McGill University

Canada

McGill University

McGill University was founded in 1821. It is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university is one of the two members of the Association of American Universities located outside the United States, along with the University of Toronto, and is the only Canadian university member of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) within the World Economic Forum.

University History

In 1821 McGill University was founded. the university was founded by a royal charter granted by King George IV, the university is named after James McGill, who was a Scottish merchant.  Initially the university was named McGill College, in 1885 the name was officially changed to McGill University. McGill is the most internationally diverse of any medical-doctoral research university in Canada. 

University Programs, Courses and Schools

McGill University has 13 schools. The campus offers wide learning opportunities and challenges to the students. The schools of the McGill University are;

• School of Architecture
• School of Computer Science
• School of Information Studies
• School of Human Nutrition
• Bensadoun School of Retail Management
• Max Bell School of Public Policy
• School of Physical & Occupational Therapy
• Ingram School of Nursing
• School of Social Work
• School of Urban Planning
• the Bieler School of Environment

University Achievements

McGill University is a well-known university in Canada. The university is one of two members of the Association of American Universities located outside the United States, along with the University of Toronto, and is the only Canadian university member of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) within the World Economic Forum.  McGill is the most internationally diverse of any medical-doctoral research university in Canada, with international students over 30% and consists of students from more than 150 countries worldwide. US News and Report ranked the university #51 in Best Global Universities.

University USP

McGill University is known as one of the best research universities in Canada. The McGill medical degree includes international recognition, which allows graduates a wide range of specialist and academic opportunities. McGill University is ranked #27 in QS World University Rankings by Top Universities and has an overall score of 4.3 stars.

University Notable Alumni

McGill University’s alumni has expert alumni from different backgrounds who are there to serve based on their common passion and responsibility towards the university. Some of the alumni members of McGill University are-

• 3rd prime minister of Canada Sir John Abbott 
• 7th prime minister of Canada Sir Wilfrid Laurier
• Inventor of the game of basketball James Naismith 
• Co-inventor of the charge-coupled device and Nobel prize laureate in Physics Willard Boyle 
• Emmy Award winner William Shatner 
• Balzan Prize winner, referred to as "the founder of neuropsychology" Brenda Milner
• Grammy Award winner and poet Leonard Cohen 
• 6th President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga 
• 48th Prime Minister of Egypt Ahmed Nazif 
• Former astronaut and 29th governor general of Canada Julie Payette 
• Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio 

University infrastructure & services

Campuses-

Downtown campus-

McGill's main campus is located in downtown Montreal at the foot of Mount Royal. Most of its buildings are in a park-like campus also known as the Lower Campus in the north of Sherbrooke Street and south of Pine Avenue between Peel and Aylmer streets. A major downtown boulevard, McGill College Avenue, leads up to the Roddick Gates, which is the university's formal entrance. Many of the major university buildings were built using local gray limestone, which serves as a unique element to the university. Many of these buildings are connected by indoor tunnels. The university's first classes were held at Burnside Place, James McGill's country home. Until the 1840s, Burnside Place remained the sole educational facility. The university's athletic facilities, includes Molson Stadium situated near the residence halls and the Montreal Neurological Institute. In 2012, Travel + Leisure ranked McGill's campus as one of the 17 most beautiful university campuses in the whole world.

Macdonald campus-

McGill University’s second campus, the Macdonald Campus, located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. It is a home to the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, the Institute of Parasitology, and the McGill School of Environment. This campus has a high international student presence. The Macdonald campus is often named as the “Mac” campus. It is located near the St. Lawrence River which makes the campus significant and more beautiful than the Downtown Montreal campus. The Morgan Arboretum and the J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory are situated nearby this campus.

Gault Campus-

McGill University’s Gault Campus is the third campus which was constructed in 2019. It serves as a home to Faculty of Medicine in Gatineau, Quebec, which allow students from the Outaouais region to complete their undergraduate medical education locally and in French. The campus was opened in August 2020.  

