Transfer Student Aid: Mcgill University's Financial Support Options

McGill University offers various scholarships and financial aid programs to support students in their academic pursuits. The university is committed to enhancing the success of qualified students who require financial assistance during their studies. While transfer students are not eligible for entrance scholarships, McGill offers other financial aid options for current and future undergraduate students, including transfer students. These include need-based financial aid, entrance bursaries, in-course financial aid, and other funding opportunities.

McGill University's Entrance Bursary Program

McGill University offers financial aid to students through its Entrance Bursary Program. This program is designed to support undergraduate students from low- to modest-income families who can demonstrate financial need. The university aims to make education more accessible to those facing financial challenges by supplementing other funding resources such as government aid, part-time work, and parental support.

The Entrance Bursary Program is open to all newly accepted, first-year, first-degree undergraduates, as well as first-year direct entrants to professional programs in Medicine and Law with a prior degree. Applicants must enrol in a full-time degree program at the university and demonstrate financial need, including the intention to apply for government student aid and/or Indigenous Band Support Funding.

The value of entrance bursaries ranges depending on the student's level of need and their residency. While these awards are not automatically renewed in the second and subsequent years, students may continue to receive assistance through McGill's In-Course Financial Aid Program. The university offers a limited number of entrance bursaries that are renewable until the completion of an undergraduate degree, provided the criteria for renewal, such as financial need and academic standing, are met.

To apply for the Entrance Bursary Program, applicants should complete the online application via Minerva within 30 days of their formal acceptance to the university or by June 30th, whichever comes first. Award decisions are typically made within 2-3 weeks of submitting an application, and applicants are encouraged to frequently check their application status for updates.

In addition to the Entrance Bursary Program, McGill University also offers an extensive Entrance Scholarships Program based on academic merit. These scholarships are awarded to first-time university students entering a full-time undergraduate degree program and are valued at $3,000 for one-year scholarships and between $3,000 and $12,000 for major scholarships.

In-Course Financial Aid Program

McGill University offers an In-Course Financial Aid Program to support current full-time degree students facing financial challenges. The program is designed to supplement existing financial resources, including government aid, Indigenous Band Support Funding, part-time work, parental support, or other funding sources. The program is open to qualified undergraduate students who need financial assistance during their studies.

To be eligible for the In-Course Financial Aid Program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled in a full-time degree program at the University. Exceptions are made for students deemed full-time due to documented disabilities or as recognised by government aid programs.
• Apply for and accept the maximum available government student aid and/or Indigenous Band Support Funding for which they are eligible.
• Maintain satisfactory academic standing.
• Demonstrate financial need.

It is important to note that first-year international students are generally not eligible for need-based aid from McGill, as they must demonstrate their financial capacity to study in Canada. Additionally, special, visiting, qualifying, continuing studies, diploma, certificate, and private program students are also typically not eligible for aid.

The In-Course Financial Aid Program offers both loans and bursaries to students. Loans provided through this program are interest-free until the specified due date in the loan contract. After the due date, these loans are subject to low-rate interest charges comparable to government student loans. Bursaries, on the other hand, do not need to be repaid.

Students can apply for the In-Course Financial Aid Program at any time during the academic year as the need arises. The application process involves the following steps:

• Accessing the application form through the Financial Aid/Awards tab on Minerva.
• Applying for McGill Financial Aid and specifically for In-Course Financial Aid.
• Updating their financial aid profile.
• Submitting the application.

It is important for applicants to frequently check their application for online instructions or decisions. The outcome of the application is typically communicated within two to three weeks of meeting with a Financial Aid Counsellor. Successful applicants will receive an email with important information about their award, including any necessary steps to accept it and applicable deadlines.

Work Study Program

McGill University offers a Work Study Program as part of its need-based financial aid. The program is designed to help students with demonstrated financial need find jobs on or near campus with flexible work schedules that fit around their classes. The jobs available are clerical, research, technical, or library-based, and are either on campus or in some of the McGill-affiliated hospitals and organisations. The program not only helps students financially but can also help them develop career-related skills and experience.

