As early as the AD1830s, Baptists active in central Canada have always advocated running schools. Until 1887, after the death of Senator William McMaster, he donated his legacy to establish a Christian learning school, which was also named after him. The school building was then located in McMaster Hall in Toronto. 1890 put into operation, teaching liberal arts and ethics, 1894 awarded the degree for the first time. It was not until 1930 that the school building was moved to Hamilton on the west coast of Ontario with the donations of Hamilton citizens, alumni and members of Baptists in Ontario and Quebec. The early buildings on campus include University Auditorium, Edwards Auditorium and Wallingford Auditorium. The original school building in Toronto became the Royal Conservatory of Music.

After the Second World War, under the leadership of former principal H.G. Thode, Maima, then a missionary school, had a remarkable growth in scientific research and enrollment, but it also faced enormous financial pressure. It was not until 1957 that Maima was transformed into a non-denominational private university. The Baptist Church, which has always maintained a close relationship with the school, continues to teach ethics in the theological seminary on campus, maintaining the school's consistent religious tradition. After 1 1 year, according to the regulations of Ma Shida (1968- 1969) (McMaster Act of 1968- 1969), except for seminaries, other schools are divided into writing department and science department. From 65438 to 0974, after a series of reforms and integration, the original departments gradually evolved into today's humanities, social sciences, science, engineering, health, business schools and other colleges.