students smiling and talking and standing by a mural

Welcome to the Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) Office

Branches

Connect. Support. Grow. 

Branches logo - green circle with leaves

Co-building paths to support lifelong learning. 

Branches works with communities and partners to create sustainable programming that encourages young students to persevere and become lifelong learners. Our transformative mentorship opportunities and networks of support help under-represented learners plan their educational paths.

mentors and mentees working on a project

Our mission

We aim to motivate and empower youth by reducing barriers and increasing access to higher education.

female student looking at the camera and smiling

Indigenous learners

We never run out of ideas to engage with Indigenous students and their families. Discover our programming and resources for Indigenous communities.

student facing the camera and looking confident

Black learners

Check out our programming and resources for Black youth and adults. Start planning your future in higher education.

What's on at Branches

As we expand our reach, our community and initiatives continue to grow. Read our latest updates and plan to get involved with us soon!

Studying at McGill

An important part of our mission is to increase the enrolment of underrepresented groups at McGill, including Black and Indigenous students. Our outreach team offers guidance and support.

four students talk together

Meet the amazing students and recent graduates who work with Branches as Student Ambassadors and Program Assistants. 

Meet the amazing students from across McGill who volunteer as mentors and tutors with the Branches program.

Ready to make a difference?

News and success stories

IMPRESS indigenous students on campus

IMPRESS 2022 participants were paired with a professor or a professional from a McGill unit. Read about the success of IMPRESS and stay tuned for IMPRESS 2023!

Brandon Montour PYP mentor

“As someone who didn't have a mentor, I wanted to be there for those who were in the same position that I found myself in,” says PYP student volunteer, Brandon Montour. 

McGill student smiling in front of the Arts building

Learn more about our student volunteers — some of the people who make Branches’ programming so meaningful and impactful.

mentors and mentees working on a project

Discover what organizers, mentors and mentees gained from Branches’ Homework Zone program.

student smiling

Exploring Indigenous legal traditions: law students club shares learnings through online magazine that blends art, poetry and scholarly texts.

Kahnawà:ke Education Center logo

The Mohawk community of Kahnawà:ke and McGill launched the first-ever Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) First Nations and Inuit Education (FNIE) program to be given in the community of Kahnawà:ke.


McGill University is on land that long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst
Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge
and thank the diverse Indigenous people whose footsteps have marked this territory on which
peoples of the world now gather.
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