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Mcgill University

Montreal, Canada

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McGill University – Overview & Background

Category Details

Name

McGill University

Type

Public research university

Founded

1821 (Royal Charter)

Location

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Campuses

Two campuses – Downtown (main in Ville-Marie) and Macdonald (in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue)

Affiliations

Universities Canada; U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities; Association of American Universities (one of only two AAU members outside the US); Global University Leaders Forum (World Economic Forum)

Accreditation

Degree-granting public university under Quebec provincial legislation

Faculties

11 faculties – Arts, Science, Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Desautels Management, Law, Education, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Dental Medicine, Schulich School of Music, and Continuing Studies

Rankings (2026)

QS World University Rankings 2026: 27th globally (1st in Canada); Times Higher Education: 41st globally; ARWU (Shanghai) 2025: 76th globally; 1 in Canada among medical-doctoral universities (Maclean's) for 20+ consecutive years

Students

40,531 total students (Fall 2025) across both campuses

International Students

Around 27% of students are international, drawn from over 150 countries

Programs

Degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study, across 11 faculties and many schools

Principal (President)

Professor H. Deep Saini (Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill's 18th, since April 2023)

Notable Strength

World-leading in medicine and health sciences (home to Canada's first faculty of medicine, 1829), plus strength in life sciences, AI, and engineering

Alumni

Over 325,000 alumni in 185+ countries, including 15 Nobel laureates, 149 Rhodes Scholars, and three prime ministers of Canada

Nickname / Athletics

McGill Redbirds and Martlets

Website

mcgill.ca

Contact

+1 514 398 4455

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McGill University Virtual Tour

 

https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/visit/virtual-tour

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Key Advantages of McGill University

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    Canada's top-ranked university and one of the world's leading institutions, placing 27th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (1st in Canada) and 41st by Times Higher Education.
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    1 in Canada among medical-doctoral universities for over 20 consecutive years (Maclean's University Rankings 2026).
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    A vast academic catalogue spanning over 300 fields of study across 11 faculties on two campuses.
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    A globally renowned research powerhouse, with around $749 million in annual research funding and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
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    A highly international, diverse community, with roughly 27% of students coming from more than 150 countries.
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    Home to Canada's first faculty of medicine (1829) and one of the country's largest hospital-based research networks through the McGill University Health Centre.
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    Strong graduate employability, with McGill degrees recognised and valued by employers worldwide.
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    Located in Montreal, a vibrant, bilingual, and affordable student city consistently ranked among the world's best.
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    Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility for international graduates, plus extensive research and experiential learning opportunities.
 

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McGill University Jobs and Placements

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    Career Services – the McGill Career Planning Service (CaPS) offers advising, workshops, job postings, and employer-connection programs across faculties.
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    Experiential learning – internships, research assistantships, and field study opportunities embedded across many programs.
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    Employer reputation – consistently ranked among the world's best for graduate employability and recognised across global industries.
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    Alumni network – over 325,000 graduates in 185+ countries, with 70+ alumni branches worldwide.
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    Research and innovation links – deep ties to Montreal's healthcare, AI, aerospace, and biotech sectors, plus strong hospital research partnerships.
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    Graduate outcomes – McGill degrees carry strong global recognition, supporting career mobility across Canada and internationally.
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    Post-Graduation Work Permit – eligible international graduates may work in Canada after completing their program.
Get admission guidance for Mcgill University
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McGill University Campus

Main Campus

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    Downtown Campus – 845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4. McGill's original and largest campus, set on the slope of Mount Royal in the heart of downtown Montreal, with 100+ buildings and central administration.

Other Campus

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    Macdonald Campus – 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9. Located about 30 km west of downtown on Montreal Island, home to agriculture, environmental sciences, nutrition, and the Macdonald Campus Farm.
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Residence at McGill University

McGill offers a residence guarantee for eligible first-year students, with traditional dormitory-style halls, apartment-style units, and dining-hall meal plans. Fees vary by residence type and meal plan; students confirm their place with an application fee and deposit by mid-June.

 

On-Campus Residence

Traditional / Dormitory-Style (with meal plan)

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    Single and shared rooms in residence halls, with a mandatory meal plan.
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    Combined room-and-board costs typically run roughly CAD 15,000 – 19,000 for the academic year.

 

Apartment / Suite-Style (self-catered)

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    Self-catered apartment-style units with kitchens, for upper-year and some first-year students.
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    Costs vary by unit and location, generally lower than dorm packages that include meals.
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Notable Alumni at McGill University

Some notable alumni and affiliates of McGill University include:

 

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    William Shatner – actor, best known as Captain Kirk in Star Trek.
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    Leonard Cohen – acclaimed singer-songwriter and poet.
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    Ernest Rutherford – Nobel laureate and "father of nuclear physics" (McGill faculty).
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    Wilder Penfield – pioneering neurosurgeon and founder of the Montreal Neurological Institute.
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    Justin Trudeau – former Prime Minister of Canada (studied here before his political career; multiple PMs are McGill alumni).
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    Charles Taylor – philosopher and Templeton Prize laureate.
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McGill University Address & Transport

Downtown Campus (Main)

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    845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada.

 

Public Transit

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    The campus is served directly by the Montreal Metro (STM), with McGill station on the Green Line beside campus and Peel station nearby.

 

Bus & Regional Transit

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    Extensive STM bus routes serve downtown Montreal; regional and intercity rail and coaches connect the wider region.

 

Nearest Airport

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    Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is roughly 20–30 minutes from the downtown campus by road.

 

Location Advantage

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    The downtown campus sits at the foot of Mount Royal in central Montreal, surrounded by hospitals, museums, and the business district, placing students in one of the world's top-ranked, most affordable, and culturally rich student cities.
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McGill University Map Location

Address: 845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada (Map pinned location should be here)