McGill University
McGill University attracts bright students from around the world. “McGill University is home to an exceptional and multicultural group of students, professors and staff. Together, they have contributed to our university’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research, while making a positive impact on the local and global communities that we serve,” says president Deep Saini. McGill has cultivated more Rhodes Scholars and Nobel Prize laureates than any other school in Canada. Its faculty and graduates have won 12 Nobel Prizes for pioneering work in areas such as economics, radioactivity and fission. As a research-intensive school, McGill is affiliated with more than 100 research centres and networks.
The McGill University main campus’s location, between Mount Royal Park and downtown Montreal, offers students lots of opportunities for off-campus activities (visiting art galleries, festivals and hundreds of restaurants, cafés and bars), and rent is generally cheaper than in most Canadian cities. The smaller Macdonald campus enjoys a scenic location on the island of Montreal, about 35 kilometres west of downtown. It’s home to programs in agriculture, environmental sciences and nutrition. McGill offers peer support and mentorship programs for new students as well as a buddy program for international students.
Campus buzz: Le Parc Gym, a new facility complete with high-quality strength and cardio equipment, opened in 2024 for students staying in New Residence Hall, a dormitory-style residence in Montreal’s Milton-Parc community.
Quick facts
Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$5,315 ($11,426 out-of-province students)
Minimum Entering Grades
Arts: 86.8-94.5% | Science: 92-97.5% | Commerce: 93-97% | Engineering: 87-98.6%
Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 24,160 | Part-time: 2,960
Graduates: Full-time: 10,048 | Part-time: 1,728
Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 3,476 (3,000 reserved for first-year students)
Cost of double room: $4,360 to $9,930
Cost of single room: $4,784 to $12,960
Cost of double room with meals: $17,232 to $19,128
Cost of single room with meals: $17,032 to $20,368
Cost of apartment-style: $5,224 to $12,960
Standout programs
Environmental Biology: This program provides a strong foundation in biology, conservation and ecology. Students get practical, real-world experience with opportunities to participate in field courses and semester-long programs in Africa, Barbados, Panama and the United States.
Retail Management: Students have access to the latest technologies at the Retail Innovation Lab, and learn all aspects of managing a retail operation, including consumer behaviour, pricing analytics, experiential marketing and global value chain management.
Software Engineering: Prepare for work in a variety of in-demand fields, including web applications, video game development, robotics automation and flight navigation software design; a co-op program offers four increasingly challenging work terms.