Libraries-

Library at McGill University consists of 13 branch libraries, plays an important part of the educational experience and is an invaluable resource for students, faculty, staff, and alumni, but also for the broad community. The library offers 350,000 items, which includes million ebooks, databases, e-journals and services to support academic studies and enhance research work at McGill University. University libraries are focused to provide high-quality library resources, programs, and services to the students. The library provides flexible and well-equipped surroundings to everyone’s research and learning needs. The library supports the student learning experience, creation and administration of knowledge, and also contributes to advancements in teaching and research programs.                                                                                                                                          

Housing services-

On-campus- McGill University’s Student housing and Residence Life offers residential communities, where students from all over the country and the world live, learn and grow together. The University comprises 16 different properties to reside on university campus. Students have an option to reside in the residence halls. The McGill University’s residential halls, private rooms and apartments offer support and convenience, as well as opportunities for personal growth, cultural exploration, and interaction with all facilities and staff. The university’s residence halls are perfect for comfortable housing.  Students can select the room of their choice based on costs, hall facilities, location, availability. Through university’s affinity housing students can live in groups of like-minded students who share the same love for sports, literature, film and course. The various services offered in university’s residence halls are- 

• Fully furnished rooms
• Large lounges with kitchens
• All-inclusive utilities
• Free Wi-Fi and cable TV
• Free laundry facilities
• Residence Life staff support
• Programming created around a residential curriculum
• 24-hour security and on-call housing staff

Off-campus- McGill University assists students in finding off-campus housing near university’s campus. They provide convenient housing to students, faculty and staff at nearby universities. 

Medical services-

McGill University provides medical services to students. The Health Services encourage students to live a healthy lifestyle in order to achieve their personal, academic and career goals. They also maintain an emergency response team which responds immediately to any accidents or injuries involving any person on campus. Primary and urgent healthcare, health clearances, routine women’s healthcare, emergency response and wellness education are all part of the services provided. The staff consists of certified physicians and nurses who are dedicated towards their work and provide high quality medical care to students. 

Student’s clubs-

McGill University offers wide variety of students’ clubs and organization which provide wide range of opportunities for students to engross themselves. The university offers everything students need to stay active on campus. Some of the clubs at McGill University are-

• Cycling
• Football
• Badminton
• Naginata Club
• Muggle Quidditch Club
• Cricket Club
• Running Club
• Tennis
• Water Polo
• Boxing Club
• Powerlifting Club
• Snowboard Club

These are just a few clubs and organizations listed above. There are many other options available to choose from and engross yourself in.

University location

Downtown Campus- 3575 Park Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2X 3P9, Canada

Macdonald Campus- 21111 Lakeshore, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada

Gault Campus-422 Chem. des Moulins, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC J3G 4S6, Canada

Top Landmarks-

• McCord Museum
• BNP Tower / Laurentian Bank Tower
• Golden Square Mile
• Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore
• Spa Eastman Montreal
• Place des Arts
• Musee Redpath
• Pollack Concert Hall
• Barbie Expo
• Spa Diva
• House of Jazz

International student’s info

Courses Offered-

McGill University offers Undergraduate programs and Graduate programs. Some of the courses are-

• Agribusiness
• Investment Management
• Ecological Agriculture
• Kinesiology
• Psychology
• Music 
• Politics
• Law
• Engineering
• Health Science
• Environment
• Social Studies

Student Support-

 The International Student Services McGill University provides international educational exchange via its services. It serves as the primary administrative, programming, and advising office for the international community. The office provides various services like-

• immigration assistance and support to international students and exchange visitors through advising, programs, workshops and events.
• serve as a guide for academic and administrative units in the collaboration, hiring and sponsorship of international students and exchange visitors.
• provides on-going orientation and support services in a welcoming environment designed to help students in cultural adjustment.

Visa and Immigration Support-

Visas and Permits

As an international student, you will need to have specific permits and visas to study in Canada.

Initial Study Permit

All McGill University students need to have legal status in Canada, and you will need to present your status documents to get your student card. If this is your first time applying for a study permit, you can do it at the nearest Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. You can apply for your permit as soon as you receive your Offer of Admission from the University of Toronto and decide to accept. Because the permit legally entitles you to study in Canada, you will need it before you enter the country.

