Graduate Diploma Admission Information

Admission requirements

There are two main requirements for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies:

1. Possess a Master's degree in Library and Information Studies from a program accredited by the American Library Association (or equivalent).

   Admission of students with overseas degrees will be guided by the MLIS equivalency standards of ALA. Applicants will normally have at least three years' professional experience following completion of the MLIS.

2. Proficiency in English : Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not obtained (or are about to obtain) an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized institution in Canada or the United States of America (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of proficiency in oral and written English.

   Before acceptance, appropriate exam results must be submitted directly from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Office. An institutional version of the TOEFL is not acceptable. Applications will not be considered if a TOEFL or IELTS test result is not available.

   Such proof normally comprises the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or 100 (IBT Internet based TOEFL) with a written score of at least 25 and a reading, speaking, and listening score of not less than 20, or the International English Language testing System (IELTS) with a minimum overall band score of 7.5.

   Applicants whose mother tongue is not English may be asked to demonstrate an English-language proficiency beyond the submission of the TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Application deadlines

Application deadlines are available here.

Application procedures

All applicants must submit, or arrange for the submission of, the following documents, directly to the School:

1. A completed online McGill application form.

2. Two sets of official transcripts of the applicant's university record(s).

   These transcripts must indicate degree awarded. If credits were transferred from a different institution then original transcripts must also be obtained from that source.

   If the file is reviewed without the final transcripts there will be a condition of acceptance on the official decision form.

   Students who have acquired a McGill degree do not have to submit official transcripts.

3. A non-refundable application fee of of $100 Canadian. There are no exceptions even if you have applied to another McGill department in the same year. This application fee is non-refundable.

   The fee is submitted by credit card when you submit your electronic application.

4. A curriculum vitae.

5. Two confidential letters of recommendation* on institutional letterhead from academics (if your degree was awarded fewer than five years ago) or from an employer on company letterhead (if your degree was awarded five years or more ago.) These must have current dates and be sent directly by the referees to the School. Non-letterhead letters of recommendation must be accompanied with an explanation.

   If applicants have completed university level courses since their MLIS degree, they may wish to approach the instructors of those courses for references.

   It is the applicants' responsibility to arrange with professors, employers etc. to have reference letters mailed directly to the School. Delays could jeopardize an application file as no file is reviewed until all documents are received.

6. A covering letter outlining the reasons for wishing to undertake the program of study. This letter enables SIS to best advise potential students about the the possibilities the program may offer.

7. Applicants must also provide a statement of areas of academic / research interests.

* Letters of recommendation may be sent electronically via e-mail to the main SIS email address.   

If you choose to send the letter of reference by e-mail, please note the following:

• The e-mail electronic letter must be sent from a valid institutional or corporate e-mail address. Electronic letters sent from public domain addresses such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Videotron, etc, cannot be accepted.
• Electronic letters have to be sent as an attachment to the e-mail. The attached file must be saved as a PDF (.pdf) format. Files saved in another format will be sent back to the referee.
• The subject line of the e-mail must be REFERENCE LETTER FOR [LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME]
• Please do not send your letter by mail if you opt to send it by e-mail.

If you have any questions contact us at (514) 398-4204.

Submitting supporting documents

Application form, fee, and all supporting evidence must be mailed to:

School of Information Studies
McGill University
3661 Peel St.
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1X1
Canada