Admissions FAQ


For questions specific to the programs, please visit the pages of the respective programs.

 

What is Occupational Therapy?

For information about the profession of Occupational Therapy, please consult the following websites:
https://www.caot.ca/
https://www.oeq.org/

Why choose the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy?

The School of Physical and Occupational Therapy is known for its:
a) dynamic, cosmopolitan, multicultural environment;
b) undergraduate and Postgraduate  educational programs;
c) energetic, dedicated Faculty;
d) excellent library and learning facilities;
e) enthusiastic, involved students;
f) tradition of excellence in education, research and service.

What programs are available?

The following programs are available:

Undergraduate degrees
BSc Rehabilitation Science - Occupational Therapy (3 years)
BSc Rehabilitation Science - Physical Therapy (3 years)

Graduate degrees
MScA Professional Masters - Occupational Therapy (1.5 years) + Required Qualifying Year, in the same discipline (1 year) for those applicants who have not completed a BSc Rehabilitation Science at McGill
MScA Professional Masters - Physical Therapy  (1.5 years) + Required Qualifying Year, in the same discipline (1 year) for those applicants  who have not completed a BSc Rehabilitation Science at McGill
MSc Rehabilitation Science (2 to 2.5 years)
MSc Rehabilitation Science - Non-Thesis (2 to 2.5 years)
PhD Rehabilitation Science (3 to 5 years)

Certificates
Driving Rehabilitation
Chronic Pain Management

For the Professional Programs, where do students receive their clinical education?

Many of the clinical sites are from within the McGill teaching network, for example:

  • Constance Lethbridge Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Jewish General Hospital
  • Private Sports Medicine Clinics
  • Shriner's Hospital
  • McGill University Health Centre:
  • Montreal Chest Institute
  • Montreal Children's Hospital
  • Montreal General Hospital
  • Montreal Neurological Institute
  • Royal Victoria Hospital
  • Centre Hospitalier Pierre Janet
  • Centre Réadaptation la Ressourse

Under special circumstances, the sites may extend to facilities located across Canada and internationally.

What is special about the curriculum?

The curriculum is known for its:
a) strong scientific basis
b) interdisciplinarity nature
c) integrated clinical and basic science experience
d) small group teaching and attention to students
e) early & varied clinical fieldwork placements including international placements
f) opportunities for elective specialty courses
g) opportunities for research experience

What can I expect? Where do therapists work? What personal qualities are important for applicants?

Applicants should have:
a) motivation to become a health professional
b) knowledge of the field
c) good communication skills
d) good interpersonal relationship skills
e) initiative
f) an interest in community involvement
g) creativity and originality
h) intellectual and cultural interests
i) capacity for self-development
j) interest in life-long learning

 

Admission to the Programs 

Applying to Occupational Therapy at McGill

https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/application-route

What are the admission criteria for students applying from CEGEP?

Academic achievement
R score  (updated annually)
CEGEP or equivalent level science courses:
    2 General Biology with labs
    2 General Chemistry with labs
    Organic Chemistry
    2 Calculus
    2 Physics with labs

Please consult the Undergraduate Requirements page for information on prerequisites, academic standards, and other admission requirements/specifications.

How do I apply for the Qualifying Year for the MSc(A) programs on the online application form?

Within the online uApply application form, you must select exactly the following:

Application type: Degree, certificate or diploma
Term: FALL (YYYY)
Department: Physical and Occupational Therapy
Program: Qualifying for MScA
Area of study: (OT or PT)  Concentration: Qualifying
Status: Full Time

Please consult the QY Program Requirements page for information on prerequisites, academic standards, and other admission requirements/specifications.

Do you accept McGill inter-faculty transfer students?

Yes, we accept applications from McGill non-graduating students who are in a degree other than the Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation Science, OT degree or the Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation Science, PT degree: https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/programs/admissions-0/inter-faculty-transfers

Note: Intra-faculty transfers (between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy) are not available to students in the undergraduate program. Students who wish to change programs can apply to the Qualifying year of their desired program of study, during their final year of undergraduate studies.

