McGill University is one of Canada’s prestigious public research universities. This institution with a rich 200-year history is situated in the city of Montreal. Furthermore, it is recognized as the #1 Medical-Doctoral Universities in Canada by Maclean’s University Rankings 2024 and has been bagging this top spot for 16 consecutive years now. Besides this, it is among the top universities in the world, at 31st place, as per QS World University Rankings. Here, we will take a look at some of the top scholarships being offered at McGill University for its international students
McGillians, or the students of McGill, are very much known for great achievements such as Nobel Prizes and groundbreaking contributions to society through research and many other forms. A few of the university’s notable alumni are the inventor of basketball James Naismith, Nobel Prize winner Willard Boyle, 23rd Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal, and Hollywood actor William Shatner.
There are around 40,000 McGillians thriving in the institution. Moreover, the top three most populated faculties are Arts with 9,700 students, Science with 6,300 students, and lastly, Medicine with 5,500 students. In line with this, the institute of higher learning is also known for having the most internationally diverse student community in Canada. In fact, as of 2019, 32.2% of their students are from more than 150 countries.
How do I apply to the McGill University Scholarships?
McGill University offers undergraduate, master’s, and postgraduate programs.
Future undergraduate students are advised to begin with knowing the deadlines, choosing from the university’s list of over 300 undergraduate programs, and making sure they meet all requirements. For further information, you may check the undergraduates’ short step-by-step guide and the undergraduates’ detailed guide on the university’s official website.
As for incoming graduate students, it is recommended to start with reading the admission requirements which should then be followed by contacting the department of their chosen program and finding a supervisor. Similar to undergraduate admissions, there are two guides on the university’s website. With this, you can view the graduates’ short step-by-step guide and the graduates’ detailed guide.
International applicants must be informed that if English is not an official language in their home country, they might be required to take an English proficiency test. On top of this, it is advisable to learn about the International credentials and grade equivalencies in advance.
McGill University Scholarships for International Students
1. Merit-Based Entrance Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Between $3,000 to $10,000
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s
The University of McGill’s Scholarships and Student Aid Office offers this program to incoming first-year & first-degree undergraduate students.
Students of all nationalities are eligible for this McGill University scholarship. In line with this, each applicants’ academic performance and leadership skills in high school will be reviewed. Additionally, it is also a requirement to be taking up a full-time undergraduate degree program.
The scholarship has two types:
- One-year Scholarship – Non-renewable grant
- There is no need to send in a separate application aside from the application for admission, but all of the applicant’s grades & interim grades as well as subsequent grades must be submitted as well
- Major Scholarship – Can be renewed every year, for up to 3 or 4 years, as long as the scholar maintains good academic performance
- It is a must to send in a separate application following the application for admission
- Applicants who do not qualify for this will be considered instead as grantees for the One-year Scholarship
Awardees also receive various benefits along with the grant. For instance, scholars will have an ensured spot at their first or second choice of residence building and they will also be counted in as a part of the Priority Registration.
2. Need-based Entrance Bursary Program
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Around $11,000
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s
Thanks to the university’s goal of making education accessible to people from all walks of life, the bursary program was created. Incoming first-year & first-degree undergraduate students of all nationalities who come from families with limited income are more than welcome to apply for this grant.
In addition to this, all grantees will be automatically approved to go job-hunting through McGill University’s special Work Study Program. Aside from acquiring clerical, research, technical, or library jobs that are available on campus, they also have the option to work at any of the numerous hospitals and organizations that are affiliated with the institution. These include hospitals such as Montreal Children’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Center, and Sir Mortimer B. Davis – Jewish General Hospital.
However, it must be noted that this McGill University scholarship will not be automatically renewed in the following years of the grantee’s study, although students may then receive financial aid through the university’s In-Course Financial Aid Program.
Applicants who submit their Entrance Bursary application via Minerva do not need to send in a separate application to apply for this. Despite this, international students are required to submit a College Scholarship Service or a CSS Profile.
3. Barbara Seal, CM, Scholarship for Newcomers to Canada
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Varies
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and Master’s
A scholarship program initiated by Barbara Seal, CM, alongside Donald Seal, QC, B.A. (1950), B.C.L. (1954), it is granted only to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a program at the School of Continuing Studies. This scholarship at McGill University is open to students of all nationalities.
Working as a citizenship judge, Barbara Seal has heard countless stories of challenges and obstacles faced by those who are new to Canada. One realization of hers was about how hard it is to pursue education as a newcomer in the country and with that, she decided to work closely with McGill’s School of Continuing Studies to make this possible.
As one of Canada’s most reputable universities, it can be easily observed that McGill University is continuously working towards staying true to its motto, “By work, all things increase and grow.” With that, if you are an international student looking for a university where you can grow into the well-rounded professional you are meant to be, McGill is one of your best bets. To see an extensive list of scholarships that McGill University offers, click here.
