You might hear from friends or others on public forums that enrolling at McGill University as an international student without parental support is a mistake. They may say that you can’t afford it, that there are no McGill University scholarships for international students. Ignore them. As someone who faced similar challenges, I’m proof that it’s not true. I received $38,000 in awards and bursaries, making my education at McGill possible.
If you’re here, you’re an international student wondering about the odds of landing a scholarship as an international student. At the graduate level, it’s common for universities to cover your tuition and living expenses, either fully or to a significant extent. As a grad student from abroad, I got full funding for my living and tuition costs, even though I didn’t qualify for additional scholarships. While my experience is in the sciences, and I can’t speak for all fields, this is a trend I’ve observed across many institutions.
In this article, I’m going to tell you about the scholarships available for international students in McGill university and how you can apply for them.
Does McGill University Give Full Scholarships for International Students?
Yes. If you’re an international student from anywhere in the world, you’re eligible for these scholarships at McGill University. Both Canadian and American students, as well as students from other countries, can apply. For the 2024-2025 period, McGill University Scholarships are fully funded for international students at the undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. Undergraduate students can receive up to $8,500, with additional bursaries available for master’s and Ph.D. students.
Founded in 1821, McGill University is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It’s home to over 40,000 students from Canada and around the world. With more than 300 programs across 12 faculties and schools, McGill is ranked 31st in the world by QS university rankings and is the top university in Medical Doctoral fields.
You can choose from almost all academic fields and majors at McGill University to pursue your postgraduate degree programs. The university is offering 60 fully funded scholarships and 20 partially funded scholarships for graduate-level students.
McGill’s scholarship program includes a merit-based Entrance Scholarship and a need-based Entrance Bursary for all new, first-year, first-degree undergraduate students. The Scholarships & Student Aid Office also runs an In-Course Financial Aid Program for current graduate students who need additional financial help, offering loans and bursaries.
The University’s Entrance Bursary Program is designed for students from low to modest-income families who demonstrate financial need, including new first-year undergraduates and those entering professional programs in Medicine and Law.
Here are some of the McGill University scholarships for international students.
Entrance Scholarships for Future Undergraduates
If you’re diving into your first full-time undergraduate degree program, you could be in line for a merit-based entrance scholarship at McGill university. Remember, this doesn’t apply if you’re a transfer, mature, diploma, exchange, special, part-time, or visiting student.
You’ll find two main flavors of scholarships here. There is a one-year scholarship worth $3,000, but you can’t renew them. Then there are the major scholarships, which can range from $3,000 to a hefty $12,000, and yes, these you can renew for up to three or four years, as long as you keep hitting the mark.
For the one-year scholarships, worth $3,000, you don’t need to do anything extra. If you’re applying to McGill and you’ve got the grades, you’re automatically in the running. But getting the grades doesn’t mean you’ll definitely snag one, so cross your fingers.
No need to fill out a separate form for these, but make sure your application to McGill is packed with all your latest grades, both interim and final, right up until the deadline.
Now, for the major scholarships, which are renewable and come in amounts of $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, or $12,000, there’s a catch. The $12,000 ones are just for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. These scholarships aren’t just about your grades; they’re also about your knack for leadership, whether that’s at school or in your community. But grades do come first.
If you aim for a major scholarship and miss, don’t worry—you’ll automatically be considered for the one-year scholarship.
You can only grab one McGill centrally-administered entrance scholarship, even if you’re offered more. But this doesn’t affect any faculty-specific scholarships, so there’s still a chance to get extra funding.
As for perks, if you win an entrance scholarship and you’re starting in September, you get a guaranteed spot in your first or second choice of residence, as long as you apply by the residence deadline. If your first choice fills up, you’re automatically bumped to your second choice.
Merit-based Awards for Current Undergraduates
There are also McGill University scholarships for international students who are currently enrolled and plan to continue your full-time undergraduate studies, you might be eligible for in-course scholarships, awards, and prizes. These are given out based on your performance and are managed by the individual faculties’ scholarship committees, with the Scholarships and Student Aid office handling the disbursement based on their guidance.
For a comprehensive list of available awards, you should check the In-course Awards section of the Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards Calendar. Each faculty has unique criteria for these awards, so it’s crucial to get in touch with the Student Affairs Office in your faculty to understand these requirements and get any questions answered.
