Cost/Funding

PROGRAM FEE: $10,325.58

**For the May 2023 departure, McGill students in a degree program who are selected for the program will automatically receive a $4,000 award to help defray the cost**

Please note that students still facing a barrier to cover some or the balance of the cost may also apply to our need-based EEO program on a case-by-case basis (keeping in mind the eligibility criteria/supporting documentation requirements from our EEO website).

LOCATION: Bellairs Research Institute, Barbados, WI

  • Meals (two meals/day (lunch, supper) during the week (Monday-Friday)
  • Accommodation (2-3 students/room), laundry, kitchen access, computer room access
  • Study visa

The program fee does not include airfare, tuition, immunizations, health insurance, entry visas*, PCR test if needed on return, and some meals.

*Entry visas are not required for citizens of Canada and the USA, but are required for citizens of some other countries.

Refund policy
The program fees are non refundable. Unless for unseen circumstances and with the support of valid documentation (i.e medical note) a withdrawal from the program is inevitable, a decision about possible refund would be undertaken.

Payments

  • $1,000.00 deposit: once accepted in the program, the deposit must be paid by January 23, 2023 and is NON-REFUNDABLE .
  • Final payment (balance of the program fee)  must be paid by March 24, 2023.

Please make both the deposit and balance payments to your McGill student account, in the same way you usually pay tuition.
For further information on procedures for payment of fees go to the Student Accounts website.

Do not wait for or expect to see specific charges for these. Once a payment is made, please send an email to student.accounts [at] mcgill.ca (Student Accounts) with a subject of BITS – deposit or BITS – balance. The body of your email should include your student ID number. Also, please copy this email to caroline.begg [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Caroline Begg).


Possible Funding

Are you interested in the BITS program but concerned about covering the extra costs?

If you are a full-time undergraduate already receiving need-based aid from a government student financial assistance program and/or McGill’s Bursary & Loan Program, you may qualify for a bursary to help defray these costs!  For more information and how to apply: https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/other-funding/eeo

Download the information sheet for field semesters


If you are between 18 and 35 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and have been living in Quebec for at least one year, you may receive funding for your project (once you show proof of acceptance to the BITS program).


  • Schull Yang International Experience Award – This award is open to students in the Faculty of Arts participating in the BITS program.

The Schull Yang International Experience Award, supported by Joseph Schull (BA ‘82, MA ’85) and Anna Yang (BCL, LLB ’88), helps undergraduate and graduate students gain first hand international experience related to their fields of study. The award provides full or partial funding to assist students with tuition, travel, and other expenses related to their international experience. The Schull Yang International Experience Award is part of the McGill International Experience Awards. For more information, click here.

To apply for the Schull Yang International Experience Award, click here

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