What is a transcript?
A transcript is a copy of your permanent academic record at McMaster University, duly certified by the Registrar’s signature and the University crest on all pages. Transcripts are privileged information and are available by submitting a request via Mosaic. Electronic official Transcripts can be requested through Parchment.
What appears on my transcript?
A transcript reflects the current status of your student record at the time it is issued. Please ensure that any changes to the transcript are recorded by reviewing your unofficial transcript before ordering a transcript.
Your transcript provides such information as your courses and grades, term averages, awards and scholarships, and degree(s) awarded and conferral date following your convocation ceremony.
Your transcript will not display a cumulative GPA.
How will my transcript be delivered?
- McMaster offers official transcripts sent electronically though Parchment Ordering Services. This is the quickest way to get your official transcript delivered to your email recipient of choice.
- See the chart below to review options for types of transcript requests and processing details. Processing times do not include delivery. Canada Post does not offer tracking information; please check their website for estimated delivery timelines. FedEx is typically the next business day in Canada. International timelines may vary.
Other things to note
- Transcripts are available to current students and alumni who have no financial holds on their record.
- Ontario University Applications Centre (OUAC) does not accept e-transcripts. These requests must be made directly in OUAC.
- Divinity students can order an e-transcript through Parchment only if they are enrolled in either the Master of Divinity or Master of Theological Studies program. All other Divinity students and alumni are encouraged to contact divreg@mcmaster.ca
Types of transcript requests
| Type of transcript | Processing time | Delivery Method | Cost | Link/form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official e-transcript | Up to 3 business days | Secure email hosted by Parchment Ordering Services © | $2.37 US ($3.00 CDN) | |
| Official paper transcript | On-hold due to postal strike with Canada Post | On-hold due to postal strike with Canada Post | Free | |
| Official paper transcript (Courier) *costs vary depending upon destination | 1-3 business days | FedEx (next business day after printing) | $30 CAD | |
| Unofficial | Immediate | Download copy through Mosaic Student Center (access required) | Free |
The Registrar’s Office is not responsible for transcripts lost or delayed in the mail. The Registrar’s Office will not process transcript requests sent via email or by fax using the outdated form.
What is a transcript attachment?
A transcript attachment is a document that you need to include with your transcript request, such as a third party form for application tracking, or educational verification. Correspondence initiated by the student to the transcript recipient is not classified as an attachment and will not be sent with the official transcript.
If you are requesting an e-transcript via Parchment, please upload your cover letter/attachment when ordering your transcript and it will be included in the email to the recipient.
If you are requesting a hardcopy of your transcript to be mailed out, please submit a Mosaic Service Request and attach the cover letter to be delivered with your official McMaster transcript.
What is a medical narrative?
A medical narrative is a detailed summary of a student’s performance in McMaster’s undergraduate Medicine program (M.D.). This can be included in addition to the standard official McMaster transcript.
If you are requesting an e-transcript in Parchment, select ‘Transcript with Supplement’ in Parchment and submit your order. Your official McMaster e-transcript and medical narrative will be sent to you or another desired third-party. All credentials display the blue-ribbon certification symbol.
If you are requesting a hardcopy of your transcript to be mailed out, your medical narrative will automatically be included with the request.
How to request an official transcript (current students and recent alumni)
In your Student Center, select the other academic drop down menu and select “Transcript: Request Official”. Use the “next” arrow.
Select your processing options:
- E-transcript (Parchment)
- Mail (Canada Post)
- Courier (FedEx)
Click the first tab (Types of Requests) to review our current processing times.
Quantity: You can order a maximum of three transcripts per address for Canada Post mailings.
If ordering by mail, enter the recipient’s address.
If you would like it sent to yourself and your address is up to date in Mosaic then you can check off ‘Send To My Address’ and your address will populate.
If you wish to have it sent it to a different address, enter the person or organization’s name in the ‘Send To’ field and then go to Edit Address. Fill out the exact address to which you would like it sent. After you’re done, click OK.
Select submit. You’re all done! If you have selected an option that requires payment, then you will be taken to Moneris to pay for your request.
If you are ordering an e-transcript via Parchment, please remember to log out of your Parchment and Microsoft 365 session.
McMaster transcript legend
This page outlines McMaster’s transcript legend used after March 2015. The legend changed in 2015 to reflect changes in academic terminology as a result of the Mosaic implementation.
