McGill University – Overview & Background
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Details |
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Name
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McGill University
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Type
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Public research university
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Founded
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1821 (Royal Charter)
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Location
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Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Campuses
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Two campuses – Downtown (main in Ville-Marie) and Macdonald (in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue)
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Affiliations
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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)
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Accreditation
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Degree-granting public university under Quebec provincial legislation
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Faculties
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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
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Rankings (2026)
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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
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Students
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40,531 total students (Fall 2025) across both campuses
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International Students
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Around 27% of students are international, drawn from over 150 countries
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Programs
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Degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study, across 11 faculties and many schools
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Principal (President)
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Professor H. Deep Saini (Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill's 18th, since April 2023)
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Notable Strength
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World-leading in medicine and health sciences (home to Canada's first faculty of medicine, 1829), plus strength in life sciences, AI, and engineering
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Alumni
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Over 325,000 alumni in 185+ countries, including 15 Nobel laureates, 149 Rhodes Scholars, and three prime ministers of Canada
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Nickname / Athletics
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McGill Redbirds and Martlets
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Website
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mcgill.ca
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Contact
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+1 514 398 4455
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McGill University Virtual Tour
https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/visit/virtual-tour
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
McGill University Address & Transport
Downtown Campus (Main)
Public Transit
Bus & Regional Transit
Nearest Airport
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.
McGill University Map Location
Address: 845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada (Map pinned location should be here)