To begin the application process, hopeful students must pay a non-refundable fee of $85 CAD and music applicants must pay an additional audition fee of $60. The registrar's office at McGill prefers that applicants pay online, via credit card.
For consideration for acceptance to most programs at the university, a few other items must be sent along with a student's application package. Some of these items include official transcripts from past schools, test results from relevant assessments and letters of reference.
Applicants are assessed by the registrar's office at McGill University and admission decisions are based on a number of factors including the past academic achievements and performance in prerequisite courses. Typically, participation in extracurricular activities does not increase applicants chances of being accepted to an academic program but these activities may be taken into consideration if the person is applying for an entrance scholarship.
If accepted, students are expected to maintain academic standing throughout the remainder of the time spent at the current place of education.
Students who have taken courses in math or science at the university level, but who do not have accreditation to confirm that, may take an exam to prove their proficiency. The successful completion of the exam, (which are held at McGill University's campus in August of each year) can result in the granting of a course credit.
In addition to high academic standing, applicants must be able to prove a sufficient level of proficiency in the English language as most of the courses taught at McGill are taught in English, despite the school's location in a primarily French-speaking province.
Additionally, applicants hoping to enter certain programs may need extraneous documentation, certification, or to perform an audition or exam before being accepted to McGill University.