FAQs

The Indigenous Initiatives Unit is part of the Office of the Provost. The unit was created in response to the 52 Calls to Action from the Provost's Task Force 2017 Final Report on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education. Indigenous Initiatives supports and coordinates initiatives from different faculties and units across McGill, as well as launching its own flagship projects. Learn more about the unit here. 

The Indigenous Initiatives Unit is an administrative unit that is part of the Office of the Provost. The First Peoples' House is a student support center within Student Services. Learn more about Indigenous Initiatives here, and learn more about the First Peoples' House here. 

Learn more about Truth and Reconciliation at McGill, here. 

Learn about the Calls to Action McGill is taking towards Truth and Reconciliation, here. 

• What should I do to prepare for the application process?

  • Visit the Applying to Undergraduate Studies page to review the application process, requirements, and deadlines for applying to undergraduate programs at McGill. The application process will depend on your educational background (whether you're coming from CEGEP, high school, etc.). 
  • You will need to choose two programs to list on your application. You can view a list of all undergraduate program at McGill here. 
  • McGill has an online application form. Make sure that you have all the information and documents you need, a valid email address, and a valid credit card to pay the application fee. 
  • McGill normally holds Open Houses for prospective students to visit the campus and learn about the programs offered. However, while the campus is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Welcome Centre at McGill is offering live sessions with McGill Tour Guides and Ambassadors.  You can learn more and register for a live session here. 
  • The School of Continuing Studies, professional programs like Medicine and Law, and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies have different application processes. Visit our Admissions info page to learn more. 

• What documents will I need for my application?

  • Visit the Admissions Requirements page to learn about the documents you will need for undergraduate admissions.

• What should I do after I submit my application?

  • After you submit your application, you can begin planning for what you'll do if you're admitted! This is a good time to look at residence and housing options, scholarships and financial aid, and the student services available at McGill. The applications website also has a section on Next Steps after applying.

• Is there an alternate application process for Indigenous students?

  • There is an optional Indigenous Applicants Protocol for Indigenous students applying to McGill for undergraduate programs. The Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine also offer optional, alternative application processes for Indigenous students. Learn more on our Admissions page. The First Peoples' House provides information on self-identification.

• Does McGill provide funding to Indigenous students?

  • Yes, McGill has partnered with Indspire to provide a bursary for Indigenous students ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 based on demonstrated financial need. Learn more about the Indigenous Bursary here. Students can also check if they are eligible for the In-Course Financial Aid Program.

• What scholarships are available to Indigenous students? How can I find scholarships?

  • In addition to the general scholarships available at McGill, there are many scholarships specifically for Indigenous students! You can find information on scholarships on our Financial Aid page, through the First Peoples' House, and on the Scholarships and Student Aid website. Cultural and Indigenous Research in Counselling Psychology (CIRC) at McGill has also compiled a list of scholarships and awards for Indigenous students, which you can view here. 
  • The Government of Canada also has an Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool which allows students to search for scholarships and bursaries. Access the tool here. 

• Does McGill have programs about Indigenous cultures and peoples?

  • McGill has a number of Indigenous-focused programs, particularly through the School of Continuing Studies and the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE). Some programs are offered in-community; others, like the Indigenous Studies minor in the Faculty of Arts, are offered on-campus. Learn more on our Programs page. 

• Does McGill offer in-community programs?

  • There are in-community programs available for Indigenous students. For example, OFNIE offers community-based teacher certification and community development programs for First Nations and Inuit teachers and aspiring teachers, in partnership with educational authorities such as the Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the Cree School Board, the Kahnawà:ke Education Centre, and the Listuguj Education Directorate. Learn more on our Programs page. 

• Does McGill have programs aimed at people who want to work in Indigenous communities?

  • McGill offers programs for students who plan to work in Indigenous communities after graduation, such as teacher certification and Indigenous business administration. Many of these programs are offered through OFNIE and the School of Continuing Studies. Learn more on our Programs page. 

• Does McGill offer courses with Indigenous content?

  • In addition to Indigenous-focused programs, there are courses in many faculties and departments at McGill which feature Indigenous content, and which are open to students in a variety of degree programs. Visit our Indigenous Curricula page to learn more, and to view a list of courses by subject area. 

• Does McGill offer courses in Indigenous languages?

  • Most of the teaching at McGill is done in English, although many activities are also conducted in French. McGill University offers courses in Indigenous languages (Mohawk, Algonquin, Cree, Inuktituk, Mi'gmaq, Naskapi) for specific programs through the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education. As well, the delivery of the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Kindergarten and Elementary Education program in the community of Listuguj (Gaspé Peninsula) is done by Mi'gmaq language teachers with Mi'gmaq knowledge and pedagogy.

• What is the First Peoples' House?

  • The First Peoples' House (FPH) is a hub for the Indigenous community at McGill. It represents a "home away from home" that brings together Indigenous students from different backgrounds and provides them with a space to express their spiritual and cultural traditions. The First Peoples' House provides services and student support including residence rooms, study space, visiting Elders, and events and cultural programming. Learn more on the FPH website. 

• Where can I go for academic advising?

  • Visit Academic Advising for help with course selection, declaring a major/minor, planning your degree, and more. 

• Where can I access resources for mental and physical health?

  • Students can access health services through the Student Wellness Hub at McGill. As well, there is programming to support Indigenous students, such as mental health and wellness workshops held by the Indigenous Student Associate, and Elder visits at the First Peoples' House. 

• Where can I go for questions about jobs and careers?

  • Visit the Career Planning Services (CaPS) website for information about job opportunities and career planning. If you are a current McGill student, you can also view job postings by signing into MyFuture. 

• Where can I go to learn about exchange programs?

  • Visit McGill Abroad to learn more about exchange programs through McGill.

• Does McGill have a specific graduation ceremony for Indigenous students?

  • The First Peoples' House holds a Convocation reception for graduating Indigenous students. Learn more about the reception here, and read a McGill Reporter article about the reception here. 

Visit the Students tab, where you'll find information on admissions, scholarships and financial aid, academic programs, and more. 

Visit the Students page for information about student support. Visit Resources, specifically those for Indigenous McGillians. Visit Faculty & Staff for information for professors. Visit Partnerships, specifically How to Partner for information for communities interested in partnering with McGill.

You can also visit the History page in the Resources section of the website. Visit our Land and Peoples menu. There are also documentaries, podcasts, and other resources available on the Learn About Land and Peoples of Tiohtià:ke/ Montreal page. 

The Calls to Action page provides updates on how McGill is implementing the Calls to Action in order to improve its role in Indigenous education and its relationship with Indigenous communities. You can also read the Provost's Task Force 2017 Final Report on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education here. 

Go to the Programs page under the Students menu item, or visit the Indigenous Studies Program website for information about the program. 

The Faculty and Research page has information on research centres at McGill with an Indigenous focus, as well as resources for researchers who want to work with Indigenous communities. You can also visit the Faculty and Staff profiles page to view a list of Indigenous faculty members at McGill.

The Resources Hub on this website includes information on general educational resources, the history of McGill and Canada, and allyship toolkits. Visit Land and Peoples for learning resources.You can also visit our Curricula page to find courses with Indigenous-focused content offered at McGill. 

The Indigenous Initiatives unit will stay updated on events related to Indigenous initiatives at McGill. Visit our News and Events page to learn about upcoming events and projects.