Start here to learn about funding your graduate studies at McGill: Graduate Funding 101
Specific information on funding related to graduate programs in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: FMHS GPS
Minimum Residence Requirements - Number of Terms for MSc and PhD Degrees
Master’s thesis students are required to pay a minimum of 3 full-time terms and PhD students are required to pay a minimum of 6 full-time terms (if admitted as PhD 2) and 8 full-time terms (if admitted to PhD 1). Further details are available on the GPS website for Master's and Doctoral candidates. Normally, tuition fees are only required for the fall and winter terms, and the graduate student retains full status and privileges during the summer months. Thus, a minimum time of 1.5 years or 3-4 years is normally required for the MSc and PhD degrees respectively, and the student is expected to be actively working towards the degree during this time.
Time Limitation Policy: Candidates for Master's degrees must complete the degree within three years of initial registration. Candidates for Doctoral degrees must complete the degree by the end of PhD7. Please note that students admitted after a Master’s degree are normally considered to be PhD2 and not PhD1 (direct entry).
Additional Session(s)
Subsequent terms of graduate studies are referred to as an 'additional session' and the student is expected to have finished all required course work and most or all of the experimental work in the laboratory, and to concentrate mainly on completing the written thesis.
Stipends, Tuition and Fees
Student Accounts: Fee Calculator - Graduate Tuition & Fees
FMHS Funding Policy: Full-time MSc-Thesis and PhD graduate students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences will receive funding to support for their living expenses, tuition and fees. A student’s funding may come from a combination of sources including, but not limited to, the supervisor’s research funds, Graduate Excellence Funds, Differential Fee Waivers, and scholarships awarded to the student. Travel and presentation awards do not contribute to the minimum funding package. Funding will be provided to students for a minimum of two years for MSc-Thesis programs and for five years for PhD programs. Shorter periods of funding support are acceptable if the final thesis is submitted prior to the these time limits. It is strongly encouraged that funding be extended until submission of the final thesis. Students must demonstrate adequate progress and meet required program milestones.
The following table demonstrates an approximation of the associated annual tuition rates and fees depending on your residency status and the degree/program you are interested in applying to, as well as the corresponding minimum funding levels:
2024-2025 |
MSc1 QC |
MSc2 QC |
MSc1 OOP |
MSc2 OOP |
MSc1 INTL |
MSc2 INTL |
Living Allowance |
$22,285 |
$22,285 |
$22,285 |
$22,285 |
$22,285 |
$22,285 |
Tuition/Fees/Insurance |
$5,368 |
$5,568 |
$11,662 |
$8,715 |
$23,245 |
$14,769 |
Minimum Total Funding |
$27,652 |
$27,853 |
$33,947 |
$31,000 |
$45,430 |
$37,054 |
2024-2025 |
PhD1-4 CDN |
PhD5-7 CDN |
PhD1-4 INTL |
PhD5-7 INTL |
Living Allowance |
$23,785 |
$23,785 |
$23,785 |
$23,785 |
Tuition/Fees/Insurance |
$5,368 |
$4,581 |
$21,165 |
$5,106 |
Minimum Total Funding |
$29,153 |
$28,366 |
$44,950 |
$28,891 |
QC = Quebec; OOP = out of province Canadians/Permanent Residents, INTL = international; CDN=Canadians/Permanent Residents
Please check the following website for complete information on funding packages:
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Minimum Funding Packages 2024-2025
* International students are required to obtain medical insurance at a cost of $349 per semester. For more information, please consult International Student Services.
Financial Support
As mentioned in the previous section, graduate students generally finance their education from a variety of sources including Canadian federal and provincial governments, university departments - in the form of awards and scholarships - as well as from external funding or TAships. It is advisable to start looking for graduate funding opportunities while or even before applying to McGill, as the two processes often require very similar applications.
All prospective students who have not obtained funding prior to acceptance are required to apply for every fellowship for which they are eligible, until a source of funds is secured. The Department and research supervisors will provide all necessary assistance and advice to each student in this regard.
Basically, there are two main types of funding available for personal support and tuition, namely McGill internal funding and external funding. The following is a breakdown of funding opportunities that may be available to you:
McGill Internal Funding
Financial support distributed by the university is usually obtained at the time of your application to McGill. The Department of Pathology automatically considers all students for funding and this funding is awarded competitively and in the form of a funding package. Once you have been offered admission, the department will decide what type and amount of funding can be offered to you. Your funding package may include support from these sources:
- Faculty and departmental awards
- Supervisor’s research grant
- Scholarships from hospital research institutes
- Differential fee waivers for international students to offset international fees
External Funding
All prospective graduate students, both Canadian and International, are encouraged to apply for external funding. External funding represents scholarships and grants awarded by provincial and federal governments or other agencies and foundations. International students usually obtain such funds independently in advance, from their government or an international agency. External funding is obtained by the student directly, by application to an external agency or government. This application may occur before or after the student starts their studies, and, in some cases, must be routed through the university. Canadian students located near McGill can receive assistance from prospective research supervisors in applying for Canadian scholarships.
For more information on applying for external funding please visit:
MSc Funding Opportunities | PhD Funding Opportunities | Postdoc Funding Opportunities
External funding available to international students
Various forms of financial support are available to international students including McGill internal funding, external funding and McGill student aid. We also encourage you to contact your country's educational authorities to inquire about funding opportunities to study abroad. Personal sources of income is of particular relevance to international students, as they must pay higher tuition fees, are not eligible for most of the Canadian scholarships, and require proof of adequate financial resources before Canadian immigration will grant them a student visa.
For more information on international student funding please visit:
https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/funding/intl
External Fellowships
The following list includes some of the major external fellowships available to you, while others are listed in this table.