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McGill admission at a glance
Applications from high schools outside Canada and the U.S. for autumn 2027 entry close on January 15, supporting documents are due by March 1, and you apply through the McGill Applicant Portal, according to the page as of October 2026.
The application opens on October 1, and McGill lists estimated decision dates for September 2027 entry from mid-November to mid-May for high schools outside the U.S. and Canada.
Grades in the prerequisite subjects decide most files: an IB Diploma with grades of 5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject is the minimum expected for most programmes, and many programmes are more competitive and will require higher grades.
Documents have their own deadline: incomplete applications may be cancelled if a programme reaches capacity before the supporting documents deadline.
| Step | What McGill says |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| Supporting documents | March 1 |
| Major Entrance Scholarship application and documents | January 21 |
| Decisions, high schools outside the U.S. and Canada | Mid-November to mid-May |
| English proof (IELTS Academic) | band score 6.5 or better, each component 6.0 or better |
How McGill selects students: grades and prerequisites
McGill reads the credentials that lead to university admission in your country of study, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place.
- Studies in applied programmes or at vocational or technical high schools are not normally considered.
- All grades count, including failed or repeated courses.
- After an offer you are expected to keep your level of academic performance until you finish your pre-McGill studies.
The grade ranges McGill prints per programme are a gate, not the level of admitted students: presenting grades equal to or better than those listed does not offer any guarantee for admission.
Examples of the printed ranges for the IB Diploma: Mechanical Engineering 38 to 42 subject points, Bioengineering 39 to 41 subject points, Computer Engineering 35 to 38 subject points, Arts 33 to 36 subject points.
McGill SAT, ACT, CASPer and other test requirements
The SAT or ACT matters for one group: McGill requires applicants with a U.S. high school diploma to provide ACT or SAT results by the published deadline.
- Applicants to Music are the exception.
- For the ACT, the Science Reasoning component is not required and will not be reviewed.
- AP examinations can bring advanced standing credits based on final results.
Some programmes ask for more than grades: proof of French proficiency, CASPer test results, recommendation letters, a personal statement or other documents, depending on the programme. McGill names B.A. Population & Global Health, Education, Global Engineering, Music, Nursing, and Religious Studies.
Documents outside those cases are not considered in the admission review and should not be submitted.
McGill admissions step by step for autumn 2027
Apply in the McGill Applicant Portal once the window opens on October 1, and watch the three dates that matter: January 15, January 21 and March 1.
When programme space is limited, preference may be given to applicants who submitted all required documents earlier. Candidates to highly competitive programmes may receive decisions later than the windows shown.
all decision dates are subject to change without prior notice, and a denied applicant may ask for reconsideration for up to two weeks following the date of decision.
Applicants from U.S. high schools use a different calendar: the self-reporting period for grades runs November 15, 2026 to March 1, 2027, and decisions are estimated mid-November to end of April.
McGill English language requirements
Unless an exemption applies, you submit an English test: a band score of 6.5 or better and 6.0 or better in each component on IELTS Academic, with results sent directly from the examining institution, because applicants cannot upload them.
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, 6.0 each component |
| PTE Academic | 65 overall, 60 each component |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 or better, and 130 for B.Com. |
| CAEL | 70 overall, 60 each component |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Grade B or better |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | Grade C or better |
| TOEFL iBT, Management | 100 on the older scale, 5.0 on the newer band scale |
| TOEFL iBT, Engineering, Science, Arts and most other faculties | 90 on the older scale, 4.5 on the newer band scale |
The TOEFL table splits at the January 2026 change of the test; component minima are Reading: 21, Listening: 21, Writing: 21, Speaking: 21, and McGill does not use MyBest scores. The institutional code is 0935-00.
Who does not need an English test
- Four consecutive years of high school and/or university in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language.
- IB Group 1 English with a grade of 5 or better.
- British A-Level English with a final grade of C or better.
- GCSE, IGCSE or O-Level English with a final grade of B (or 5) or better.
- English as Language 1 or Language 2 in the European Baccalaureate.
- The International French Baccalaureate (American or British section) or the previous Option Internationale.
McGill can ask any applicant for proof at any time during the review. Official test results are required by the supporting document deadline.
McGill requirements for the IB Diploma
For the IB Diploma, grades of 5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject are the minimum expected for most programmes; the prerequisites differ by faculty.
SL Mathematics: applications and interpretation is not acceptable as a math prerequisite, but is acceptable where math is not required. For Management, the printed math grade is Math: 5 (HL Math AA/AI); 6 (SL Math AA).
Typical ranges: Science 36 to 39 subject points (Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences Group) and 35 to 38 subject points (Physical, Earth, Math and Computer Sciences Group). McGill may grant a maximum of 30 credits of advanced standing for the IB Diploma.
McGill requirements for A-Levels
McGill wants three A-Levels in three different subjects, with Maths and Further Maths counted as one subject, and the subject mix depends on the faculty.
| Faculty | Prerequisite subjects |
|---|---|
| Engineering | including at least two of A-Level Math, chemistry, or physics |
| Science | including A-Level Math and at least one of biology, chemistry, or physics |
| Management | including A-Level Math |
| Arts | no specific prerequisites |
Engineering also lists Math, chemistry and physics at GCSE level. Printed ranges: Computer Engineering A*AA - AAB, Mechanical Engineering A*A*A - AAA, Arts AAA to ABB, Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences Group A*AA - AAB.