What supporting documents do I need to supply?

Requirements vary by program. Please see the following link to find program specific requirements: https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/programs/admissions-0.

Where do I send my supporting documents?

Most supporting documents are to be uploaded directly to uApply ( Qualifying Year and graduate studies). For Qualifying Year candidates, this includes the results of official French language proficiency test scores or proof for testing exemption. If proof of English language proficiency is required, results must be sent directly to McGill (Institutional code 0935). https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/apply/proficiency.

For Graduate Studies: If supporting documents needed to be sent (like TOELF, IELTS or GRE results, applicants are responsible for ensuring that their scores are sent to Enrolment Services at this address:

Enrolment Services
3415 McTavish St.,
McLennan, Library Building,
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C8

How will my cGPA be calculated?

cGPAs are calculated electronically once your university transcripts are received.  Calculations vary by the program to which you are applying.  Guidelines for determining your admission cGPA to a Research Program can be found here.  Applicants to the Qualifying Year can check out this guide.

Do I need reference letters and how do I submit them?

Reference letters, which are not needed unless uApply (graduate studies) specifically requests letters,  may be submitted electronically with uApply. When you complete, make payment and submit your uApply application, a link will be emailed to the referees that you listed in your application form. The referee will be provided with a link to upload the letter of reference.

Is it necessary for my referees to fill out a form to accompany the reference letter?

If Reference Letters are required, the department does not require referees to fill out a form to accompany the reference letters.

How do I know if I must submit additional test results?

Applicants to a Graduate Program should review the admission requirements listed in the program specific admission guide to see if any testing is required.  Applicants who have not lived in a country where English is recognised as an official language, who have not attended an English language university,  and whose mother tongue is not English may be required to submit an English as a Second Language Test to meet Graduate and Postgraduate Studies Guidelines.  Please note that  the School requires a score of 7.0 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam (higher than the McGill requirement of 6.5).

Applicants to the Qualifying Year for the Master of Science Applied and the undergraduate Bachelor of  Rehabilitation Science degrees are required to complete the Canadian Professional Health Sciences (Sciences de la santé - niveau 2) CASPer test. Qualifying year candidates who do not meet the French language exemption criteria will be required to submit French language proficiency test results. More information may be found here.

Applicants who have not completed a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a Canadian university and those applicants who have been out of university for 5 years or more may be asked to complete the GRE (Graduate Records Examination) test.  Please communicate with your Admission Coordinator to see if the test is required.  Please note that the Qualifying Year never accepts or requires the GRE test.

For inquiries about Graduate Records Examination, please contact:

GRE Educational Testing Service,
Princeton, NJ 08540.
Telephone: (609) 683-2002,
Website: www.gre.org

Appropriate exam results must be submitted directly to McGill by the test provider. Test results that cannot be sent electronically can be sent via post to:

Enrolment Services
3415 McTavish St.,
McLennan, Library Building,
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C8
 

What cGPA and other requirements do I need to get into the Master's Program from the Qualifying Year?

Qualifying Year students must maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0, and complete any other requirements as determined throughout the year in order to move on to the MSc(A) in the same discipline. 

Can I get Scholarships and Financial Assistance?

There are various options available to you:
a) A limited number of entrance scholarships are offered to students who are entering university for the first time.
b) Financial assistance based on need may be arranged through the McGill Student Aid Office https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/

What are the Application Deadlines?

Please see information on admissions deadlines at https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/programs/admissions-0/deadlines-application-status

 

Master of Science Applied to OT or PT 

Am I eligible to enter the Professional Masters Program?

Applicants with a Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation Science undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy from McGill,  or current Qualifying Year students may apply directly to the Professional Masters programs, in the same discipline. Graduates of other undergraduate degrees seeking to enter the Professional Masters' Program are admitted through the Qualifying Year, in the same discipline. In other words, applicants, external to the School, are required to apply to the Qualifying Year.  These students may also apply to the undergraduate Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation Science.  

