Admission requirements for Mature applicants

Admission review process

The Mature Student category is available to applicants who:

  • do not possess a conventional basis for admission such as a high school or CEGEP diploma, or
  • do not meet the minimum academic requirements and have no academic studies within the last five years that would constitute a basis for admission.

Strict conditions for eligibility apply to the Mature Student category, including demonstrating academic potential by completing a minimum number of specific courses within the last three years. 

Eligibility for admission to McGill as a Mature student depends on the academic history of the applicant. Mature status will be validated by McGill admissions staff only after the application and all relevant supporting documents have been submitted. Mature applicants are required to have completed additional university or college level coursework during the last 3 years to demonstrate their academic potential. Any previous studies will be taken into consideration and may serve as the basis for admission if deemed more suitable than Mature status. See below for program-specific requirements and further information.

NOTE: The Desautels Faculty of Management is currently not admitting Mature applicants.

Conditions for eligibility:

  • Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent residency
  • 23 years of age or older by the start of classes (21 years of age for the Faculties of Management and Music)
  • No high school, college or university level studies within the last five years that would constitute a basis for admission
  • Two letters of reference
  • Mature Student Statements:
    • Letter of Intent, including description of all educational experiences
    • Complete resume of employment and other activities, highlighting points relevant to the application
  • In some cases, an interview may be required
  • Demonstrate academic potential by successfully completing a minimum number of specific courses (see 'Minimum grades & prerequisites' below) within the three-year period prior to admission and no later than May 15th of the year of application for the intended program (May 1 for some programs).  These courses, which may be completed at CEGEP or university, will also fulfill prerequisites for the intended program. 

Each applicant is considered on an individual basis, based on all elements in the file. Admission to McGill is competitive and subject to availability of space. As such, submitting the published requirements does not guarantee admission.


Minimum grades and prerequisites 

(Minimum grades must be competitive with those expected of CEGEP and transfer applicants)

Agricultural & Environmental Sciences


These programs are offered on the Macdonald campus

PREREQUISITES
  • A minimum of: One course in differential calculus (CEGEP Mathematics NYA or university equivalent)
  • Two of the following:
    • Biology (CEGEP Biology NYA or university equivalent, with lab)
    • Chemistry (CEGEP Chemistry NYA or university equivalent, with lab)
    • Physics (CEGEP Physics NYA or university equivalent, with lab)

Each of the courses must have been completed with a minimum university grade of B (or equivalent).

 

Architecture

PREREQUISITES

The following requirements are subject to change.

  • One-year of general post-secondary education, including
    • One semester of calculus (differential)
    • One semester of linear algebra
    • Two semesters of science, including physics (mechanics) with lab
Applicants with exceptional grades may be considered with a minimum of calculus 1, linear algebra, and the two science courses.

 

Arts

PREREQUISITES
  • Two courses appropriate to the proposed area of study, each with a minimum university grade of B (or equivalent).

 

Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.&Sc.)

PREREQUISITES

Minimum of:

  • One semester of calculus
  • Two semesters of biology, chemistry, or physics, with labs

Each of the above courses must have been completed with a minimum university grade of B (or equivalent).


NoteThe B.A.& Sc. is a unique degree that is jointly offered by the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science.  It is rooted in both Arts and Science and carries roughly equal course weight in each faculty. It is an interdisciplinary degree intended for students who want to pursue simultaneously a Major in the Faculty of Arts and one in the Faculty of Science or one of the interfaculty programs in Cognitive Science, Environment or Sustainability, Science and Society.

 

Education

PREREQUISITES
  • Two courses, one in English (not English as a Second Language) and one in the proposed teaching area, each with a minimum university grade of B (or equivalent)
  • CASPer Test: Not required for 2024 (see Additional Supporting Documents).
  • TESL applicants must also pass a language test (see Additional Supporting Documents).

