Study Away refers to an academic activity where students independently pursue courses at a host institution and receive credits from the home university. Students apply to the host institution directly, paying their fees and following their deadlines.
To be eligible, a student must:
- Be a registered BCom student in the current academic year
- Have a CGPA of at least:
- 2.70 for study in the fall or winter terms
- 2.00 for study in the summer term
An application in Minerva to be approved for a Study away is required for any students taking courses away from McGill on their own. The BCom Student Affairs Office reserves the right to not award credits for courses done away from McGill without permission. See Step 3 for more details.
Please note the following important updates for Independent Study Away effective Summer 2025:
- Courses and short-term programs taught through Continuing Studies at the host institution will not be approved.
- No short-term summer programs will be approved with the exception of those offered by our exchange partners. These will be considered only if they meet our criteria such as having academic content .
- Summer courses at non-partner universities will be restricted and only courses that are part of the institution’s regular course offerings and part of their undergraduate degree will be considered.
- A reminder that a maximum of 6 credits of courses taught through online education may be used towards your degree at McGill.
If you are in doubt about whether your summer course plans meet our requirements, please book an academic advising appointment in Insight in the BCom Hub before filling out your Study Away Request or making any plans with the other university.
- Step 1: Select host institution
- Step 2: Course equivalency and transfer credits
- Step 3: Apply for Study Away
- Step 4: Arrange to have your transcript sent to McGill
- Important Reminders
Step 1: Select host institution
Find a host institution and verify their admission requirements and application deadlines. Before submitting a Minerva Independent Study Away application, ensure that the host university is currently accepting students to study on campus as non-degree, fee-paying Visiting Student and that you meet the host university's eligibility requirements.
Step 2: Course equivalency and transfer credits
All courses taken outside of McGill, including electives, must be actively equivalent in the McGill Course Equivalency System. Get your course assessed for equivalency and verify course requirements. Consult the Course equivalency and transfer credits page for details.
A minimum of two-thirds of all program requirements must normally be completed at McGill. Therefore, a maximum of one-third of all program requirements may be completed at another university. The maximum number of credits includes pre-admission transfer credits, courses taken on exchange, via the independent study away, or via the Quebec Inter-University Transfer Agreement (IUT).
Consult the Course equivalency and transfer credits page for full details.
Step 3: Apply for Study Away
After the courses have been assessed as equivalent:
- Apply for Study Away in Minerva before the deadline:
- Summer: opens on February 15 - deadline is August 15
- Fall: opens on March 1 - deadline is August 15
- Winter: opens on March 1 - deadline is December 15
- Statements of Purpose are required for Study Away in the Fall and Winter terms only.
- Fill out the Transfer Credit Assessment Form on Minerva.
- bcom.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Study%20Away%20application%20submitted) (E-mail the BCom Office) at bcom.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca that a form has been completed. Please include your student ID number and the country where you plan to study in your email.
- After the BCom Office has been notified, a BCom Adviser will review/approve the application for Study Away and review/approve the courses.
- Once all approvals are completed, a letter of permission will be generated on Minerva. Please retain this letter since the information it contains may be required by the host institution.
An application in Minerva to be approved for a Study away is required for any students taking courses away from McGill on their own. The BCom Student Affairs Office reserves the right to not award credits for courses done away from McGill without permission.
Step 4: Arrange to have your transcript sent to McGill
You are responsible to have the host institution provide your home university with a copy of your Official Transcript of grades from your Study Away. The preferred method is for the host university to directly email the Official Transcript to officialschooldocs [at] mcgill.ca . Please arrange for a transcript to be sent to McGill as soon as your term is finished. You may be charged a fee for any changes that need to be made to your student record after government reporting deadlines have passed.
Important Reminders
- Approval does NOT guarantee you will be able to get into your chosen course(s).
- A maximum of 6 credits of courses taught through online education may be used towards your degree at McGill.
- Students on US aid enrolled in any online course are NOT eligible for U.S. Direct Loans as per government regulations. (this includes Blended courses). Learn more
- The maximum number of credits that can be transferred includes pre-admission transfer credits, Exchange, Independent Study Away and IUT courses.
- A maximum of 12 credits for your major, 6 credits for your concentration or minor and 9 credits for management core from any institution other than McGill University.
- Courses cannot be taken pass/fail. You will receive a grade from the host school which will transfer as credits on your McGill transcript. Grades will not be calculated into your McGill GPA.
- Course withdrawn after deadlines, failed, or excluded courses will also appear on your McGill transcript at the time of transfer credit assessment, but they will not reflect in your credit and GPA calculations.
- If you decide not to do your Study Away, you must inform the BCom Office in writing. Failing to do so may delay graduation.
- Please ensure that minor courses are approved by the minor adviser
- It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the McGill BCom requirements for all courses taken.
