Mandatory tutorials for all students
Academic integrity tutorial
New students must complete a mandatory online academic integrity tutorial within their first semester.
“It Takes All of Us” program
New students must complete this mandatory online consent education program within their first semester.
Important information
- Student Award Payments
- Graduate Progress Tracking
- Courses
- Post-docs registration
- PhD Comprehensive Exam
- Travel/Internships
- Program Changes
- Leave of Absence / Time Limitation
- Special Letters
- Thesis Submission
- Graduation and Convocation
Student award payments
Graduate student stipend or award
Students should contact their Thesis Supervisor regarding any expected funding, to confirm the funding process and timeline.
To process a stipend/award payment for a graduate student registered in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, please contact the Graduate Program Administrator.
Complete the Graduate Student Stipend Payment Authorization Form
Graduate progress tracking
MyProgress is a tool that tracks the program milestones and/or courses a student has completed, which ones are in progress, and which are yet to be completed. Course substitutions are also tracked in this system.
Courses
Find instructions on how to register at McGill using Minerva, which includes a video tutorial.
See these tips if you encounter problems registering for a course.
Registration
Confirm Your Registration Each Year
- Students must register for course REGN RCGR every fall and winter term of their program. This “course” confirms your enrolment in your program.
- Please see these important dates and deadlines for registration and course change. After the deadline there is a late fee.
Restrictions
- If a course requires a pre-requisite or permission of instructor, you must e-mail the instructor directly to ask for this permission. Give your full name, student ID, graduate program, the desired course name and number, and the term.
- For courses in our Faculty, permission of the instructor must then be forwarded to Jocelyne.begin [at] mcgill.ca (Jocelyne Begin) to enter the permission into the Minerva system, before the student may register.
Add/drop after deadline
- To add a course, please use: Form to Request a Course Change. Note: A late fee will be charged.
- To drop a course, you may still do so via Minerva.
- Please see these important dates and deadlines for registration and course change. Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator for more information.
Extra /Additional Courses and Substitutions
Substitutions
Approval is required from your Supervisor or Program/Academic Advisor, as well as the Graduate Program Director of your Department. Contact your Graduate Program Coordinator in the Macdonald Graduate Studies Office as they will make the adjustment in MyProgress.
Taking an Undergraduate course as an extra course
- Prior to submitting this request, you must have already obtained permission from the undergraduate department offering the course. That department must add a “permit restriction override” to your record, allowing you to take the course.
- You must complete the form found at: Form to Request a Course Change where you will indicate that the course should be flagged as “Extra” to your graduate program.
- The course will not count for credit towards the graduate program you are currently pursuing.
- The course will not count in your CGPA and the failure policy will not apply.
- If approved, you will be assessed additional tuition fees.
If at time of admission were required to take an undergraduate course as an “Additional Program Requirement”
- The course is not flagged as “Extra” or separate from your degree requirements. It is an additional requirement for your program above and beyond your regular requirements. You must pass this course with 65% as per graduate grading policy.
- The course credits will be included in your CGPA calculation and the failure policy will apply.
Language Courses / Continuing Studies
You may take a Continuing Studies course or a language course but it will not go toward your degree requirements. It will be flagged as “extra” and your tuition will be charged separately (over and above) your regular program tuition. Departmental approval is normally required. A Placement Test for the language course may be required.
International students enrolled in a Bachelor, Master’s, or Doctoral program AND who are registered in an eligible French course(s) are eligible for an exemption from international tuition for the French course(s) only.
* See eligibility criteria and reduction eligibility requirements for certain French courses
Courses outside McGill
Course in Another Quebec University
- You must obtain permission from your Supervisor or Program Advisor to take the course for your program requirements. You may not take an “extra” course outside McGill.
- Submit a request to the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire.
- McGill and host university deadlines must be respected
- No more than 1/3 of total lectured course credits in the student’s program may be taken outside of McGill– please confirm with your Graduate Program Coordinator.
- McGill Inter-University Transfer Agreement Policy
- “Transfer” will appear on your transcript once the registration is completed
- Credits for the course will only appear on your transcript at the end of the course, once a final grade has been submitted to McGill by the host university
Course in Another Canadian University (outside Quebec)
- You must obtain permission from your Supervisor or Program Advisor to take the course for your program requirements.
- You may not take an “extra” course outside McGill.