A maximum of 30 credits of advanced standing may be granted for final official results.
McGill requirements for the French Baccalaureate and other diplomas
For the French Baccalaureate, McGill reviews the bulletins for Première and Terminale or, if completed, the final Bac results, and the baccalauréat professionnel or technologique is not accepted.
- For competitive-entry programmes, results above the class average are expected.
- If admitted, you are expected to obtain the Bac in premier groupe.
Other high school diplomas
| Faculty | Prerequisite |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Math (minimum of pre-calculus), chemistry and physics at the senior high school level |
| Management | Math (minimum of pre-calculus) at the senior high school level |
| Arts | No specific prerequisites |
| Social Work | Not eligible for direct admission |
McGill's list of other international high schools includes, among others: German Abitur; Polish matura; Italian Diploma di Esame di Stato; Romanian Diploma de Bacalaureat; Greek Apolytirion; Turkish Lise Diplomasi; Brazilian Certificado de Ensino Médio; Indonesian STTB SMA; Algerian baccalauréat; Japanese Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
McGill requirements for U.S. diplomas, SAT, ACT and AP
With a U.S. high school diploma, ACT or SAT results are required by the published deadline, and McGill reads Grades 10, 11 and 12 results, including prerequisites for the programme.
| Faculty | Courses must include |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Pre-calculus; chemistry and physics |
| Science | Pre-calculus; two of biology, chemistry or physics |
| Management | English; pre-calculus |
Printed test ranges: Arts ACT 27-29, with English and Reading subscores of 26 or higher; Chemical, Civil, Computer and Electrical Engineering SAT EB Read & Writing 700-720, Math 700-720. They describe typical admitted applicants, not a minimum.
AP examinations may bring advanced standing credits based on final results.
What to study at McGill: faculties and programmes
McGill groups its undergraduate degrees by field, from engineering and science to management, arts and health, and each faculty sets its own prerequisites.
Three details catch international applicants out. The Science faculty has a new stream: the Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences Group is a new stream for Fall 2027, with the grade range to be determined. Nursing needs proof of French proficiency. Global Engineering: admission review, handled jointly by both universities, also takes into account the Personal Statement.
Computer science sits in the Science faculty (Physical, Earth, Math and Computer Sciences Group) and in Engineering as Computer Engineering and Software Engineering; both use the prerequisites in the tables above.
Cost of study at McGill
McGill publishes undergraduate tuition through an online calculator: you select your residency status and the degree or programme to get an approximation of tuition and fees.
The calculator covers the Fall and Winter terms of 2026/2027 and each degree separately, so read the figure for your faculty there before you plan a budget.
All new first-year students are eligible to apply for entrance scholarships and need-based aid, regardless of citizenship. Dates: January 21 for the Major Entrance Scholarship application and documents, and 30 days from acceptance date for the financial aid application.
Who is McGill for? Summary
McGill suits applicants whose predicted or final grades in mathematics and science clear the faculty prerequisites and who can finish the file by March 1.
- Apply by January 15 through the McGill Applicant Portal.
- Check the faculty prerequisite table for your diploma: IB, A-Levels, French Baccalaureate, U.S. diploma or other.
- Book an English test or confirm an exemption before the supporting document deadline.
Check every figure on the McGill pages linked above before you apply: McGill can change dates and ranges, and says all decision dates are subject to change without prior notice.
McGill: frequently asked questions
What is the McGill application deadline for autumn 2027?
For high schools outside Canada and the U.S. the application deadline is January 15 and supporting documents are due by March 1; the page names no year in the table, and decisions are listed for September 2027 entry.
What IELTS score does McGill require?
McGill asks for a band score of 6.5 or better and 6.0 or better in each component.
Does McGill require the SAT or ACT?
Applicants with a U.S. high school diploma must provide ACT or SAT results by the published deadline. Applicants from outside the U.S. and Canada follow their own diploma page.
What IB grades does McGill want?
Grades of 5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject are the minimum expected for most programmes, and many programmes are more competitive and require higher grades.
Which A-Level subjects does Engineering need?
When does McGill announce decisions?
For high schools outside the U.S. and Canada McGill estimates mid-November to mid-May for September 2027 entry; all dates are subject to change without prior notice.
Where these numbers come from
Official pages of McGill University, UCAS, gov.uk and the ranking publishers. Applicant reports, where shown, are self-reported and labelled.
https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international/ib · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/admission-decision-dates · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international/advanced-levels · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/english-proficiency · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/us · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international/fb · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international/other · https://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-charges/fallwinter-term-tuition-and-fees/undergraduate-fees · https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/finances
Photos: Arts Building, McGill University, Aug 31: photo D. Benjamin Miller, CC0, Wikimedia Commons · Old Chancellor Day Hall, Faculty of Law, McGill University - 30 May: photo LLarose-McGillU, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons