Requirements for university students

Please note that for many of our programs Transfer/Second Degree applicants are often considered exceptionally on the basis of space available. Admission standards can vary significantly from year to year depending on demand for the program. See below for the range of minimum CGPA for admission over the past three years. Estimated decision release dates provide an approximate timeline for when you may receive a decision.

Applicants are considered for admission on the basis of all university/college/CEGEP work and may also be considered on previous studies (applicants in the first year of university/college will normally also be reviewed on their previous high school studies). For many programs, you should present well above-average academic records and the required prerequisites (at the university/college/CEGEP level) appropriate to the program you wish to pursue at McGill. Particular attention will be paid to results of courses relevant to the proposed program of study.

In most cases, applicants will not be eligible for admission if applying to a program/subject in which they have already completed a degree or a significant number of courses and where they would be at risk of duplicating course work. Admitted students are expected to complete new course work to what they studied at their previous institution.

The minimum residency requirement means that students are required to complete a minimum of sixty (60) credits at McGill to qualify for a McGill undergraduate degree, regardless of the number of credits completed previously.

To form a basis for admission for a science-based program or to be considered for credit or exemption, science and mathematics courses must normally have been completed within the last five years.

If you are an admitted student, your advanced standing/transfer credit** will be determined only after you have accepted the McGill offer, paid the required deposit, and provided all the necessary, requested, supporting documents. (If course descriptions/syllabi for mathematics and/or science courses, are requested then these must be detailed and include the names and editions of textbooks used). Information regarding equivalencies to McGill courses can be found at www.mcgill.ca/transfercredit/prospective and at https://nimbus-ssl.mcgill.ca/exsa/search/searchEquivalency

** Please note that McGill faculties and programs have varying policies regarding the granting of transfer credit for online courses/distance education completed at college/university. Currently, most programs will allow for the transfer of a maximum of six (6) McGill credits, only.

A Quebec high school graduate who did not proceed to CEGEP but undertook one full year of university study outside Quebec may be eligible for admission consideration as a Transfer applicant.

Please note that courses completed at schools or institutions designed to primarily offer religious education (such as bible colleges, seminaries, or yeshivas) are normally not considered equivalent to university study.

Individuals who have undertaken studies in non-university post-secondary institutions such as technical colleges may not be eligible for admission as Transfer students.

Classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE):

McGill has a long history of admitting applicants from France; we are familiar with the structure and grading systems of the French Baccalaureate (FB) and French universities, as well as the Classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE). At this time, studies completed in CPGE do not serve as a basis for admission to McGill, even if integrated with a program leading to university credit in France.

Accordingly, McGill applicants who have undertaken CPGE study are evaluated on their final French Baccalaureate results. Such applicants should apply as "Applicants from High Schools Outside Canada and the USA - French Baccalaureate" and not as "Applicants from Other Universities or Colleges and Second Bachelor Degree Applicants (‘Transfers').

McGill is aware that Bologna reforms have changed the assignment of credit and exemptions for CPGE study at some universities in Europe. We continue to monitor developments in this regard.

Successful applicants to McGill University as Special or Visiting Students are generally required to have a minimum overall “B” average. In addition, grades obtained in courses relevant to the proposed program of study will be considered.

The admission of Special or Visiting Students is subject to the availability of places in a particular program, and students who present the minimum requirements are not guaranteed acceptance. Entrance to courses with enrolment limits, notably freshman-level science courses, or courses that require permission of the instructor, cannot be guaranteed. Applicants are expected to meet the same prerequisite requirements as those applying for Transfers.

Completion of courses as a Special or Visiting Student at McGill University does not guarantee or improve the chances of entrance into a McGill University degree program in a future year. Normally, Special and Visiting Students remain at McGill University for no more than one semester or two consecutive semesters per academic career.