Undergraduate, Centre for Continuing Education, and Independent Careers Grading Scale
(Effective September 1982)
| Grade | Points | Equivalent percentages |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 12 | 90-100 |
| A | 11 | 85-89 |
| A- | 10 | 80-84 |
| B+ | 9 | 77-79 |
| B | 8 | 73-76 |
| B- | 7 | 70-72 |
| C+ | 6 | 67-69 |
| C | 5 | 63-66 |
| C- | 4 | 60-62 |
| D+ | 3 | 57-59 |
| D | 2 | 53-56 |
| D- | 1 | 50-52 |
| F | 0 | 0-49 |
Graduation with Distinction: based on a minimum of 9.5 GPA over the entire program of study.
Deans’ Honour List: based on a minimum 9.5 GPA on at least 30 units since last assessed.
Provost Honour Roll: based on a 12.0 GPA on at least 30 units since last assessed.
Course Credit: courses are rated in terms of units. A unit normally consists of one lecture hour per week per term or one laboratory period of not less than two and not more than three hours per week per term.
Graduate Studies Grading Scale
(effective September 2012 for MBA and September 2002 for other graduate programs)
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 12 |
| A | 11 |
| A- | 10 |
| B+ | 9 |
| B | 8 |
| B- | 7 |
| F | 0 |
Current Graduate Course Designation:
Graduate courses are designated to count towards the student’s primary academic program, unless the student has identified the course to count for another program, using a requirements designation.
Master of Theological Studies & Master of Divinity Grading Scale
(Effective September 1982)
| Grade | Points | Equivalent percentages |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 12 | 90-100 |
| A | 11 | 85-89 |
| A- | 10 | 80-84 |
| B+ | 9 | 77-79 |
| B | 8 | 73-76 |
| B- | 7 | 70-72 |
| C+ | 6 | 67-69 |
| C | 5 | 63-66 |
| C- | 4 | 60-62 |
| D+ | 0 | 57-59 |
| D | 0 | 53-56 |
| D- | 0 | 50-52 |
| F | 0 | 0-49 |
Dean’s Honour List is based on a minimum 9.5 GPA on at least 27 units. Students who continue to achieve a 9.5 GPA will remain on the Dean’s Honour List.
Non-Numeric Grades
AS – Advanced Standing
AUD – Audit
CAN – Cancelled
F – Fail
INC – Incomplete
IP – In Progress
LWD – Late Withdrawal
MT – Multi-Term
NC – No Credit
NMR – No Mark Received
P – Pass
P+ – Pass with Distinction
SAT – Satisfactory
T – Transfer Credit
U/S – Unsatisfactory
W – Withdrawn
XCH – Exchange
Term Average
Term Grade Point Average (Term GPA) is a weighted average based on the grades obtained in courses taken in a given term within the same career at McMaster University.
Notations
DEF – Deferred Examination
EXTRA – Extra credits not used towards degree
REPEAT – Repeat of a previously failed course (under discontinued repeat regulations)
UPGRADE – Repeat of a previously passed course (under discontinued repeat regulations)
(R) – Repeat of a previous course (under current repeat regulations)
LOP – Course taken at another institution
McMaster University MD Program
Curriculum Outline
Pre-Clerkship = 61 weeks
- Medical Foundation 1 – 11 weeks
- Introduction to Medicine
- Respirology
- Cardiology
- Medical Foundation 2 – 8 weeks
- Hematology
- Introduction to Oncology
- Renal System; Acid Base
- Family Medicine Clinical Experience – Longitudinally during Pre-Clerkship
- Medical Foundation 3 – 12 weeks
- Gastroenterology
- Nutrition
- Endocrinology
- Reproduction
- Medical Foundation 4 – 12 weeks
- Musculoskeletal System
- Neuroscience
- Brain & Behaviour
- Post Medical Foundation 4 Elective – 7 weeks
- Integration foundation – 12 weeks
- Systems Review
- Complex & Chronic Care (immunology, infectious disease, neoplasia)
Clerkship = 63 weeks
- Electives (17 weeks)
- Anesthesia (2 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
- Family Medicine (6 weeks)
- Medical Subspecialty (2 weeks)
- Medicine (6 weeks)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)
- Orthopedic Surgery (2 weeks)
- Pediatrics (6 weeks)
- Psychiatry (6 weeks)
- Surgery (6 weeks)
Concept Integration and Review (6 weeks)
- Linking basic concepts to clinical decision-making
Professional Competencies Curriculum
- Longitudinally across entire program
Interprofessional Competencies
Pre-Clerkship = 61 weeks
- Medical Foundation 1 – 13 weeks
- Oxygen Supply and Demand
- Medical Foundation 2 – 9 weeks
- Energy and Metabolic Homeostasis
- Family Medicine Clinical Experience – Longitudinally during Pre-Clerkship
