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Institutional Research and Planning Surveys

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Current and Upcoming Surveys

Periodically we invite students, faculty and staff to participate in voluntary, confidential surveys to help McMaster provide better services and experiences for all of its members. Current and upcoming surveys are highlighted below.

Graduand Survey

Student Events

Jun 16, 2026 to Aug 3, 2026
12:00AM to 11:59PM

Expandable List

Post-Secondary Education (PSE) Sector-Wide Student Surveys

A selection of post-secondary education (PSE) sector-wide surveys that McMaster participates in are shown below. These regular annual surveys include but are not limited to the OUGS, NSSE, CGPSS, CUSC, CBIE and CCWS. The responses from surveys are held confidential, and they are analyzed and reported in aggregate by both the survey research company and IRA to benchmark measures related to student satisfaction and success against other participating PSE institutions.

The Ontario Universities’ Graduate Survey (OUGS) is a research initiative conducted by Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), in collaboration with Ontario universities and coordinated by the Ontario Universities’ Council on Quality Assurance (OUCQA) and Council of Ontario Universities (COU). The OUGS Survey collects data on graduate outcomes, more specifically, employment status, type of employment, income levels, additional education or training, and satisfaction with their institute. Graduates are surveyed 6 months and 2 years after completing their degree.   

To learn more, please visit https://ontariosuniversities.ca/reports/graduate-survey-2019.

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is a large-scale survey used by universities and colleges to assess the level of student engagement in effective educational practices. It is administered primarily to first–year and final-year undergraduate students to gather and benchmark information regarding how students spend their time, what they gain from attending university, how the institution is supporting their learning, and the quality of student engagement.  

To learn more, please visit http://nsse.indiana.edu/.

The CGPSS is a national survey conducted across Canadian universities to gather feedback from graduate (master’s and doctoral) students about their experiences in their academic programs. Graduate students in Master’s and PhD level programs are asked questions about the quality of academic experiences, professional development, academic and social environment, support services, and overall satisfaction. 

To learn more, please visit https://cags.ca/cgpss/.

CUSC is a collaborative national survey project involving Canadian universities that collects information directly from undergraduate students about their university experience, expectations, satisfaction, and student life. First year, middle year, and graduating students are surveyed. 

To learn more, please visit https://cusc-ccreu.ca/?lang=en.

The International Student Survey (ISS), conducted by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), is a national survey of international students studying at Canadian post-secondary institutions. It is conducted every few years, with the goal of understanding the international student experience in Canada, particularly, why international students chose Canada, their academic and social experiences, the level of support received and any challenged faced. 

To learn more, please visit https://cbie.ca/student-surveys/.

The Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS) is a national health and wellbeing assessment tool designed specifically for post-secondary students in Canada. It collects data on students’ mental health, well-being, and health-related behaviors to help institutions improve student supports. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities are asked to voluntarily inform about their mental health, learning environments, and their satisfaction with the support received.  

To learn more, please visit https://www.ccws-becc.ca/.

The World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) Survey is a global research initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and coordinated by Harvard Medical School’s World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Its primary goal is to assess the prevalence and impact of mental health and substance use disorders among college and university students worldwide. 

To learn more, please visit https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/publication2419783 or https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/wmh/college_student_survey.php.

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McMaster University Specific Surveys

IRA works with the McMaster community to design, administer and report on feedback provided by McMaster students, faculty and staff on our products and services. IRA conducts analyses and provides summaries to leverage survey responses into data driven decisions that enhance the student experience and workplace environment. The following surveys are administered cyclically to evaluate opportunities for improvement or recognize success.

In-Program Survey

Each Fall, all currently enrolled Undergraduate and Graduate students are asked to evaluate their university experience across several areas including: decision to attend McMaster, satisfaction with their program and courses, learning methods and their effectiveness, educational accessibility, campus life, housing, transportation, co-op experiences, finance, supports and services on campus and campus facilities.

Graduand Survey

At each convocation, graduating students are asked to take a moment to reflect on their time at McMaster and their experiences across several areas including: general satisfaction of the university and of their program, learning experiences and preparedness post graduation, financial burden and future employment/post-graduation plan.