Overview
McGill University is a public research university founded in 1821 by a royal charter granted by King George IV. McGill is recognized around the world for the excellence of its teaching and research programs. Ernest Rutherford's Nobel Prize-winning research on the nature of radioactivity was conducted at McGill, part of a long tradition of innovation on its campuses that includes the invention of the artificial blood cell and Plexiglas.
McGill is the oldest university in Montreal and one of just three English-language universities in Quebec. It is a public research institution that takes its name from Glaswegian merchant James McGill, whose bequest in 1813 led to the formation of McGill College. In 1829 it established the nation's first faculty of medicine. The university is made up of 11 faculties with 11 schools, all housed in 300 buildings. It caters for roughly 40,000 students, 24% of whom come from over 150 countries — making it the most internationally diverse medical-doctoral university in Canada.
McGill's main campus is located in downtown Montreal at the foot of Mount Royal. The campus extends across the slope of Mount Royal in the borough of Ville-Marie, with a second campus situated in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, 30 kilometres west of the main campus on Montreal Island. The university offers degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study.
McGill is one of two members of the Association of American Universities located outside the United States — alongside the University of Toronto — and is the only Canadian member of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) within the World Economic Forum. McGill students have the highest average entering grades in Canada, and the university's commitment to fostering the very best has helped its students win more national and international awards on average than their peers at any other Canadian university.
McGill has nearly 50 research institutes and centres across three campuses, along with fieldwork stations in Barbados and the high Arctic. The university works with a network of health partners in Quebec, including four affiliated hospitals in Montreal. Canada's second largest hospital-based research facility is located at the McGill University Health Centre, with 550 researchers and clinicians and 1,200 graduate and postdoctoral students. Montreal is a global leader in aerospace, tech, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, and video game development.
McGill alumni, faculty, and affiliates include 15 Nobel laureates and 149 Rhodes Scholars, 1 Turing Award winner, 3 former Prime Ministers of Canada, 2 Governors General of Canada, and 14 Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada. McGill alumni also include 9 Academy Award winners, 13 Grammy Award winners, 15 Emmy Award winners, 4 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 121 Olympians with over 35 Olympic medals. Notable alumni include inventor of basketball James Naismith, Nobel laureate physicist Willard Boyle, poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, and actor William Shatner.
| ~47% Acceptance Rate | 39,000+ Total Students | 150+ Countries Represented | Founded 1821 — Canada's #1 University |
Ranking
McGill University is Canada's top university according to the QS World University Rankings 2026, placing 27th out of 1,500 universities ranked globally — putting it in the top 2% of institutions worldwide. This marks the fourth consecutive year McGill has moved up in the QS rankings. In QS's World University Rankings by Subject, 29 subjects taught at McGill made QS's top 50 list, and McGill was rated Canada's pre-eminent medical-doctoral university by Maclean's Magazine for a remarkable 20th consecutive year.
Internationally, McGill ranked 27th in the world and first in Canada in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. It ranked 41st in the world and second in Canada by the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In 2024, the Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked the university 74th in the world and third in Canada. In the 2024–25 US News & World Report Best Global University Rankings, McGill was ranked 56th in the world and third in Canada. In the Global University Employability Ranking 2022 published by Times Higher Education, McGill ranked 29th in the world and second in Canada.
In QS's 2026 World University Rankings by Subject, McGill's Engineering — Mineral and Mining program climbed to second in the world — its highest ranking ever and the highest rank achieved by any Canadian university in a specific subject across the entire list. The program has now sat in the global Top 10 for 10 consecutive years. Of the 55 academic disciplines assessed, McGill placed 43 programs in the global Top 50 and another 10 in the Top 100. Anatomy & Physiology held firm at fifth in the world, Library & Information Management jumped to 11th, Music tied for 13th, and Performing Arts came in at 15th.
