McGill University

Founded 1821 | Montreal, QC

McGill University attracts bright students from around the world. “We are committed to the rigorous pursuit of innovation, ideas, and inquiry, unbounded by orthodox perspectives,” says interim principal Christopher Manfredi. “Our strength lies in the diversity and talent of our students who join us from over 150 countries.” (Deep Saini takes over as principal later this year.) 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 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 km 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.

Standout Programs

• Software Engineering: Prepare for work in fields including video game development, robotics automation and flight navigation software design; a co-op program offers four increasingly challenging work terms.

• French Language and Literature (Translation Option): This program offers theoretical and practical training in translating English to French; includes opportunities for conferences and competitions.

• 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.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$5,132 ($11,065 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 88.4%

Science: 92.8-95.3%

Commerce: 94.7%

Engineering: 88-96.8%

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 23,243 | Part-time: 3,384

Graduates: Full-time: 9,300 | Part-time: 1,573

International Students: First-year: 26.6%

Graduate: 42.2%

Male-Female Ratio: 38 to 62

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 3,426 (2,900 reserved for first-year students)

Residence Costs: Double room: $4,208 to $9,450

Single room: $4,616 to $13,570 | Double room with meals: $17,004 to $18,744 Single room with meals: $16,523 to $19,798

Apartment-style: $5,040 to $13,570

Cool Courses

• Climate Crisis and Climate Actions: Students draw on research from a variety of disciplines and cultural perspectives to learn about individual and collective strategies to combat climate change.

• World of Chemistry: Food: Focuses on the chemical aspects of food, including food additives, as well as issues related to food-borne illness, cancer and diet.

Student Life on Campus

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