
- Visit MacExpress in Commons 115 to have your meal plan loaded onto the replacement student ID card.
How to deactivate/reactivate your McMaster Student ID Card
Understanding your McMaster Student ID Card balances
It’s important to differentiate between your Retail Operations balance and your Meal Plan balance. Here’s what you need to know:
- Retail Operations balance: This balance can be used to pay for various services on campus such as merchandise at the Campus Store.
- Meal Plan balance: Your Basic and Flex balances are part of your meal plan and are subject to the restrictions outlined on the Meal Plan FAQs page.
To add funds to your Retail Operations balance, you have three convenient options:
1. Credit or Visa Debit: You can easily add value to your account using your Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card. Sign into the account management page online using your MacID and password and follow the prompts.
If you need assistance, you can watch the following how-to video.
2. In-Person Deposits: Alternatively, you can visit the MacExpress Office and make a deposit in person. Deposits made in person will be instantly applied to your account.
3. Family and supporter contributions: If you have family and supporters that wish to add money to your McMaster Student ID Card, they can easily do so online. They can use a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit to add money. They’ll need your student card and the first three letters of your first name. The following video is a step-by-step tutorial.
Visit the Hospitality page for more information on your meal plan balances. For information on the refund policy, please visit the Hospitality page.