You don’t need to apply for most in-course awards; they’re given to students who stand out academically, as long as there’s budget availability. Your GPA is critical, and the minimum award amounts are set after the academic year ends. To be considered, you must complete at least 27 graded credits during the regular academic year, not including summer courses or courses graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. If you have a documented disability, exceptions may apply. Credits from exchange programs or those earned in co-op and internship programs might affect your eligibility, so it’s best to confirm with your faculty office. Beyond academics, McGill also offers activity awards to acknowledge your community involvement.
Recognition at McGill isn’t just about scholarships. Being named to the Dean’s Honour List is a prestigious non-monetary accolade for the top 10% of continuing students, based on GPA, and is noted on your transcript. As a graduating student, you could earn this honor if you’re in the top 10% of your class and have completed at least 60 McGill credits. However, if you’re a transfer student, this honor could be reevaluated based on your CGPA from your previous institution.
You could also graduate with Distinction if you’re in the top 25% of your class, again with at least 60 McGill credits. For those about to graduate, there are Graduation Awards/Prizes to be won, each with its own set of criteria and descriptions found in the In-Course Awards sections of the calendar. The highest academic honor for undergraduates is the Governor General’s Silver Medal, awarded at convocation to the student with the highest academic standing in their Bachelor’s degree program.
How to Get Scholarships for McGill University?
Once you’ve sent off your application to McGill University, keep an eye on your inbox for a confirmation email. This isn’t just any email—it’s your golden ticket, containing your unique McGill ID number and a PIN you’ll need to access Minerva, McGill’s online portal.
Once you’re on Minerva, navigate to the section for applicants and look for the option to apply for the scholarship of your choice. You’ll need to have some information ready to go for the application. This includes a rundown of your school and community activities over the past three years—think sports, arts, volunteering, the works. Also, be ready to pen an essay. This could be about someone who’s made a big impact on you or an event that changed your perspective. Plus, you’ll need to draft a one-page reference letter for yourself, but write it as if someone else is singing your praises.
When it comes to your grades and transcripts, the process varies a bit depending on where you’re coming from. If you’re an international student or from the U.S., you’ll upload your transcripts directly to Minerva. If you’re studying in the rest of Canada, you’ll self-report your grades.
As for the reference letters—they need to be on official letterhead, signed, and in PDF format. Have your referees or school admin send them over to scholarships@McGill.ca and make sure they mention your McGill ID number.
The scholarship committee has the task of sifting through applications to pick out finalists, who might then be invited for an interview.
And here’s a bit of good news: if you aim for a major scholarship and it doesn’t work out, you’re still in the running for a one-year scholarship without lifting another finger—no extra application necessary.
McGill University Scholarships for International Students 2023 2024 Requirements
Here’s all you need to know about the requirements for McGill University scholarships for international students.
You must have a bachelor’s degree that McGill recognizes, and for graduate programs, a relevant four-year degree or a master’s for doctoral studies. Aim for a minimum 3.0 CGPA or 3.2 GPA in your last two years. Check the specific CGPA requirements for your chosen program.
English proficiency is a must unless you’re planning to write your work in French, and this depends on your course requirements. Verify your English level if needed.
For the application, the documents required depend on where you’re applying from. Quebec CEGEPs, other Canadian regions, and international schools have different deadlines ranging from January 21 to March 7 for submitting two letters of reference and possibly a signed statement from your school. Apply online through Minerva by the deadline, and if mailing, ensure documents are postmarked by the deadline date.
References should be academic and activity-related, on letterhead, signed, and in PDF format, emailed directly by the referees. Include a signed statement of your class rank if your school provides it.
Once McGill receives your documents, they won’t be returned or sent elsewhere. Discrepancies in reported grades versus official ones may lead to a request for explanation or revocation of admission and scholarships if inaccuracies are found.
Conclusion
You have the chance to apply for the McGill University Scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year in Canada. If you’re an international student from any part of the globe, you’re welcome to apply for these scholarships at McGill University. Whether you’re from Canada, the United States, or any other country, you can seize this opportunity. McGill is presenting a fully funded scholarship for those aiming to undertake their Masters or PhD degrees. It’s a significant opportunity for the most talented students to realize their dreams of studying for free in Canada.
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