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026, McGill makes the world's Top 100 list in every discipline assessed, competing against hundreds — and in some cases more than 1,500 — universities worldwide. Seven subjects at McGill placed in the global Top 50, with Medical and Health Sciences tied for 27th in the world out of 1,230 universities. Nationally, McGill placed in the Top 3 in 10 of 11 subjects.
| Ranking Body | Rank |
|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings 2026 | #27 Globally / #1 in Canada |
| Times Higher Education (THE) 2026 | #41 Globally / #2 in Canada |
| ARWU (Shanghai) 2024 | #74 Globally / #3 in Canada |
| US News Best Global Universities 2024–25 | #56 Globally / #3 in Canada |
| THE Global Employability Ranking | #29 Globally / #2 in Canada |
| QS — Engineering: Mineral & Mining | #2 Globally (Highest ever by any Canadian university in a subject) |
| QS — Anatomy & Physiology | #5 Globally |
| QS — Library & Information Management | #11 Globally |
| THE — Medical & Health Sciences 2026 | #27 Globally / Top 3 in Canada |
| Maclean's — Medical-Doctoral University | #1 in Canada (20 consecutive years) |
Intakes
McGill University operates on a semester-based academic calendar with two main intakes:
- Fall Intake (September) — Primary intake; available for all undergraduate and most graduate programs
- Winter Intake (January) — Available for select graduate and postgraduate programs only; not available for most undergraduate programs
Application Deadlines (Indicative for 2026–27):
| Level | Application Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (International) | January 15, 2026 | Primary deadline; some faculties have earlier dates |
| Graduate / MSc / MA (International) | December – February (varies by program) | Rolling — apply early; programs fill quickly |
| MBA (Desautels Faculty of Management) | Rolling — up to 3 rounds | Round 1: October; Round 2: January; Round 3: March |
| PhD Programs | December – February | Varies by department |
Note: Application fee: CAD 136 (UG), CAD 140 (PG), CAD 191 (Medicine/Dentistry). McGill offers a guaranteed tuition model for international students — tuition is locked in at admission for the full duration of the program. Non-Canadian students require a Canadian Study Permit. Always verify deadlines at mcgill.ca/applying.
Top Courses
McGill offers degrees and diplomas in over 300 areas of study across its 11 faculties. Most students are enrolled in the six largest faculties: Arts, Science, Medicine and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering, and Management.
Key faculties and flagship programs include:
Faculty of Arts:
- BA in Economics, Political Science, Philosophy, History, Sociology, Psychology, Linguistics, Geography, International Development, Religious Studies
- MA in Economics, MA in Political Science, MA in International Relations
- MA / PhD in Philosophy, History, Anthropology, Communications
Faculty of Science:
- BSc in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology, Neuroscience, Earth and Planetary Sciences
- MSc in Computer Science, MSc in Physics, MSc in Mathematics
- MSc in Artificial Intelligence, MSc in Data Science
- MSc in Neuroscience (world-renowned Montreal Neurological Institute)
Faculty of Engineering:
- BEng in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Biomedical, Mining, and Software Engineering
- MEng / MSc in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering
- MEng in Aerospace Engineering, MSc in Mining Engineering (#2 globally — QS 2026)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Canada's oldest medical faculty — 1829):
- MDCM in Medicine and Surgery (4-year graduate-entry MD program)
- BSc in Nursing (#27 globally — THE 2026)
- BSc in Occupational Therapy, Physical and Occupational Therapy
- MSc in Global Health, MSc in Epidemiology, MSc in Biomedical Engineering
- MSc / PhD in Physiology, Anatomy, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry
Desautels Faculty of Management:
- BCom in Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Operations Management, International Business, Information Systems
- MBA (Full-time and Executive — #94 globally, Financial Times 2025)
- MSc in Management, MSc in Finance, MSc in Business Analytics (#10 globally — QS 2023)
- MSc in Marketing, MSc in Entrepreneurship
Faculty of Law:
- LLB / BCL in Law (Civil Law and Common Law dual degree — unique in Canada)
- LLM in International Business Law, LLM in Air and Space Law
- DCL (Doctorate in Civil Law)
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (Macdonald Campus):
- BSc in Agriculture, Environmental Science, Food Science, Dietetics
- MSc / PhD in Animal Science, Plant Science, Food Science, Environmental Science
Cost of Studying at McGill University
McGill's tuition fees for international students are significantly higher than for Canadian students, reflecting the absence of provincial government subsidies for international students. For international students, McGill offers a guaranteed tuition model — admitted and enrolled students enjoy a guaranteed, set tuition rate for the duration of their program, eliminating the unpredictability of year-to-year increases. In addition to tuition, McGill charges fees for student services, student societies, athletics, and healthcare. These mandatory fees amount to roughly CAD 1,000–2,000 per year. International students must also pay for health insurance, around CAD 1,000 per year.