- Medical Foundation 3 – 9 weeks
- Renal System
- Acid Base
- Reproduction
- Genetics
- Medical Foundation 4 – 10 weeks
- Host Defense
- Neoplasia
- Genetics
- Post Medical Foundation 4 Elective – 7 weeks
- Medical foundation 5 – 13 weeks
- Movement Control
- Interactivity and Communication
- Locomotor System
- Nervous System
- Behaviour
Clerkship = 63 weeks
- Electives (17 weeks)
- Anesthesia (2 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
- Family Medicine (6 weeks)
- Medical Subspecialty (2 weeks)
- Medicine (6 weeks)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)
- Orthopedic Surgery (2 weeks)
- Pediatrics (6 weeks)
- Psychiatry (6 weeks)
- Surgery (6 weeks)
Concept Integration and Review (6 weeks)
- Linking basic concepts to clinical decision-making
Professional Competencies Curriculum
- Longitudinally across entire program
Interprofessional Competencies
McMaster University Physician Assistant Education Program Curriculum Outline
Physician Assistant Education Program: Transcript Legend (updated September 2021)
Year 1 Pre-Clerkship = 48 weeks
- Medical Foundation 1 = 14 weeks
- Respirology
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Medical Foundation 2 = 13 weeks
- GI & Nutrition
- Endo & Metabolism
- Renal
- Reproduction
- Medical Foundation 3a = 11 weeks
- Host Defense
- Neoplasia
- MSK
- Medical Foundation 3b = 7 weeks
- Neurology
- Brain & Behaviour
Concurrently across Year 1: Interviewing, Examining and Reasoning (IER), including:
- Professional Competencies Curriculum
- Clinical Skills
- Medical Communications
- Longitudinal and short term clinical placements
Year 2, Clerkship = 48 weeks
| Effective 2018-current | Effective 2011 | Effective 2009 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Historical transcript legend
McMaster’s Transcript legend changed in 2015 to reflect changes in academic terminology as a result of the Mosaic implementation.
This page outlines the Transcript legend used prior to March 2015:
The official results of Undergraduate courses are reported as letter grades. The averages are calculated using the grade point scale shown. Instructors may submit the results of a course on a percentage scale. The Office of the Registrar is authorized to convert the percentage mark to the official letter grade as indicated in the equivalent percentage scale.
Undergraduate, Centre for Continuing Education, and Independent Careers Grading Scale
Effective September 1982 – March 2015
| Grade | Points | Equivalent percentages |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 12 | 90-100 |
| A | 11 | 85-89 |
| A- | 10 | 80-84 |
| B+ | 9 | 77-79 |
| B | 8 | 73-76 |
| B- | 7 | 70-72 |
| C+ | 6 | 67-69 |
| C | 5 | 63-66 |
| C- | 4 | 60-62 |
| D+ | 3 | 57-59 |
| D | 2 | 53-56 |
| D- | 1 | 50-52 |
| F | 0 | 0-49 |
For the purposes of satisfying prerequisite requirements a grade of at least D- is required unless otherwise stated.
Current Averages
Sessional Average (SA) is a weighted average based on all grades attained in a session. A weighted average of 9.5 is equivalent to first class standing.
Graduation with Distinction is based on a minimum of 9.5 average over the entire programme of study.
Deans’ Honour List standing is based on a minimum 9.5 average on at least 30 units since last assessed.
Provost Honour Roll is based on a 12.0 average on at least 30 units since last assessed.
Course Credit
Undergraduate courses are rated in terms of units. A unit normally consists of one lecture hour per week per term or one laboratory period of not less than two and not more than three hours per week per term.
Discontinued Grading Systems
Valid up to and including Summer School 1974
| Grade | Percentage range |
|---|---|
| 1 Grade | 75 – 100% |
| 2 Grade | 66 – 74% |
| 3 Grade | 60-65% |
| C | 50-59% |
| S Supplemental | 40-49% |
| Letter grade | Percentage range |
|---|---|
| A | 80 – 100% |
| B | 70 – 79% |
| C | 60 – 69% |
| D | 50 – 59% |
| E | 40 – 49% |
| F | 0 – 39% |
A final grade of E (40-49) may be accepted for credit on condition that the student has an overall weighted average of 55% and that the number of units with marks in the range of 40-49 does not constitute more than 20% of the units required for the Year. Otherwise final standings in this range will be treated as failures.
