High school students in Ontario have the opportunity to take pre-university courses, labeled as either 4U or 4M. A minimum of six 4M or 4U courses are required and at least four of those must be 4U. Applicants are required to complete 4U English or French (depending on the high school's primary teaching language) as one of those courses. Students interested in applying to the architecture program at McGill must complete 4U level calculus, chemistry and physics and must submit a portfolio to be considered. Students interested in the nursing program must complete 4U calculus and two of 4U chemistry, physics and biology. Applicants who want to study social work, occupational therapy or physical therapy must complete one year of university study before applying to those programs.
Secondary education in Quebec differs from other parts of Canada in that most students begin at a three-year secondary school and then continue their studies in a two-year program at a College of General and Vocational Education, generally referred to as a pre-university school. Upon graduation from a pre-university program, students are granted a degree called a DEC. Only students who hold a DEC can apply to McGill; anyone who has only completed secondary school must attend a year of university elsewhere before applying. Students interested in applying to the environmental science program must complete advanced biology, chemistry and physics and must have a DEC that includes courses in advanced mathematics. Students interested in the music program must hold a DEC in music or demonstrate musical experience through an audition.
Applicants who have completed high school in the United States must submit the results of either the ACT or the SAT I plus at least two SAT IIs. The minimum acceptable score range varies by subject but is typically above 570 for SAT subjects and 24 for ACT. Students interested in the engineering program need to complete pre-calculus, chemistry, physics and at least one mathematics and one advanced science SAT II. Students applying to the education program do not need any specific prerequisite courses but must have strong grades throughout high school. Applicants to the business management program must complete pre-calculus, at least one mathematics SAT II and have strong grades.
International applicants interested in attending McGill University should follow secondary school completion protocol in their country of residence with focus on strong grades and courses applicable to their intended program of study. A letter from the applicant's school directly to the university explaining standardized examination procedures may be necessary if the exams differ greatly from those in Canada and the United States. A complete list of frequently accepted diplomas and exams by country can be found on McGill University's website under application standards. For most programs, academic record and high school courses completed determine admission.