Frequently asked questions

The McGill Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management (GCHM) is a joint initiative between the McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management. The two faculties joined together to create this management program for professionals in the health sector. At McGill University, we have one of the most respected medical schools in the world, and a management school that is a world leader in innovative education and development.

It is a 15-credit graduate level program that is delivered entirely online, in a synchronous virtual format. Offered in four, six-day modules, it is a part-time program, allowing our students to continue working while they study. The program spans 8 months and includes a final project on which students work from the beginning under the guidance of a mentor/advisor.

Are you a healthcare professional who is looking for managerial skills which will influence the quality, creativity, and fiscal responsibility of healthcare delivery? Are you looking for the ability to implement change and have an impact on the healthcare systems around you? Are you looking for career growth in a healthcare management role? Are you looking to be part of a community of healthcare leaders and like-minded individuals? Then, this program is for you!

You will gain new perspectives and skills which can be applied within any healthcare organization, in real-time and will allow healthcare professionals to lead with confidence. The graduate certificate provides the formal managerial training for healthcare professionals assuming future leadership positions.

The GCHM program starts once a year, every January. It consists of four modules and each module will consist of 6 consecutive days of online sessions from 9 am – 2 pm, EST each day. The modules usually take place at the end of January, March, May and August. There will also be three, two-hour online “workshops” that bridge those modules (practical application). The upcoming dates are available on our website in advance, so you can plan accordingly. At McGill, the program spans over the Winter and Summer terms.

Following each of the first three modules, you will have a short Reflection Memo to write (1-2 pages), based on what you learnt in the previous module. These assignments are completed in groups. On average, we give 4 weeks to work on these assignments.

The Capstone project runs throughout the program, and you may work on it at your own pace. You will meet with a mentor occasionally to discuss the final project. Building up to the final Capstone project and to help you prepare, you will be required to submit two separate Briefing Notes (short 2-page papers). The final Capstone project and a brief 10-minute presentation of your project are due during the final module of the program.

All assignments and courses of the GCHM are Pass/Fail.

Each course is a recognized professional development activity and, as such, is eligible for up to 25, Section 2 credits in MAINPORT (Royal College of Canada) or 25 CMQ (Collège des Medecins du Québec) hours. We are also exploring the possibility of making the Certificate eligible for Section 3 credits (Royal College and CMQ). Renowned McGill University professors will teach a curriculum that addresses the key competencies of the Leader Role in the CANMEDS educational framework of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

• You are a healthcare professional, with work experience in the health sector and you are committed to dedicating part of your current or future work to a managerial role.
• You can send us a copy of your CV containing employment history, educational background, and work experience.
• You have an undergraduate or graduate degree (and/or a diploma in a healthcare field with work experience).
   

For the greatest learning outcome, experience in the health sector is required. You do NOT need to leave your job and most of our students are active healthcare professionals. Actually, your workplace experience can be brought into the classroom for deeper reflection, and the impact of that learning can be pursued on the job for better practice.

No, these test scores are not an admission requirement for the GCHM. We will assess your English proficiency during the admission process, only if necessary.

Please send us your CV through the Personal Information Form and wait to receive the application instructions from our office, if eligible.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, and you should expect to be notified within a few days after completion of the application.

Once an applicant is ready to confirm, they must accept the offer on Slate and pay a CAN$2,000 non-refundable deposit by credit card to reserve their spot in the program. This amount will then go toward the first tuition payment.

For more information, please review our website: https://www.mcgill.ca/desautels/programs/gchm/admissions/how-apply.

Fees for the GCHM are approximately CAN$20,000 - $21,000, depending on the University ancillary fees. A further breakdown of the GCHM tuition fees can be found using the McGill Student Accounts Fee Calculator.

Tuition payments are due approximately one month following registration for each term. For example, the first payment would be due at the end of January for Winter term and the second payment at the end of May for Summer term.

Each tuition bill will be based on the registration for the term and can vary depending on the number of credits assigned to that term.

Instructions on how to make a tuition payment at McGill University can be found here: Making a Payment

No, the GCHM program is not affected by the recent government announcements. The course tuition is the same for all GCHM students, regardless of location or citizenship status.

The GCHM is a private, self-funded program and there are no scholarships available currently. We encourage applicants to explore the possibility of shared financial support with their employers, to form a partnership to further develop their education and healthcare management skills.

Yes! Convocation is held each Fall, where you will walk across the stage with other McGill graduates to receive the official Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management. You and a guest will be invited to attend the ceremony and attend a celebration to honour your accomplishments.

Upon completion of the Certificate, the student will have acquired a set of managerial and leadership skills that would allow them to assume a range of healthcare leadership roles in the public or private sector. For instance, upon completion of the program, students will be well-prepared to lead a team, program or department or, alternatively to effectively lead a private clinic practice.

These are just a few examples of career changes that have occurred during or after taking the GCHM program:

• ‘Infection Prevention and Control Manager’ in a rural community health organization
• ‘Administrator to the Medical Director of Quality and Safety’ in a major hospital in Ontario
• Quality & Safety ‘Project Manager’ in a major hospital in Montreal
• ‘Project Lead Coordinator’, Faculty of Medicine at a major Canadian University
• ‘Adjunct Professor’ at a Canadian University
• ‘Area Manager’ of a multidisciplinary health clinic
• ‘Clinical Director’ of a physiotherapy clinic
• ‘Clinical Service Manager’ at a rural community clinic

Upon successful completion of the GCHM program, the 15 graduate credits can be brought forward for advanced standing in the International Masters for Health Leadership (IMHL) program at McGill University. Contact us for more information.

As an alumnus of McGill University, you automatically have access to the lifelong McGill Alumni services. As a graduate of the GCHM program, you become part of a healthcare management community. We always welcome you back to join in future sessions and hold alumni events from time to time. Several of our students stay in touch and make time to see each other following the completion of the program.