VR indicates that credit has been refused for this course. It will be counted as an attempt, but will not be included in the calculation of averages.
Discontinued Averages
The following averages were discontinued in September of 1993 when the University’s current Academic Regulations came into effect, except for those students who graduated in the Spring or Fall of 1994.
University Average (UA) is computed on the grades obtained in all courses since the last review of student standing.
Cumulative Area Average (CAA) is computed using the best 80% of the grades obtained in courses taken in the discipline beyond Level 1.
Graduation Average (GA) is used to determine the standing of a student at the time of graduation computed on the grades in a minimum number of courses taken in the discipline, depending on the programme taken.
Graduate Legend and Current Grading System
MBA September 2012 to March 2015
All Other Graduate Studies Programs September 2002 to Current
| Grade | Points | Pass/fail |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 12 | P+/P/F |
| A | 11 | |
| A- | 10 | |
| B+ | 9 | |
| B | 8 | |
| B- | 7 | |
| F | 0 |
Note: Grades in graduate courses are reported as letter grades. Averaging of letter grades must be done using the McMaster 12-point scale.
Discontinued Graduate Grading Systems
Graduate Studies from September 1982 to August 2002
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A+
A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- F |
P+
P F |
MBA From January 1970 to August 2012
| Mark | Pass/fail |
|---|---|
| A+ | 9 |
| A | 8 |
| A- | 7 |
| B+ | 6 |
| B | 5 |
| B- | 4 |
| C+ | 3 |
| C | 2 |
| C- | 1 |
| F | 0 |
Graduate Studies From January 1970 to August 1982
- I
- II(1) or IIII(2) or II – III
- C
- F
- J
MBA From January 1970 to August 2012
Official Grade / Class Standings
1 Class Standing
1 Class Standing
1 Class Standing
2+ Class Standing
2- Class Standing
3 Class Standing
3 Class Standing
3 Class Standing
3 Class Standing
F Failure
Graduate Studies Up to January 1970
I
II
III
C
F
J – Grades in the same subject in a
later session also covers this season
MBA Up to December 1969
700 level courses
| Mark | Grade |
|---|---|
| 1 Grade | 75 – 100% |
| 2 Grade | 66 – 74% |
| 3 Grade | 60 – 65% |
| F Failure | Below 60% |
600 level courses
| Mark | Grade |
|---|---|
| 1 Grade | 75 – 100% |
| 2 Grade | 66 – 74% |
| 3 Supplemental | 60 – 65% |
| F Failure | Below 60% |
Course Credit
Prior to September 1995, all MBA Courses consisted of a full session of study (12 weeks) represented by a blank “Credit” area on the transcript. From September 1995, MBA Courses vary in credit value and length; a full session course (12 weeks) is represented by a credit of 1.00; a half-session course (6 weeks) by a credit of 0.50.
Graduate Course Designations (to March 2015)
Graduate courses are rated as Full, Half or Quarter courses. An asterisk (*) denotes a Half Course. A pound (#) denotes a Quarter Course.
AUDStudent attended at least 80% of classes
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| CER | Graduate Certificate Course – effective September 2004 Passing Standard is: B- |
| D | Doctoral Graduate Course – effective September 2002 Passing standard is: B- |
| DIP | Graduate Diploma Course – effective September 2004 Passing standard is: B- |
| EC | Extra Course – effective September 2002 Passing standard is: B- |
| M | Master’s Graduate Course – effective September 2002 Passing Standard is: B- |
| PGC | Prescribed Graduate Course – discontinued August 2002 |
| PUC | Prerequisite Undergraduate Course – discontinued August 2002 |
| REC | Required Extra Course – discontinued August 2002 |
Abbreviations
- AEG – Aegrotat
- AUD – Audit
- CAN – Course Cancelled
- COM – Complete
- DEF – Deferred Examination
- DNW – Did not write
- EXC – Excellent
- E* – Credit Granted
- F* – Failure by default
- ILL – Illness
- INC – Incomplete
- IP – In progress
- MED – Not completed for medical reasons
- N/A – Not applicable
- NC – No Credit
- NMR – No marks/grades received at this time
- P – Passed
- P+ – Passed with distinction
- R – Repeat
- RR – Repeat or replace
- SAT – Satisfactory
- UNS – Unsatisfactory
- U/S – Unsatisfactory
- VR – Voluntary refusal of credit
Headings
- TM – Term in which course taken
- MEDIAN – Median grade/number of students in course
