McGill Entrance Scholarships (One-year and Major)

What you will need

• ✓ Application for admission to McGill University
• ✓ All grades and interim grades granted up to the admissions application deadline date
• ✓ Subsequent grades (interim or final) forwarded to the admissions office as soon as they are issued
• ✓ Separate application for Major Entrance Scholarships submitted via the Undergraduate Admissions Applicant Portal, with two letters of reference (plus a signed statement from your school, if available, if you are applying from outside Quebec)

About this award

You can receive either a one-year scholarship valued at $3,000 (which is non-renewable) or a Major Entrance Scholarship valued between $12,000 and $48,000. If you win a major award, you get between $3,000 and $12,000 per year, renewable for up to 4 years if you meet the renewal criteria. As these are scholarships, not loans, you do not have to pay this money back. This is for you if you are a first-time university student entering a full-time undergraduate degree program and have a strong record of academic achievement and community leadership. Major Entrance Scholarship applications open October 1 on the Undergraduate Admissions Applicant Portal. Apply by January 21 if you are applying from a school outside Canada, February 7 from a school in the rest of Canada, or March 7 from a Quebec CEGEP. One-year scholarships need no separate application. Selection committees choose winners based on academic achievement and outstanding leadership in school or community activities. They prioritize academic excellence first, then demonstrated leadership. Finalists may be interviewed. If you apply for a major scholarship but don't receive one, you are automatically considered for a one-year scholarship. Ask McGill University during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Major entrance scholarships are renewable for up to 3 or 4 years provided the criteria for renewal are met — confirm with McGill University what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a first-time university student entering a full-time undergraduate degree program. Transfer, Mature, Diploma, Exchange, Special, Part-time and Visiting students are not eligible. Note that $12,000 scholarships are only available to Canadian citizens or legal permanent residents of Canada. Beginning Fall 2026, CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel — the public college system in Quebec) students admitted to the BCL/JD (Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor — combined law degree), Dent-P (Doctor of Dental Medicine preparatory), or Med-P (Doctor of Medicine preparatory) programs will no longer be eligible for these centralized awards.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to high school students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• LeadershipAvoid simply listing the clubs you joined. Instead, show how your actions led to a specific result or helped others. Describe one time you took charge to solve a problem.
• SupportAvoid vague references. Instead, ask your referees to provide concrete examples of your academic excellence and leadership. Give your referees a copy of your resume so they can be specific.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until you are admitted to look for funding. Instead, prepare your Major Entrance Scholarship application immediately after you submit your admission request. Mark October 1 on your calendar to access the portal.
• RealismAvoid assuming that meeting the minimum academic requirements means you will get money. Instead, treat this as a competitive process. Apply for other bursaries and grants to ensure you have a backup plan.

Questions students ask

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