Quick Summary
McGill University is a public founded in 1821, located in Montreal, Canada. Ranked #29 globally by QS World University Rankings 2026, it enrolls 39513 students including 30% from outside Canada. Known for strengths in Medicine, Law, Mineral and Mining Engineering, it maintains an acceptance rate of 46.3%.
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Institutional Profile
Who they are
McGill has produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other Canadian university, and its downtown Montreal campus gives students access to the city's aerospace, AI, and pharmaceutical industry clusters without leaving campus life behind.
Subject Strengths
MedicineLawMineral and Mining EngineeringAnatomy and PhysiologyEducationLinguisticsLibrary and Information Management
Founded1821
TypePublic
Total Students39513
Intl Students30%
Faculty Ratio13.3
CampusUrban and Suburban
Campus Size80 acres (Downtown), 1600 acres (Macdonald)
Affiliated HospitalsMcGill University Health Centre (MUHC),Montreal General Hospital,Royal Victoria Hospital,Jewish General Hospital,Montreal Children's Hospital
AccreditationAssociation of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
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Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#29
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#49
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
#70
Academic Ranking
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Academics & Research
What you can study
Bachelor's,Master's,Doctoral,Graduate Certificates,Professional Degrees
Programs
Available across all faculties, with funding packages typically guaranteed for the first several years through fellowships and teaching assistantships.
PhD Programs
Offered through the School of Continuing Studies, including several fully online graduate diplomas and certificates.
Online Programs
Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute,McGill Centre for Bioinformatics,Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music
Research Centers
Strong research output concentrated in medicine and neuroscience, reflected in its ARWU rank of 70th, notably behind crosstown rival Toronto.
Research Output
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
Accreditation
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Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance Rate46.3%
IELTS6.5
TOEFL90
Min GPA3
GREVaries by department
GMATRequired for MBA
SATOptional (Test-flexible for US students)
ACTOptional (Test-flexible for US students)
Key Dates
FALLApplication Deadline · January 15
MAR-APRDecisions Released
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Focus heavily on academic grades as McGill is primarily grade-driven for undergraduate admissions. Ensure prerequisites for specific faculties are met early.
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Cost Ledger
Amounts in Canadian Dollar
UG Tuition
$38,000/yr
per year · CAD
Living Cost
$20,000/yr
per year · CAD
PG Tuition
$25,000/yr
per year · CAD
Application Fee
$95
one time · USD
Total Estimated Annual Cost
$59,000/yr
tuition + living + essentials · CAD
Scholarships AvailableIncludes McGill's entrance Major Scholarships and a range of faculty-specific merit and need-based awards.
Avg Scholarship$3,500
Financial AidAvailable through the Scholarships and Student Aid Office for both domestic and international students, including needs-based bursaries.
Work-StudyYes, through the Work Study Program administered by the Scholarships and Student Aid Office, prioritized for students with demonstrated financial need.
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Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Bachelor's,Master's,Doctoral,Graduate Certificates,Professional Degrees programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Engineering | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Computer Science | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Economics | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Mechanical Engineering | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Psychology | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Law | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
$62,000
Average Salary After Graduation
92%
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementCo-op and internship structures vary by faculty, with Engineering and Management offering the most established pipelines into Montreal's aerospace, AI, and finance sectors.
Industry Connections
Strong ties with Montreal's aerospaceAIand pharmaceutical sectors.
Notable Alumni
Justin Trudeau,Leonard Cohen,William Shatner,Ernest Rutherford,Steven Pinker
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Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, primarily for first-year students; upper-year students typically move to off-campus housing in Montreal.
Sports Facilities
McGill Sports Centre, Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, McConnell Arena
Student Clubs
300
Library Resources
13 branch libraries including the McLennan-Redpath Library Complex
Exchange Programs
McGill students can study at 60+ partner universities worldwide while continuing to pay McGill tuition and earn McGill credit.
Summer Programs
McGill Summer Studies offers both credit courses and non-credit enrichment programs across the Downtown and Macdonald campuses.