To be eligible for the Work Study Program, students must meet the eligibility requirements for the current academic year and submit a Minerva application. The application opens on July 1st for work starting at the beginning of the fall term. Students can view the status of their application on their Minerva Work Study application. If accepted, they will receive a Work Study Confirmation letter, which is valid for 30 days and includes approved start and end dates to share with prospective employers. Students can then apply for the Work Study jobs listed on myFuture and are paid directly by the employer.

The Work Study Program is part of the need-based assistance offered by Scholarships and Student Aid at McGill University. Using grants from the Quebec government and operating monies, Scholarships and Student Aid incentivises on-campus employers and affiliates to prioritise hiring students in financial need for part-time jobs. These incentives are subsidies, which are a partial reimbursement of payroll costs.

Entrance Scholarships

All applicants to McGill undergraduate degree programs are automatically considered for a one-year entrance scholarship, provided they meet the minimum academic requirements. However, it is important to note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer of an entrance scholarship. These scholarships are solely based on academic achievement and do not require a separate application process. To be considered, applicants must include their grades and interim grades granted up to the admissions application deadline date in their application for admission to McGill.

Major entrance scholarships, on the other hand, are determined by selection committees and awarded based on academic achievement and outstanding leadership in school or community activities. While academic excellence is the first priority, "leadership" constitutes more than just participation in extracurricular activities. Applications for major entrance scholarships open on October 1st on the Undergraduate Admissions Applicant Portal, and a separate application is required soon after submitting the application for admission.

It is important to note that transfer, mature, diploma, exchange, special, part-time, and visiting students are not eligible for entrance scholarships. Additionally, recipients of McGill centrally-administered entrance scholarships can receive only one scholarship. If an applicant receives multiple offers, the final entrance scholarship awarded will be the one with the highest eligible value.

McGill Financial Aid

McGill University offers financial aid to students in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and loans. The university is committed to supporting the academic pursuits of qualified students who require financial assistance. The financial aid offered by McGill includes:

Entrance Scholarships

McGill offers merit-based entrance scholarships to first-time university students entering a full-time undergraduate degree program. There are two types of centrally-administered entrance scholarships: one-year scholarships, valued at $3,000 (non-renewable), and major scholarships, valued between $3,000 and $12,000 (renewable annually up to 3 or 4 years). Applicants are automatically considered for a one-year entrance scholarship if they meet the minimum academic requirements, but a separate application is required for major entrance scholarships.

Entrance Bursary Program

The Entrance Bursary Program offers financial assistance to newly accepted, first-year, first-degree undergraduates, and direct entrants to professional programs in Medicine and Law with prior degrees. The program is designed to supplement other funding resources such as government aid, Indigenous Band Support Funding, part-time work, and parental support. Entrance bursaries are determined based on the level of financial need demonstrated by the student and their family, relative to other applicants, and the tuition fee rate charged.

In-Course Financial Aid Program

The In-Course Financial Aid Program provides loans and bursaries to current full-time degree students facing financial challenges. The program is open to students who can demonstrate financial need and are in satisfactory academic standing. International students are generally not eligible for need-based aid from McGill in their first year, as they must demonstrate the financial capacity to study in Canada.

Work Study Program

The Work Study Program offers on-campus job opportunities to full-time degree students with demonstrated financial need. This program is especially beneficial for international students, as it provides a way to earn money while studying.

Emergency Loans and Tuition Payment Deferrals

McGill also offers emergency loans for unforeseen circumstances and allows students to defer tuition fee payments without interest or penalty. This is particularly useful for international students experiencing delays in transferring funds.

Frugal Scholar Money Management Program

The Frugal Scholar Money Management Program provides financial planning and debt management resources to help students make informed decisions about their finances.

In summary, McGill University offers a range of financial aid options to support students in need, including scholarships, bursaries, loans, and work opportunities. The university aims to ensure that qualified students from any geographic region can pursue their academic goals, regardless of their financial situation.

Frequently asked questions