The first-year tuition fee at McGill University for all courses ranges generally between CAD 12,250 and CAD 99,500, depending on the program and residency status of the student.
| Type of Expense | Annual Cost (CAD) | Annual Cost (INR Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees — BSc / BA (International) | CAD 28,000 – 52,000 | ₹17,36,000 – ₹32,24,000 |
| Tuition Fees — BEng / BCom (International) | CAD 40,000 – 58,000 | ₹24,80,000 – ₹35,96,000 |
| Tuition Fees — MDCM Medicine (International) | CAD 70,000 – 99,500 | ₹43,40,000 – ₹61,69,000 |
| Tuition Fees — MSc / MA (International) | CAD 20,000 – 35,000 | ₹12,40,000 – ₹21,70,000 |
| Tuition Fees — MBA (International) | CAD 55,000 – 80,000 | ₹34,10,000 – ₹49,60,000 |
| Tuition Fees — PhD (International) | CAD 8,000 – 20,000 | ₹4,96,000 – ₹12,40,000 |
| Student Services & Mandatory Fees | CAD 1,500 – 2,000/year | ₹93,000 – ₹1,24,000 |
| Application Fee | CAD 136–191 | ₹8,432 – ₹11,842 |
| On-Campus Accommodation | CAD 10,000 – 18,000/year | ₹6,20,000 – ₹11,16,000 |
| Food & Personal Expenses | CAD 8,000 – 12,000/year | ₹4,96,000 – ₹7,44,000 |
| Transport (Montreal STM pass) | CAD 700 – 1,200/year | ₹43,400 – ₹74,400 |
| Health Insurance | CAD 900 – 1,200/year | ₹55,800 – ₹74,400 |
| Total Estimated Annual Cost | CAD 42,000 – 75,000 | ₹26,04,000 – ₹46,50,000 |
Note: Montreal is one of Canada's most affordable major cities for students — significantly cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver. All fees are in CAD. International student fees are guaranteed for the full duration of the program. Verify at mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-fees before applying.
Scholarships
McGill offers various funding opportunities for international and domestic graduate students, including the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship — one of Canada's most transformative graduate scholarships.
Key scholarships for international students include:
| Scholarship | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| McCall MacBain Scholarships | Merit-based (all disciplines) | Full tuition + CAD 35,000/year living stipend for Master's or professional programs (one of Canada's most prestigious) |
| McGill Entrance Scholarships (Undergraduate) | Merit-based (automatic consideration) | CAD 3,000 – CAD 12,000 per year (for high academic achievement) |
| GREAT Awards (Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel) | Research-based | Up to CAD 5,000 for travel and research activities |
| Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) Scholarships | Government (Quebec) | Full doctoral funding for students in Quebec universities |
| NSERC / SSHRC / CIHR Graduate Scholarships | Federal government | CAD 17,500 – CAD 50,000/year for research master's and doctoral students |
| McGill Graduate Fellowships | Merit/research-based | Departmental funding for MSc and PhD students (varies by faculty) |
| McCall MacBain Foundation Bursaries | Need-based | Emergency financial assistance for enrolled students |
| Awards and Medals | Academic excellence | Various prizes, medals, and scholarships — 700+ awarded annually |
Admissions
The McGill University acceptance rate stands at approximately 47%. McGill students have the highest average entering grades of any Canadian university. The university is highly selective for Medicine, Law, Dentistry, and Engineering programs.
For Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's):
For English proficiency, a score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each section of IELTS, or a TOEFL iBT score of 90, is required for most courses — and 100 for Education and Management courses. Students are also free to submit valid SAT or ACT scores. For Indian students, completion of Class 12 (CBSE/ISC) with strong marks in relevant subjects is required. The application fee is CAD 136 for most undergraduate programs.
