McGill University

McGill University is a public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1821 and named after James McGill, a Scottish merchant. The university has many students and is located on the slope of Mount Royal in downtown Montreal, with another campus further west.

McGill is known for its strong programs in many areas of study, including Arts, Science, Medicine, Education, Engineering, and Management. It is one of only two universities outside the United States that belong to the Association of American Universities, along with the University of Toronto.

Many famous people have been connected to McGill. The university is also part of important global groups, such as the Global University Leaders Forum within the World Economic Forum.

History

Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning

The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning started in 1801. It created two new schools in Quebec City and Montreal. This helped public education grow. When James McGill died in 1813, this group managed his gifts.

McGill College

James McGill was a merchant from Scotland who moved to Quebec. In 1811–1813, he left land and money to start a college. In 1821, McGill College officially began after getting permission from the king. The Montreal Medical Institution became its first school in 1829, starting Canada’s first medical training.

University development

Campus expansions

McGill started in 1821 but didn’t grow much until 1829. The medical school was the first to teach students. Later, other schools like Arts and Law started. Over time, more buildings were added, like the Arts Building and the Neurology Institute.

Women’s education

Women could start learning at McGill in 1884, with special classes. The first women graduated in 1888. In 1899, a special residence called Royal Victoria College opened just for women students.

McGill and World War I

Many students and graduates joined Canada’s effort in World War I. After the war, some returned and started new jobs or businesses. A special hall on campus remembers those who served.

Founder of universities and colleges

McGill helped start other schools. It began schools in British Columbia and helped create the University of Victoria. It also started colleges like Dawson College and John Abbott College. Graduates and teachers from McGill helped found universities in other places, like the University of Alberta and parts of Johns Hopkins University.

Controversies of the 20th and 21st century

Quotas on Jewish students

For many years, McGill and other schools limited how many Jewish students could join, especially in medicine and law.

Involvement in human experimentation

In the 1950s, a teacher at McGill began studies on how isolation affects people. These studies were done on students who agreed to take part. Later, another teacher did similar tests on patients without their full agreement. These actions caused a lot of discussion about right and wrong in research.

Controversial protests and initiatives

McGill has faced debates over events and decisions, including discussions about different ways people see gender and choices about working with schools in other countries.

Campus

Downtown campus

McGill University's main campus is in downtown Montreal near Mount Royal. Most buildings are on a park-like area called the Lower Campus, north of Sherbrooke Street and south of Pine Avenue. The campus stretches west of Peel Street and east of University Street, including Percival Molson Memorial Stadium and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital. The nearby Milton-Park neighborhood is home to many students. Major buildings are often made of local grey limestone and connected by indoor walkways.

The first classes were held at Burnside Place, James McGill's old home. The campus grew from a cow pasture in the 1840s when the first school buildings were built.

Residence system

McGill offers housing in 16 buildings for about 3,100 undergraduate and graduate students. Most students move out after their first year, often to apartments in areas like Milton-Park, Mile End, The Plateau, or Verdun. Many first-year students stay in the Upper Residence, including Royal Victoria College, which began as a women's college but now welcomes everyone.

Macdonald campus

Main article: Macdonald Campus

The Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue houses programs in farming, environment, dietetics, and nature studies. It has around 1,892 students, with many coming from outside Canada. The nearby Morgan Arboretum is a large forest area used for research and learning.

Outaouais campus

In 2019, McGill started a new campus in Gatineau, Quebec, for medical students. Classes began in August 2020 at a building above the Gatineau Hospital's emergency room.

Sustainability

In 2007, McGill created an Office of Sustainability and added a Director of Sustainability. Projects include building with eco-friendly designs, adding a green roof to the Life Sciences Centre, and supporting student groups like The Flat: Bike Collective and the Farmer's Market.

McGill Community for Lifelong Learning

Started in 1989, this program helps older adults learn together without teachers leading the way. It organizes events and activities for senior members.

Other facilities

McGill has research centers around the world, including the Bellairs Research Institute in Saint James, Barbados, the McGill Arctic Research Station on Axel Heiberg Island, and the Gault Nature Reserve in Quebec. The reserve covers over 10 square kilometres of forest and has been used for science since 1859. McGill also works with many hospitals in Montreal to train health care students.

Administration and organization

McGill University has 11 main Faculties and 13 Schools. Some of these include the School of Architecture, the School of Computer Science, and the School of Urban Planning. There is also the Institute of Islamic Studies, which offers advanced degree programs.

