🍁McGill University

Montreal, Canada

QS World 2026 · #27

Montreal's English-language research university, popular with international students.

About McGill

McGill teaches in English despite being in French-speaking Quebec, and has one of Canada's highest proportions of international and out-of-province students. It's particularly strong in Medicine and Life Sciences, and its downtown Montreal campus sits at the foot of Mont Royal.

Why students choose it

  • English-language teaching in bilingual Montreal
  • High proportion of international students — internationally-minded campus culture
  • Strong Medicine and Life Sciences reputation

🎓 Free application support for McGill

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to McGill — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

AAA (A Level)  ·  IB 37

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

CA$40,000–CA$55,000/yr

high tier for Canada — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, Montreal

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or McGill's financial aid office.

Many Canadian universities offer automatic entrance scholarships for international students based on high-school grades — often no separate application needed beyond the standard admission application.

  • University international entrance scholarships: e.g. University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, UBC's International Major Entrance Scholarship — merit-based, automatically considered for eligible applicants at many universities.
  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: Federally funded, but for doctoral/research study, not undergraduate admission.

Coverage ranges from a one-off award to full tuition for the most competitive automatic scholarships — check each university's international scholarships page for exact criteria.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology · Not required at Bachelor's entry — Medicine is a postgraduate degree here, entered via MCAT after completing a Bachelor's degree.

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Not required at Bachelor's entry — Law is typically a postgraduate JD here, entered via LSAT after completing a Bachelor's degree.

Business (Desautels)

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Music

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

Durations are typical for Canada — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes)
Typical deadline
Rolling from October, with most competitive programmes closing mid-January
Note
High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

TOEFL: 80–90 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

See where McGill ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Canada University Shortlist Builder to see whether McGill is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Canada university that matches.

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More Canada universities

McGill FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to McGill as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into McGill?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, McGill expects around AAA at A Level or 37 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for McGill's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on McGill's own admissions page before applying.

How much does McGill cost for international students?

International tuition at McGill typically falls in the CA$40,000–CA$55,000/yr range (high tier for Canada). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not McGill's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for McGill?

McGill follows Canada's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes), with applications generally due rolling from october, with most competitive programmes closing mid-january. High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance. Always verify the exact date on McGill's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for McGill?

Canada universities, including McGill, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is McGill known for?

Montreal's English-language research university, popular with international students. McGill teaches in English despite being in French-speaking Quebec, and has one of Canada's highest proportions of international and out-of-province students. It's particularly strong in Medicine and Life Sciences, and its downtown Montreal campus sits at the foot of Mont Royal.

Can I apply to McGill with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — McGill accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Canada University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against McGill and every other Canada university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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