McGill University Entrance Scholarships 2027

McGill's Scholarships and Student Aid Office administers two distinct financial support streams for all newly accepted, first-year, first-degree undergraduate students:

• Merit-based Entrance Scholarship Programme — Based on academic excellence and, for major awards, leadership and community involvement

• Need-based Entrance Bursary Programme — For students from low to modest income families who demonstrate financial need

The centrally-administered entrance scholarships are open to students entering any full-time undergraduate degree programme, with the exception of certain professional programmes for CEGEP students as of Fall 2026.

One-Year Entrance Scholarships

• Value: $3,000 (non-renewable)

• Eligibility: Awarded automatically based on academic merit to top-performing incoming students

• Application: No separate application required — all first-year applicants are automatically considered when they submit their admission application to McGill

• Typical criteria: Students with averages around 95% or in the top 1–2% of their class are typically eligible

• Tenure: Valid for the first two semesters (Fall and Winter) of the undergraduate programme

• Credit requirement: Recipients must complete 27 McGill graded credits during the regular academic year (or 14 if registered for only one term)

Major Entrance Scholarships

• Value: $12,000 to $48,000 total

  • $3,000 per year (renewable) = $12,000 over 4 years

  • $5,000 per year (renewable) = $20,000 over 4 years

  • $10,000 per year (renewable) = $40,000 over 4 years

  • $12,000 per year (renewable) = $48,000 over 4 years

• Eligibility: Awarded for high academic achievement and outstanding leadership in school or community activities

• Application: Separate application required — submitted through the Undergraduate Admissions Applicant Portal soon after the admission application

• Selection: Applications reviewed by selection committees; finalists may be invited for an interview

• Tenure: Renewable for up to 3 or 4 years provided renewal criteria are met

• Credit requirement: Same as one-year scholarships — 27 graded credits per year
  Entrance Bursary Programme (Need-Based)

  For students who demonstrate financial need, McGill offers entrance bursaries that are non-repayable awards separate from merit scholarships.

  • Average offer values:

    • Quebec residents: ~$3,000

    • Out-of-province Canadians: ~$9,000

    • US/International students: ~$19,000

  • Application: Separate need-based application required; international students must submit a CSS Profile in addition to the McGill Minerva aid application

  • Last cycle: Over $6.3 million in entrance bursaries awarded to 550 newly accepted students

For One-Year Scholarships

• No additional documents — automatically considered based on your admission application and academic transcripts

For Major Entrance Scholarships

All documents are submitted via the Undergraduate Admissions Applicant Portal:

• Two letters of reference:

  • One academic reference (e.g., teacher, professor)

  • One activity-related reference (e.g., coach, volunteer supervisor, community leader)

  • Must be typed on letterhead stationery, duly signed, converted to PDF, and submitted directly by referees through the portal

• School activities and community/volunteer involvement list — Factual list for the last three academic years, including athletic, artistic, and other activities

• General essay — On either:

  • A contemporary or historical figure who influenced or inspired you, or

  • A memorable event or experience that provided you with a new outlook on life

• One-page letter of reference (self-written in third person) — A letter you write about yourself, in the third person, highlighting your achievements and character

• Signed statement from your school (if available) — Indicating the size of your class and your class rank, on school letterhead. Not required if your school does not rank or if rank appears on your transcript

Important: McGill no longer accepts reference letters or rank statements sent by post, email, or courier. All documents must be submitted directly through the online portal.

For Entrance Bursaries

• CSS Profile (for international and US students)

• McGill Minerva financial aid application

• Supporting financial documentation as requested

General Eligibility

• Must be a first-time university student entering a full-time undergraduate degree programme

• Must be newly accepted to McGill in the year of award

• Transfer, Mature, Diploma, Exchange, Special, Part-time, and Visiting students are NOT eligible

CEGEP Students — Important Update (Fall 2026)

• CEGEP students admitted only to BCL/JD (Law), Dent-P (Dentistry), or Med-P (Medicine) are no longer eligible for centralized McGill Entrance Scholarships

• If applying to these programmes and an eligible programme, you may access the scholarship application, but must relinquish any scholarship if you accept an offer to Law, Medicine, or Dentistry

Academic Standing

• One-year scholarships: Typically awarded to students with averages around 95% or in the top 1–2% of their class

• Major scholarships: Exceptional academic record combined with demonstrated leadership, community service, and extracurricular achievement

One-Year Scholarships

1. Apply for admission to McGill — Submit your undergraduate application through the McGill Admissions portal

2. Automatic consideration — No separate scholarship application is required

3. Check your portal — Scholarship decisions are typically posted within days of admission

Major Entrance Scholarships

1. Apply for admission to McGill — Submit your undergraduate application first

2. Access the scholarship application — Log in to the Undergraduate Admissions Applicant Portal and complete the separate Major Entrance Scholarship application soon after submitting your admission application

3. Prepare your documents — Gather reference letters, activity list, essay, self-written reference, and school rank statement

4. Submit by the deadline — Ensure all materials, including referee submissions, are uploaded before midnight Montreal time on the deadline date

5. Await decision — Applications are reviewed by selection committees; finalists may be contacted for interviews

6. Notification — Decisions are typically released by the end of April

Entrance Bursaries

1. Apply for admission — You must be accepted or have applied to McGill

2. Submit CSS Profile (international/US students) and McGill Minerva financial aid application

3. Provide supporting documents as requested by the Student Aid Office

Tip: Do not wait to be admitted before applying for scholarships or bursaries. Apply by the stated deadlines even if your admission decision is pending.