If accepted into the Qualifying Year, am I guaranteed a spot with the MSc(A) Program?

The School reserves a place for all Qualifying Year students in the respective MSc(A) program, provided the required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 is maintained, and students complete any other requirements as determined throughout the year in order to move on to the MSc(A) in the same discipline.. 

How long does it take to graduate from the MSc(A) Occupational Therapy  (OT) or MSc(A) Physical Therapy (PT)?

Typically, for a student entering from CEGEP it takes:
a)  3 years     -      90 credits for the BSc Rehabilitation Science followed by 
b)  1.5 years  –      63 credits for the MSc(A) OT or PT.
Upon completion of the MSc(A) you will be eligible to work as an OT or PT - once you are licensed by a professional order.

For a student who already has a Bachelor's Degree other than the BSc Rehabilitation Science:
a)  8 months    -  30 credits for the Qualifying Year followed by
b)  1.5 years    –  63 credits for the MScA OT or PT.
After this you will be eligible to work as an OT or PT - once you are licensed by a professional order.

What happens if I already have a Bachelor's Degree in another area and want to apply to become an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist?

If you already have a Bachelor's Degree, other than McGill's BSc Rehabilitation Science you may:
a)  apply into the Qualifying Year, which is followed by the corresponding programs in OT or PT after which you will be eligible to work as an OT or PT, once you are licensed by a professional order.
b) apply to the BSc Rehabilitation Science, which is followed by the corresponding MScA programs in OT or PT after which you will be eligible to work as an OT or PT, once you are licensed by a professional order.

If I already have a Bachelor's Degree, are there prerequisite courses for entry into the MSc(A) Occupational Therapy or MSc (A) Physical Therapy other than those that I would take in the Qualifying Year(QY)?

The QY for the MSc(A) in Occupational Therapy program does not have prerequisites, although, there are optional, but recommended, background courses. The QY for the MSc(A) in Physical Therapy program requires three credits of Human Anatomy and three credits of Human Physiology.   Please see the QY admissions page and guides for more information on these requirements.

If I already have taken courses at the undergraduate level, can some of those courses be credited to decrease the time it takes to get my BSc Rehabilitation Science Occupational Therapy or BSc Rehabilitation Science Physical Therapy Degree?

Students are required to complete 60 credits of a 90 credit program to receive a degree from McGill. This means that you might be able to get prior courses credited, up to a maximum  of 30 credits. This process is complex and depends on factors such as when and where you completed the course, whether the course is equivalent to a McGill approved course, and the final grade you received for the course. Also the curriculum follows a progression so that before being promoted to the following year, all courses in a particular year or section have to be successfully passed in good standing. You cannot combine courses from more than one year in the same year of study.

Can I complete the MSc(A) Occupational Therapy  or MSc(A) Physical Therapy Programs on a part-time basis?

No, this is a full-time program of study.

Can I transfer between programs?

Once accepted into one program, you cannot switch to the other program. Students are admitted into either Occupational Therapy  or Physical Therapy and cannot transfer between the programs.  For students entering  the BSc Rehabilitation Science degree, intrafaculty transfers (between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy) are not available to students in the undergraduate program. Students who wish to change programs can apply to the Qualifying Year of their desired program of study, during their final year of undergraduate studies.

How long will it take to graduate from the MSc(A) Occupational Therapy or MSc(A) Physical Therapy Programs if I first am required to complete a Qualifying Year (QY)?

The total time, including the QY and MSc(A), will be 7 consecutive semesters (approximately 26 months).

How many students do you accept into the Qualifying Year?

The School  accepts approximately 35 students into each Qualifying Year program (35 Occupational Therapy, 35 Physical Therapy). 

If I already hold a BSc OT or BSc PT Degree, may I enroll in the Professional Masters Degree Program?

Yes - however, such applicants will still need to do the Qualifying Year.  Please note that the Physical Therapy program also offers an Equivalency Program for internationally  trained professionals of physical therapy.

 

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