The university has special programs for students who want to study after earning their first degree. These are managed by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The university’s symbol is a special design called a coat of arms, created to honor James McGill, the founder. The main symbol is a mythical bird called a martlet. The school color is scarlet. The motto is "Grandescunt Aucta Labore," which means "By work, all things increase and grow."

McGill has partnerships with over 160 universities around the world. This allows students to study abroad. Each year, it welcomes students from many countries and is home to thousands of international students.

The university’s finances are supported by a large amount of money saved over time. In 2019, McGill received a very large donation to create special scholarships.

Academics

Admissions

McGill University has an acceptance rate of about 38 per cent for all students and 29 per cent for graduate students. About 22 per cent of students study in the Faculty of Arts, which is the largest part of the university. Other big areas of study include the Faculty of Science with 15 per cent, the Faculty of Medicine with 13 per cent, and the School of Continuing Studies with 12 per cent. The Faculty of Engineering and the Desautels Faculty of Management each have about 10 per cent of students. Smaller schools include the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Schulich School of Music, and the Faculty of Religious Studies.

Teaching and learning

In the 2007–2008 school year, McGill offered over 340 different programs across eleven areas of study. The university also provides more than 250 graduate programs. McGill keeps its student-to-teacher ratio at 16 to 1, even as student numbers grow. There are about 1,600 professors teaching at the university.

Tuition fees change based on the program and where the student comes from. For example, students from Quebec pay around $4,333 per year for arts programs, while international students can pay between $22,103 and $41,816 per year.

Language policy

McGill is one of three English-language universities in Quebec, and French is not required for attendance. However, the Faculty of Law asks all students to understand both English and French. Most students can speak at least two languages. In 2021, about 72 per cent of students said they could speak French at least a little. By 2024, Quebec wants 80 per cent of McGill students to be able to speak French well by the time they finish their studies.

Rankings and reputation

McGill is ranked first in Canada among universities that give medical and doctoral degrees. It has held this top spot for 21 years in a row. Globally, McGill is ranked around the top 70 universities in the world, depending on the ranking used.

Research

McGill is linked to 15 winners of the Nobel Prize. The university has over $547 million for research each year, making it one of the top research schools in Canada. McGill researchers work with many other universities and organizations around the world.

Libraries, archives and museums

The McGill University Library has 12 different libraries with over 11.5 million books and items. Special collections include rare books, Islamic studies materials, and medical history resources.

The McGill University Archives holds many historical documents, photos, and other items related to the university. The Redpath Museum shows collections about biology, rocks, and ancient cultures. The McGill Medical Museum has many old medical tools and specimens, showing how medicine has changed over time.

Student life

Student body

As of Fall 2021, McGill had 26,765 undergraduate and 10,411 graduate students. They come from many places around the world. About half are from Quebec, nearly a quarter from the rest of Canada, and more than a third are international students from about 150 countries. Many students speak languages other than English, with French and many other languages represented.

Student organizations

The campus has active student groups. The undergraduate Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Post-Graduate Students' Society of McGill University (PGSS) help organize many activities. SSMU supports over 250 student clubs for things like sports, arts, culture, and community service. It also runs services like a bike repair shop and a student night line. There are independent groups too, like student newspapers and a legal clinic.

Student media

McGill has several student-run publications. The McGill Daily, started in 1911, is one of them. There is also a French-language paper, Délit français, and other magazines and a campus radio station.

Greek life

The Greek system at McGill includes fraternities and sororities. Over 500 students are part of these groups, which are led by the Inter-Greek Letter Council.

Athletics

McGill's teams are called the Redbirds and Martlets. They compete in U Sports and have 28 teams. McGill is known for its baseball, hockey, and lacrosse. The main sports facilities include Molson Stadium, built in 1914 and expanded in 2010, along with many other courts, pools, and fields.

Main article: McGill Redbirds and Martlets

Notable people

For a more comprehensive list, see List of McGill University people.

McGill University has helped many important people in many areas. Some of these people started big schools like the University of British Columbia and Princeton University.

In the arts, McGill students have won big awards like the Pulitzer Prize and played famous roles on TV, like William Shatner, who played a captain in the show Star Trek.

In science, McGill people have won Nobel Prizes and helped make amazing things like the artificial cell and the internet search engine. McGill has also trained astronauts and inventors. In government, McGill graduates have become leaders in Canada and around the world, including three Prime Ministers of Canada. The school has also produced Olympic athletes and the inventor of basketball, James Naismith.