McGill University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

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McGill's Scholarship and Student Aid Office's (SSAO) mission is to promote accessibility, support retention and encourage scholarship through financial awards for needy and deserving students in any degree program from any geographic origin. The SSAO provides a host of information on scholarship funding, government aid programs, McGill loans and bursaries, debt management, individualized budget counselling, and the Work Study program. http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/

The University offers an Entrance Financial Aid Program (non repayable bursaries) to students from modest income families who have been accepted for undergraduate studies. Upon notification of acceptance to the University (either by formal letter or via the Admissions Status page on Minerva), newly accepted, first-year, first-degree students may apply for Entrance Financial Aid via the Financial Aid Menu on Minerva. The value of these awards varies according to the level of need demonstrated by the student and his/her family, and by the tuition fee rate that the student is charged. Awards range in value up to $10,000 and are based on academic standing and demonstrated financial need. While these awards are not automatically renewed in the second and subsequent years of study, students may continue to receive assistance through the In-Course Financial Aid program. We do offer a limited number of entrance bursaries which are renewable and tenable until completion of an undergraduate degree (up to a maximum of four years) provided the criteria for renewal (financial need and academic standing) are met. Students will automatically be considered for this type of an entrance bursary when they submit the standard Entrance Financial Aid application on Minerva (i.e. no separate application is required). In 2009-10, Entrance bursaries valued at close to $2.5 million were offered to 550 newly accepted undergraduate students with financial need. Quebec / Canadian students received 350 offers averaging $2,650 each. US / overseas international students received 200 offers averaging $7,500 each.

McGill Parents Association was founded in 1963 to offer families of McGill students an added way to participate in the life of the University. Today, it aims to: - Serve as a resource for parents on all McGill matters, helping you access the many services our institution offers - Establish closer relationships between the University and the many McGill parents who are not themselves McGill graduates - Offer information about McGill and the services it provides to students and their families As well, the McGill Parents Handbook includes details about student services, financial and health matters, maps of McGill and Montreal, and answers to parents' frequently asked questions. http://aoc.mcgill.ca/network/parents-association/resources

Aboriginal Applicants: The Principal's Task Force on Diversity, Excellence and Community Engagement seeks to increase the number of qualified Aboriginal students gaining admission to, and excelling in all programs at McGill University. Therefore, we encourage all First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants to identify themselves on their application form and to submit a personal statement, as well as letters of recommendation and a résumé. This will allow admissions decision-makers to use McGill's Aboriginal admissions evaluation process and take into consideration the educational experiences particular to members of an Aboriginal community that are not evaluated through the University's standard practices. It will also allow us to provide additional service and information to applicants about support services and funding opportunities for aboriginals at McGill. Self-identification and provision of supporting documents is entirely optional for Aboriginal applicants; furthermore, self-identification can in no way negatively impact the admission decision. McGill recognizes that Aboriginal applicants, their communities and connections between the two are extremely varied. For some, Aboriginal identity and community connection runs deep, for others it is less significant. If you consider yourself as First Nations, Inuit or Métis, we hope that you will self-identify on your McGill application. http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/undergrad2011-12/aboriginal/

Work Study Program: The Work Study Program gives students with financial need access to clerical, research, technical, library or other jobs on campus or in some of the McGill-affiliated hospitals and organizations. The program not only helps students financially but can develop career-related skills and experience. Acceptance to the program is based primarily on financial need. Students may apply if they are registered full time in a degree program, are in satisfactory academic standing and demonstrate financial need. In order to be considered for Work Study, students must first apply for the maximum government aid for which they are eligible. http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/workstudy Tuition Deferral Program: Generally, students are expected to pay their tuition promptly upon receipt of their government assistance. Interest on any outstanding tuition is charged monthly. However, government assistance recipients may be entitled to a tuition payment deferral —an exemption from interest and/or late payment charges. http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/tuitiondeferral

The McGill Medicine Admissions Pipeline (MAP), a long-term community-centered vision, will outreach to high schools and CEGEPs, providing exposure to the benefits and opportunities of a post-secondary education, as well as interaction with, and demystification of, the culture of post-secondary and medical education.

The University fees are extremely low ($1600 per annum) allow for full accessibility to low income Quebec and most international francophone students.