Candidates whose applications pass the initial review will be contacted for an interview

B.Mus./B.Ed. applicants must also meet Music requirements.

 

Engineering

PREREQUISITES
  • Minimum of three courses including differential calculus, physics (mechanics) with lab and one semester of general chemistry with lab, each with minimum university grade of 75% (or equivalent).

 

Human Nutrition


This program is offered on the Macdonald campus

PREREQUISITES

Dietetics:

A minimum of:

  • Two semesters of biology with labs
  • One semester of general chemistry with lab
  • One semester of organic chemistry with lab
  • Two semesters (three if CEGEP) of physics (mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics) with labs
  • One semester in each of differential and integral calculus
  • Proof of French proficiency (see Additional Supporting Documents)

Minimum grades must be competitive with those expected of CEGEP or transfer applicants.

Nutrition: 

  • A minimum of: One course in differential calculus (CEGEP Mathematics NYA or university equivalent)
  • Two of the following:
    • Biology (CEGEP Biology NYA or university equivalent, with lab)
    • Chemistry (CEGEP Chemistry NYA or university equivalent, with lab)
    • Physics (CEGEP Physics NYA or university equivalent, with lab)

Each of the courses must have been completed with a minimum university grade of B (or equivalent).

 

Kinesiology

PREREQUISITES
  • Minimum of three courses including one precalculus course in functions (calculus is preferred) and at least two semesters of general biology, chemistry or physics, with labs, each with a minimum university grade of 75% (or equivalent).

 

Management

 

The Desautels Faculty of Management is not currently accepting Mature Student applications. 

Students possessing a university degree or a CEGEP DEC with competitive results overall and in mathematics coursework (completed in the last five years), must apply as a University Transfer or CEGEP applicant. Students with competitive results, but without the required mathematics within the last five years are advised to complete or refresh the mathematics coursework and then apply as a University Transfer or CEGEP applicant.

 

Music

  • ​No specific prerequisite courses
  • An audition

Audition and academic record determine admissibility to any program.
B.Mus./B.Ed. applicants must also meet Education requirements.

 

Nursing

PREREQUISITES

Nursing (B.Sc.(N.)):

  • Minimum of three courses including:
    • One in functions (precalculus) (calculus is preferred), and
    • At least two semesters of general biology, chemistry or physics (all with labs)
    • Each of the courses must have been completed with a minimum university grade of 70% (or equivalent).
  • Proof of French proficiency (see Additional Supporting Documents).

Nursing (B.N. Integrated):

Due to its particular program structure, Mature students cannot apply directly to the Bachelor of Nursing Integrated program.

 

Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy (B.Sc.Rehab.Sci)

PREREQUISITES
  • Two semesters of biology with labs
  • Two semesters of general chemistry with labs
  • One semester of organic chemistry with lab
  • Two semesters (three if CEGEP) of physics (mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics) with labs
  • One semester in each of differential and integral calculus
  • CASPer Test: Applicants are required to complete an online assessment called CASPer, as a component of the selection process (see Additional Supporting Documents).
  • Proof of French proficiency (see Additional Supporting Documents)

Minimum grades must be competitive with those expected of CEGEP or transfer applicants.

 

Religious Studies

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th)

See: mcgill.ca/religiousstudies/undergraduate/bth

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

See: Arts

 

Science

PREREQUISITES

Minimum of three courses including:

  • One in functions (precalculus) (calculus is preferred)
  • At least two of general biology, chemistry or physics (all with labs)

Each of the courses must have been completed with a minimum university grade of 70% (or equivalent).

 

Social Work

PREREQUISITES

The following are required:

  • Two courses, taken at the college or university level, each with a minimum university grade of B or higher, each completed by May 1 of the year of application and within the last 3 years.

AND

Applicants admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work Program (B.S.W.) as Mature students are required to complete the full 90-credit degree program and are not entitled to receive additional transfer credit/advanced standing based on previous studies.

 

Back to top