- Completion of Class 12 (CBSE/ISC or equivalent) with 85%+ overall (program-dependent; Medicine/Law require higher)
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) / TOEFL iBT 90 for most programs; TOEFL 100 for Education and Management
- Application fee: CAD 136 (non-refundable)
- SAT / ACT scores accepted as additional supporting evidence
- Portfolio required for Architecture and Fine Arts programs
- Audition required for Music programs
For Postgraduate Programs (Master's):
For PG courses, a bachelor's degree in the relevant field of study with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or a GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required. An IELTS Academic Score of 6.5 or a TOEFL iBT Score of 86 with 20 in each section is required. For some courses, a valid GRE or GMAT score is also required.
- Bachelor's degree with minimum GPA 3.0–3.5/4.0 (varies by faculty; competitive programs require 3.5+)
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 86–100 (program-specific)
- GRE/GMAT required for MBA and some science/engineering programs
- Research proposal (for thesis-based programs)
- CV, Statement of Purpose, 2–3 Letters of Recommendation, certified transcripts
- Application fee: CAD 140 (non-refundable)
For PhD Programs:
- Master's degree with strong research record
- Potential supervisor agreement recommended before applying
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 86+
- Competitive GPA (typically 3.5+/4.0)
- Funded positions available through NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, and departmental fellowships
Placements
McGill's Global University Employability Ranking by Times Higher Education places it 29th in the world and second in Canada — confirming the exceptional regard employers worldwide have for McGill graduates. The university's alumni network encompasses over 300,000 McGillians in more than 180 countries.
The average salary earned by BCom graduates of McGill University is CAD 75,667 per year, with a placement rate of 90% after six months of graduation. Top companies recruiting McGill BCom graduates include McKinsey, IBM, Deloitte, KPMG, Hyundai, and Adidas.
Montreal — Canada's second-largest city and a world leader in AI research, aerospace, video games, and life sciences — gives McGill graduates exceptional access to industry. The city hosts Mila (the world's largest academic AI research institute, co-founded by McGill professor Yoshua Bengio — Turing Award winner), Bombardier, CAE, Ubisoft, EA, Pfizer Canada, and hundreds of tech startups.
Key career sectors for McGill graduates:
- Technology & AI — Mila Quebec AI Institute, Element AI (now ServiceNow), Google Montreal, Microsoft Research, Meta AI, Ubisoft, EA Games
- Finance & Consulting — McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, EY, National Bank, RBC, TD, BMO
- Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences — Pfizer Canada, Merck Canada, GSK, AstraZeneca, BioMérieux, Novartis
- Aerospace & Engineering — Bombardier, CAE, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Bell Helicopter Textron, L3 Technologies
- Medicine & Healthcare — McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal General Hospital, Jewish General Hospital
- Research & Academia — CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, leading North American and global universities
Jobs After Graduating from McGill University
| Job Profile | Average Annual Salary (CAD) | INR Approx./Year |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer / AI Researcher | CAD 85,000 – 140,000 | ₹52,70,000 – ₹86,80,000 |
| Management Consultant | CAD 90,000 – 150,000 | ₹55,80,000 – ₹93,00,000 |
| Financial Analyst / Investment Banker | CAD 80,000 – 140,000 | ₹49,60,000 – ₹86,80,000 |
| Medical Doctor / Resident Physician | CAD 95,000 – 200,000+ | ₹58,90,000 – ₹1,24,00,000 |
| Biomedical / Chemical Engineer | CAD 75,000 – 120,000 | ₹46,50,000 – ₹74,40,000 |
| Mining / Petroleum Engineer | CAD 80,000 – 130,000 | ₹49,60,000 – ₹80,60,000 |
| Lawyer / Legal Counsel | CAD 80,000 – 150,000 | ₹49,60,000 – ₹93,00,000 |
| Research Scientist / Postdoctoral Fellow | CAD 55,000 – 90,000 | ₹34,10,000 – ₹55,80,000 |
| MBA Graduate / Business Manager | CAD 90,000 – 160,000 | ₹55,80,000 – ₹99,20,000 |
| BCom Graduate (average) | CAD 75,667 | ₹46,91,000 |
Note: Salary figures are indicative annual gross values in CAD. International graduates may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allowing them to work in Canada for up to 3 years after graduation.
For personalised guidance on McGill University admissions, scholarships, and the Canadian student visa process, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.