To qualify as a Special Student:

• You must have received an undergraduate degree or be in the final year of an undergraduate degree program so that you will have obtained the degree prior to beginning studies as a Special student.
• The undergraduate degree, from a recognized college or university, must consist of 120 credits over eight semesters (or equivalent).
  If you completed a CEGEP DEC in the Province of Quebec, you must have completed 90 credits (six semesters) in a Quebec university to obtain the required degree.
• You must have a plan of study that is acceptable to the faculty you wish to enter. Some faculties stipulate prerequisite coursework.

In addition:

• The maximum course load is 15 credits per term for a maximum of two terms (with the exception of Architecture where the maximum course load is six credits per term).
• Music applicants do not require a university degree but must have the necessary Music prerequisites for certain courses. Special Students in Music are not entitled to instrument or voice lessons and, therefore, are not required to audition.
• To complete requirements for the Order of Engineers or the Order of Architects, you must provide a referral from the appropriate ‘Order’.
• Applicants to the Faculty of Science are expected to have a recognized undergraduate Science or Engineering degree completed in the last five years. Holders of any other undergraduate degrees will be considered on an individual basis and only if they have completed a number of advanced university-level mathematics and science courses. Frequently, Special Student applicants to McGill's Faculty of Science have the intention of taking mathematics or science courses to qualify eventually for admission to graduate or professional programs. However, basic mathematics and science courses (100 and 200 level) are not open to Special Students at McGill. The intended McGill courses must be at the 300, 400, or 500 level and must be listed on the application.
• To take courses in English or French as a Second Language, you must obtain written permission from the Department and will be permitted entry only if there is space, after degree students have registered. A plan of study cannot consist only of E.S.L. or F.S.L. courses.
• If applying to the B.Th. program in the Faculty of Religious Studies, you must submit two letters of reference, at least one of which should be from an instructor at an academic institution previously attended. The reference form is available at www.mcgill.ca/religiousstudies/theology/bth.
• To take Social Work courses students must obtain written approval from the Julia.krane [at] mcgill.ca (BSW Program Director) before applying to McGill as a Special Student.  Normally, BSW courses are restricted to BSW degree students. However, in some instances it is permitted to take SW courses as a Special Student. As a first step, an applicant must provide supporting documentation to the BSW Program Director, such as a referral from the Order of Social Workers of Quebec (OTSTCFQ)). If approval is obtained, the applicant can then apply to Faculty of Arts as a Special Student and include the list of requested courses. Note that all field placement courses (SWRK 322, 323, 344, 420, 421, 422) are not available to Special Students.

To qualify as a Visiting Student:

• You are currently registered in a degree program at another university and have completed at least two semesters of study there.
• You must submit a letter of permission from the appropriate officer of your home university approving your proposed program of study.
• Course credits can be applied toward the program of study at your home university, depending on your home university’s policies.
• Admission decisions on visiting applications are final and there is no appeal process

**** The Desautels Faculty of Management is not open for applications from Visiting students. ****

For program and admission information see mcgill.ca/macdonald/prospective/degrees/post-bacc

The Diploma in Environment is a 30-credit program, two semesters in duration if taken full-time. This program is offered through the faculties of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, or Science. You must hold an undergraduate degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. A science background is required for students applying through the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

The Diploma in Meteorology is a 30-credit program, two semesters in duration if taken full-time. You must hold a B.Sc., with an appropriate background in mathematics, physics, or other suitable studies, or B.Eng. degree with good standing. Generally, a minimum of three university-level Calculus courses is required for consideration.

Admission is open to candidates who possess a Bachelor's degree, whether or not it contains courses in religion or theology. A CGPA of 2.70 or higher is required for admission to the 60-credit (two-year) program. If you have a CEGEP DEC or high school diploma you may also be considered. For more information: mcgill.ca/religiousstudies/undergraduate/apply.

These programs are offered at the Macdonald campus. 

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.

Note: Due to space constraints, a very limited number of transfer/second degree applicants are accepted to Engineering programs. In addition to a strong overall CGPA, strong math and science averages are also required.

This program is offered on the Macdonald campus. 

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in the math prerequisites are also reviewed.

​For information, see the Schulich School of Music website.

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.

Note that in addition to an overall CGPA, results in math and science prerequisites are also reviewed.