McMaster University
McMaster University is one of Canada’s leading universities, located in Hamilton, Ontario. Established in 1887 it is one of four Canadian universities to have been granted university status since then. In addition to its impressive academic offerings, McMaster also has a remarkable history of community service and activism.
The name of McMaster University was selected after William McMaster, the founder of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and prominent philanthropist. He donated money to start a Methodist college in Toronto, and his family kept the name when the college was moved to Hamilton.
McMaster has two main campuses: one in the west end of Hamilton, and the other in nearby Burlington. The student body at McMaster is currently estimated to be around 30,000, with over 24,500 undergraduate and almost 4,500 graduate students. The university is low-ratio, meaning that faculty members teach fewer students than their counterparts at many other large universities. This makes the student-teacher ratio at McMaster quite high, giving each student the opportunity to develop closer ties with the professors and research staff.
McMaster is renowned for its focus on research, and houses more than 15 research centres and institutes. Their wide range of studies span topics such as health sciences, business, engineering, and the humanities.
Undergraduate students have opportunities to take part in co-op placements, study abroad programs, and seminars. Graduate students are given a wide variety of options for learning and research, having access to the universitys expertise and resources. Alumni of McMaster University can be found in every corner of the world, with former students in every profession from finance and engineering to law and science.
McMaster University has a rich history of activism, having been at the forefront of protests against apartheid, taking a stance against tobacco companies, and fighting for social rights. The Landmark committee was founded in 2014 to increase awareness of the legacy and values of the university, and enables students to think critically about their involvement with the world around them.
As with any large university, there are bound to be challenges to overcome. One issue that is facing McMaster is its ongoing battle with student and faculty housing availability. The university is located in Hamilton, a city with high rents and scarce housing opportunities. This has made it difficult for some students to live close to the university, and it has also put strain on the university’s housing services department.
Despite these challenges, McMaster is standing firm as one of Canada’s leading universities. With a combination of academic excellence, community involvement, and student-driven initiatives, McMaster continues to be a place of learning, growth, and discovery.
