McGill University

What comes to mind when you think of Montreal? European charm? Cultural diversity? Its numerous festivals and thriving arts scene? While this vibrant city has all these to offer and much more, the answer, for me and an increasing number of students, is education.

With four universities, over twenty public colleges and many more private ones, the options abound. Add to this reasonable rent and tuition, as well as the opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful and multi-cultural cities in the world and Montreal becomes the place to go.

You've chosen to study in Montreal, what now? The first step is probably deciding where to go. The choices are numerous, and you are likely to find that each has something different to offer.

McGill University is the oldest of the Montreal universities and can take pride in having an international reputation of excellence. It consistently ranks first in Maclean’s magazine’s annual list of top Canadian universities, and finds a place in the world’s top 50 universities according to the Times Higher Education and the QS World University Rankings, making it to 12^th place on the T.H.E.’s 2007 list.

Founded in 1821 with an endowment from wealthy philanthropist and fur trader James McGill, McGill College held its first classes in 1829. Since then, it has evolved into McGill University and has become one of the leading research-intensive universities in Canada. It is affiliated with four teaching hospitals and graduates over 1000 health-care professionals per year, making its medical program one of the most coveted in the country.

Though much is made of McGill’s Department of Medicine, the university can boast of having many in-demand and world-renowned programs, including Education, Law, Engineering, Science and Music. It can also brag about its alumni, which includes astronauts, politicians (including two Canadian Prime Ministers and three foreign leaders), Nobel, Pulitzer Prize and Oscar winners, and many more (modern-day alumnus William Shatner and Leonard Cohen both have buildings named after them). 

Although comprised of two campuses (the MacDonald campus is located in the West Island of Montreal and is home to the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – farm and all!), the majority of the 11 faculties and 300 programs are located in the heart of Montreal. While in the core of a bustling city, the university's main campus sits at the foot of the Mont-Royal, its buildings wrapped around beautiful, grassy and tree-lined grounds. Accommodations abound in this area, be it in one of McGill’s numerous dormitories or the adjoining “McGill ghetto”, a student-friendly residential area right next to the main campus. The proximity of the metro (Montreal’s underground subway system) to the university adds even more housing options.

McGill offers many course alternatives for its students, including continuing education, summer intensives, and certificate programs. Here is an interesting fact: while located in a mostly Francophone city, the international student population outranks the French-Canadian, 30.1% to 17.5%. According to McGill’s 2008-09 data, the university is home to 6829 foreign students from 150 different countries!