McGill University in Montréal is Canada’s highest-ranked university: in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 30th in the world and first in Canada. Founded in 1821, it’s an English-language university in a French-speaking city, known for medicine, law, the sciences, engineering, management and the arts, with a large international student body.
McGill’s admissions are refreshingly straightforward: for most undergraduate programmes, it decides mainly on your grades, with no essays required. But studying in Quebec means an extra immigration step, and fees vary a lot by faculty. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on McGill’s own guidance and official Canadian and Quebec government information.
1. Choose your faculty and programme
You apply to a specific programme in one of McGill’s faculties, such as Arts, Science, Engineering, Management (Desautels) or Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Your first application fee also covers a second application for the same term and level, so you can apply to two programmes. Some programmes, such as Music, have their own application and audition requirements.
2. Apply by 15 January
For international students applying from a school outside Canada, the application deadline is usually 15 January for entry the following autumn, with supporting documents due later, depending on your curriculum. Music has its own 15 January deadline for both the application and documents. Check the dates for your educational background on McGill’s website. The application fee is CAD $140.16, and it’s non-refundable. McGill: how to apply.
3. Focus on your grades
For most McGill programmes, admission is based mainly on your academic record, including the subjects required for your programme, such as mathematics and sciences for Science and Engineering. Each curriculum, such as the IB, A levels, US high school or the French Baccalaureate, has its own requirements, so read the page for your system. Keep your grades strong right through your final year, because offers can be conditional on your final results.
4. Prepare any supplementary documents
McGill doesn’t ask most applicants for essays, but some programmes require extra materials, such as a personal statement, references, a portfolio or an audition. If you apply for a Major Entrance Scholarship or financial aid, or report extenuating circumstances, you’ll also need to provide extra information. Submit these carefully, because they’re the only chance to show more than your grades.
5. Meet the English requirement
If you need to prove your English, McGill asks for an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 or better, with no component below 6.0. It also accepts TOEFL and other tests, with higher minimums for some programmes, such as Management. It doesn’t accept IELTS One Skill Retake results. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. McGill English requirements.
6. Apply for entrance scholarships
McGill offers one-year and renewable entrance scholarships based on academic results, and Major Entrance Scholarships that also look at leadership and personal qualities. The Major Entrance Scholarship deadline is usually about a week after your application deadline, so prepare your application early.
7. Understand the fees
International tuition at McGill depends on your programme, and students admitted in 2026–27 are guaranteed the same tuition rate for the length of their degree. For 2026–27, first-year tuition for new international students was about CAD $54,000 for a Bachelor of Arts, $64,786 for a Bachelor of Science, $65,168 for a Bachelor of Engineering and $71,687 for a Bachelor of Commerce, plus other fees and health insurance. Some programmes, such as Education and Nursing, cost much less. McGill tuition and fees 2026–27.
8. Get your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
Because McGill is in Quebec, you’ll need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate for Studies (CAQ) from the Quebec government before you can apply for a Canadian study permit. You apply for it after you’ve been admitted. Quebec sets its own financial requirements: in 2026, McGill said single students need at least CAD $24,617 a year for living costs, plus tuition. Apply for your CAQ as soon as you accept your offer, because processing takes time. McGill CAQ guidance for new students.
9. Apply for your study permit
Once you have your CAQ, you apply for a study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You’ll need your letter of admission, your CAQ and proof of funds, and you may need biometrics and a medical exam. During term, you can usually work up to 24 hours a week off campus. After a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD, you may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) of up to three years, if you meet the language requirement (CLB 7 in all four skills for university graduates). Rules change often, so check IRCC and the Quebec government for the latest advice.
10. Prepare for life in Montréal
Montréal is a lively, bilingual city and is usually cheaper to live in than Toronto or Vancouver. You don’t need French to study at McGill, but learning some will help with daily life and part-time work. Apply for residence early, and budget for cold winters.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at McGill?
Graduate programmes have their own deadlines, often between December and February, and their own requirements, such as references, a statement of purpose and sometimes the GRE. For research master’s and PhD programmes, it helps to contact potential supervisors first. For 2026–27, international tuition for a thesis master’s was about CAD $9,116 a term. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
McGill’s popular programmes are competitive, so apply to other strong options too. Read our guides to the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta and the University of Waterloo. Our guide to studying in Canada explains how the Canadian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from McGill University’s official admissions, fees and international student pages, official Canadian and Quebec government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on McGill’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with McGill University.