Montreal is a multilingual city in Quebec, a province where French is the official and majority language. McGill is an English-language university in this context.
Language of course instruction
All classes and course materials are given in English. Students submit written coursework and exams in English, or in French if desired by the student.
International students: Level of English required for admission to the program
Non-Canadian applicants whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed a degree (undergraduate or graduate) at a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction must submit formal test results from a test accepted by McGill Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (currently IELTS or TOEFL) demonstrating English language proficiency as described below. Note that the requirements of the MScA program at the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders are higher than the minimum required by McGill University.
As a minimal level of proficiency for entry to our academic program, we expect test results that are equal to or higher than the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level C1/Proficient User, Canadian language Benchmark of 8-9 (IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL IBT score of 94, TOEFL ITP score of 587).
Languages of practica
Many sites in Montreal, particularly in the hospital/health sector and with adults, are bilingual establishments and deliver services bilingually. For students to be placed at these sites, they must be fully bilingual in English and French. However, a number of other sites offer English-only placements (e.g. school boards, community organizations, etc.). The SCSD also creates a number of excellent English only placements in the Montreal region by running “satellite clinics.” English-speaking students who do not speak French will receive the practicum experiences they require in order to graduate but they may not have access to as wide a variety of settings as bilingual students.
Language demands of practica
Practica involve dynamic situations where multiple parties are present (e.g., child, parent, supervising SLP, other healthcare professionals). Therefore, beyond test performance, our students also need to be able to fluidly and efficiently comprehend and communicate in English (or French depending on their practicum setting) in complex and fast-paced environments.
