Admission & Applications

All application materials and supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the McGill admissions processing system. The system opens September 15.

NOTE: The MScPH program only admits new students in the Fall term. Applications for the Winter or Summer terms are not accepted. It is important that you select the correct term when completing the application form. We will not be able to change the application term or refund your application fee if you enter the wrong one.

All applicants to the Master’s of Public Health program must submit the following:

1. Online application

2. Application fees: Fees are listed on the student accounts web page.

3. Transcripts: Complete transcripts from each university-level institution you have attended to date, including institutions attended on an exchange. Uploaded copies     are considered as unofficial. Final official copies will be required once you are offered admission.

4. Reference Letters: On the application form you must provide the names and email addresses of two professors/mentors/employers who are familiar with your academic or academic-relevant background. McGill will contact these referees and invite them to upload references on your behalf. Please note that although you can list public domain addresses such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo Mail on the application form, references uploaded from these addresses will not be accepted by the Department. Therefore, you must list a valid institutional or corporate e-mail address for your referees. When planning your application submission, please be aware that referees are asked to respond within ten days. As our deadline falls close to the holiday break, please take this into account when communicating with your referees and consider submitting by November 1 to give them ample time to respond. Your file is not considered complete until the referees’ responses have been received.

Provide the names and email addresses of two referees:

• One familiar with your academic work
• One who has worked with you in the past 3 years.
• McGill will contact these referees and invite them to upload references on your behalf.
• You must provide valid institutional or corporate e-mail addresses for your referees. References uploaded from public domain addresses (Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.) will not be accepted unless permission is granted by the MScPH department.

5. Personal statement: Your statement should be no more than 2 pages and may address the following:

• What are your career objectives?
• What academic or life experience makes you a good candidate for this program?
• What specific knowledge and skills do you hope to acquire?
• How will this knowledge and these skills enable you to attain your career objectives?
• What area(s) of population health, public health and epidemiology, would you like to study?
• What particular area(s) of population health, public health and epidemiology, would you like to pursue for your practicum?
• Are there any factors related equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility that you believe should be considered in our review of your application (e.g., any circumstances that may have affected your academic or research achievement)? 

6. Curriculum Vitae: An overview of your experience and other qualifications, including employment, academic credentials, publications, contributions and significant achievements. You may refer to McGill Career Planning Services for guidelines.

7. Quantitative Training Document: Please complete and upload the Quantitative Training Document with the course syllabus for each course listed on the form with your admissions documents.

8. English TOEFL/IELTS results (If applicable)

• TOEFL: a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based test, or a score of 600 on the paper-based version of the TOEFL test (or 250 on the older computer-based test). [TOEFL results are only valid for two years from the date the test was written]. Institution Code: 0935.
• IELTS: a minimum overall band of 6.5.

For information regarding English language proficiency test, please visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies web page.

Applicants are notified of the decision by Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Admissions and by (e-mailed) letter from the department, usually by the end of March. The MSc Public Health program only offers admission in the fall.

Please note that no feedback will be provided regarding the contents of the applications or the rationale behind the Admissions Committee’s decision.  Admission decisions are not subject to reconsideration or appeal.

Language Proficiency: While the language of instruction is English, some practicum placement sites in Quebec require a working knowledge of French. The language for placement sites outside of Quebec is generally English. Refer to English language proficiency guidelines.

Graduate tuition fees: Information regarding graduate tuition fees is available here. Please refer to the information for Master’s Non-Thesis Programs.

Funding: The MSc in Public Health program is a course-based (non-thesis) program. As such, there is no guaranteed funding from McGill University through the course of the program. The department encourages students to secure funding through scholarships and paid work such as research or teaching assistantships

• McCall MacBain Scholarship

Application for the McCall MacBain Scholarship usually opens in June (before the application cycle opens for the MSc PH program). For more information, please visit their website. Success in obtaining a McCall MacBain Scholarship does not secure a position in the MSc PH program. Additional and different criteria are used to determine acceptance to the MSc PH.

• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University

Prospective students from a Sub-Saharan African Country may apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program if they meet the eligibility criteria. For more information, please visit their website. Success in obtaining a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship does not secure a position in the MSc PH program. Additional and different criteria are used to determine acceptance in the MSc PH.

• McGill’s Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies has a comprehensive page of funding opportunities for master’s students at Graduate & Postdoctoral Funding

Questions About Admission? Please see our FAQ page