Temporary Resident Visa

Students from certain countries may also require an entry visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), to enter Canada. TRVs are issued by Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC).

CIC’s requirements may differ depending on your specific geographic region. For instance, some CIC offices require proof of English language proficiency in the form of a standardized test (such as TOEFL or IELTS). A medical examination and proof of funding may also be required. 

International Student Contact-

Office- Brown Student Services Building
3600 McTavish Street, Suite 5100
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0G3

Phone- 514 398-4349

Student life

Student society-

McGill University’s student organizations or clubs are one of the best ideas to get involved in the campus. Organizations are assembled under an arrangement of causes, identities, and interests. Student organizations at McGill University put on some of the most highly awaited campus events and offer a wide range of opportunities for involvement and leadership every year. McGill University has various student organizations, so there is something for each student. 

Sports and fitness-

McGill University provides activities that promote healthy lifestyles and fitness for a huge population of students, faculty and staff. The university provides various sports activities and fitness rooms to keep students fit and healthy. 

Health & Wellbeing-

Health and Wellness at McGill University is to highlight the active process of change and growth that involves building resilience, persistence, and positivity in the phase of provocations. It is the initiative dedicated to help students incorporate in an overall well-being experience across campus. They allow students to actively indulge in wellness programs, activities that provide support to holistic lifestyle. Through this initiative, students will learn and understand resources and they will also learn how to help others in need. 

Residential Life-

On-campus housing at McGill University can easily accommodate a huge population of students. The on-campus housing offers Residential Based Learning Communities on designated floors, areas or buildings where students request to live near others that share an interest in a particular social cause or academic area. 

Food & drink-

McGill University provides a dining hall in the heart of the campus.  Dining is open to students, faculty, and staff. Dining plan offers different dining options which includes special dietary menus such as vegetarian and low-fat food. The plans are designed to fit the busy schedule of students, the plan assists all dietary preferences by providing a wide range of dining options and healthy food options. There are a number of cafes and restaurants available on-campus which provides a huge variety to students.

Short term getaways, weekend getaways

There are many short-term getaways near the McGill University to have fun like- 

• McCord Museum
• BNP Tower / Laurentian Bank Tower
• Golden Square Mile
• Libraire Paragraphe Bookstore
• Spa Eastman Montreal
• Place des Arts
• Musee Redpath
• Pollack Concert Hall
• Barbie Expo
• Spa Diva
• House of Jazz

and there are many other options also available to spend holidays and weekends.

Part time jobs

The Career and Employment Services at McGill University provides employment opportunities on-campus to students who want to earn money while studying to pay their expenses. The Office of Student Employment helps students find part-time work that not only builds their bank account, it is also on or near campus, and gives them a relevant and meaningful career experience which enhances their resume.

Student Safety

Crime Around the area-

McGill University keeps safety at priority. University’s Police Department provides 24/7 assistance to deter crime, and to increase personal safety and building security. A security desk is located in the lobby of each residence hall, which assists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure the safety and identification of those entering and leaving the campus buildings. Students can call an officer to escort them anywhere on campus 24/7. The University is committed towards providing a safe, secure living and learning environment for all students, faculty and staff.    

Famous courses

The famous courses at McGill University are-

• Agribusiness
• Investment Management
• Ecological Agriculture
• Kinesiology
• Psychology
• Music 
• Politics
• Law
• Engineering

Campus recruitment

Process-

The Career and Employability Team at McGill University has an award-winning placement team that is dedicated to supporting students throughout their placement search. The university hosts recruitment events and fairs to provide jobs to students. The University has a strong employability record.

Famous companies who recruit directly from McGill University –

• Deloittee
• Hand Eye Society
• Full Indie
• Bioware
• Citi Canada
• Deeplite
• Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
• Barrick Gold Corporation
• Bronswerk Marine inc
• Ecosystem Energy Services
• Logibec Inc
• ORO Health Inc
• Veeva Systems
• Otis Canada Inc.
• Samasource

Application Requirements

• Create a new account
• Completed Application Form
• Submit required support documents
• Academic Records
• Pay the application fee 
• Statement of Purpose
• Recommendations
• Standardized Test Scores