Graduate Admissions
Future graduate students are encouraged to consult the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Requirements for Admission
Applicants must have a BSc or the equivalent degree with an extensive background in the physical and biological sciences. An academic record equivalent to or better than a GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 at McGill is required, for at least the final two years of undergraduate training, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 overall. It is an advantage if candidates have very favourable supporting letters or have demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for research. Non-Canadian applicants are usually required to take the GRE in order to properly evaluate their suitability, and those who did not complete their previous studies in the English language must also take the TOEFL or the IELTS examination.
Application Procedures
The deadlines for various applicants are listed in the right panel of this page
McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at Future Graduate Students. For detailed instructions on how to apply and how to upload required supporting documents on McGill’s online application system (uApply), please see: https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare.
1. Application (Online)
Please complete and submit an online web application at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready
2. Application fee
A non-refundable application fee of CAD$117.35 is required, payable by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) after completing the online application.
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. Transcripts
Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from all universities previously attended. If you are recommended for admission you will later be required to supply official transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript or by a certified translator.
Please refer to the following webpages: https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents and https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready/submit/upload
5. Electronic letters of reference
Two confidential letters of reference are required for your application. Once you have identified your referees (you must provide a valid institutional e-mail address for each referee), McGill will send them an e-mail asking for a reference in support of your application (Gmail or Yahoo domains cannot be accepted). Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate his/her position and full contact information at the institution.
Please refer to the following webpage: https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
6. Personal Statement or Research Proposal
A one-page statement that briefly summarizes your previous experience and provides a concise explanation of why you wish to study in the Department of Pathology at McGill University. Applicants should indicate their range of research interests; if they wish to investigate a specific topic they should provide a clear description and suggest potential research director(s). Applicants are not required to contact individual professors – approved candidates will receive departmental assistance to find an appropriate research director.
7. Proof of English language proficiency
Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of competency in oral and written English. Before acceptance, appropriate exam results must be submitted directly from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Office. McGill accepts ONLY scores submitted electronically by an IELTS test center, and does not accept paper TRFs (Test Report Forms) directly from test centres and candidates. Applicants must contact the test center where the IELTS test was taken and request that the test scores be sent electronically to McGill. Applicants and staff can verify the receipt of test results directly in uApply. An institutional version of the TOEFL is not acceptable. Applications will not be considered if a TOEFL is not available. McGill accepts only scores submitted electronically by an IELTS test center, and no longer accepts paper TRFs (Test Report Forms) directly from test centres and candidates. Please contact the test center where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent electronically to McGill. You can verify receipt of your results directly in uApply; please allow an appropriate delay as McGill receives IELTS results on an ongoing basis. ( Institution Code for McGill University is 0935.). Please refer to the web page: www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/requirements/proficiency.
Students are normally accepted into the MSc program, and those candidates showing exceptional ability may be permitted to transfer into the PhD program after one year of training. Applicants who already possess an additional degree (MSc, MD) and have some research experience may be allowed to register for the PhD program directly.
All applications will be evaluated by the Graduate Students Committee. Candidates found suitable must then be accepted by a research director, and adequate funding must be obtained for both personal support and research expenses.
Under special circumstances, consideration will be given to requests for part-time status for a portion of the graduate training program. This would be applicable for an advanced candidate with an established career in research or education who has obtained a partial leave of absence to obtain a graduate degree.
Additional Requirements
- GRE - May be required for non-Canadian applicants
Financial aid from the Department and the University is at the present time limited, and from outside granting agencies limited to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants with very high academic standings. Applicants should indicate plans for financial support.
As soon as all the required documents have been received, the application will be reviewed by our Graduate Students Committee, and you will be advised of our decision.
Recommended applicants will be notified by Enrolment Services to provide official documents. For information on sending official documents: https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready/submit/send.