- No more than 1/3 of total lectured course credits in the student’s program may be taken outside of McGill. Please confirm with your Graduate Program Coordinator.
- Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator for more information on taking a course in a Canadian university outside of Québec.
Course accommodations
Medical Accommodation During the Term
A student may wish to request accommodation with respect to deliverables required for a course, from an instructor during the term, for health reasons.
- For a graduate student taking a 500-level course or lower in our faculty, procedure is as per: Macdonald Campus Medical Notes
- Medical accommodation request form with medical note is submitted to Macdonald Student Affairs Office.
- Procedure will vary for courses taken in other faculties. Please consult the Student Affairs Office for that faculty.
- For a graduate student taking a 600-level course, accommodation arrangements are to be made between the instructor and the student. A doctor’s note or other appropriate supporting document may be required. The student would present this to the instructor. If confidentiality is an issue, in certain cases the student can register temporarily with the McGill Office for Student Accessibility and Achievement who can then help facilitate accommodations with the instructor. The goal is for the instructor and the student to find a way to allow the student to complete the course requirements before the end of the term.
Deferral of Final Exam
- A graduate student taking a 500-level or lower course requesting to defer an exam that takes place during the final exam period, must write an email to their Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) requesting the deferral of their exam, along with a medical note or other supporting documentation. The GPC will request approval from the course instructor and GPD/Chair and forward the approved request to Enrolment Services (Graduate Student Records) for approval and processing. Once approved, the Student Affairs Office of the Faculty/Department offering the course will then schedule the deferred exam for the course. The GPC will confirm the graduate student’s name is on the list to take the deferred exam.
- A graduate student taking a 600-level course requesting to defer an exam that takes place during the final exam period, must write an email to their Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) requesting the deferral of their exam, along with a medical note or other supporting documentation. The GPC will request approval from the course instructor and GPD/Chair and forward the approved request to Enrolment Services (Graduate Student Records) for approval and processing. The student and instructor must then arrange a date, time, and location for the student’s deferred exam to take place and communicate this information to the GPC.
Course Failure
- The passing grade for graduate students at McGill is B- or 65%, whether for graduate- or undergraduate-level courses.
- If you are experiencing difficulty in a course, please consult the Course Instructor right away. For additional advice, please contact your Supervisor or Program Advisor. You may also contact your Graduate Program Coordinator for more information.
- Link to Graduate Failure Policy
Postdoc Registration
All new postdoctoral students must contact the Graduate Program Coordinator of their Academic Unit at the time of initial registration.
All returning postdoctoral students are required to renew their registration annually.
Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator or Graduate Program Director to inquire about your academic unit’s specific procedures and forms for the PhD Comprehensive Exam. Your unit’s web page may also have more information or forms relating to this.
The Comprehensive Exam result is recorded as a Milestone in MyProgress. The exam result with the accompanying GPD-approved Progress Tracking Report or other Examination Result document must be communicated to the Graduate Program Director in a timely manner.
Travel/Internships
Study, Field Work, Conference, or Internship Outside Quebec
- Thesis students: Contact your Supervisor/Graduate Program Director for potential travel funding (GREAT).
- International non-thesis students in certain programs need to apply for a co-op work permit.
- Information on How to Apply for Co-op Work Permit
- The co-op work permit is required for international students engaging in a mandatory internship/project for their academic program, when the internship/project is OUTSIDE McGill.
- A letter is required from your Graduate Program Coordinator stating the project/internship is mandatory for your program.
All students: Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator to open a travel registry for you in Minerva. Please provide the destination, purpose of travel, and term in which you will be travelling. Make sure that you comply with McGill's mandatory orientation and registration.
Program Changes
Changing your Program Option (thesis/non-thesis) or Concentration
- You should discuss your plan to change program options with your current Supervisor or Program Advisor. If requesting to change to a thesis program, you first need to find a professor willing to supervise you. You need to submit the following form:
- Form to Request a Program Change
Changing to a Program in Another Department
You must apply through uApply and the usual application deadlines apply. Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator.
Registering for a Part-Time Term
- For Non-thesis students, you simply register for fewer than 12 credits per term.
- For Thesis students you must make the request in writing to your supervisor. If approved, the supervisor will send your request to the Macdonald Graduate Studies Office to process the change.
- However, it is important to consider full-time/part-time status obligations for Immigration, Student Loans, Scholarships, etc.
Withdrawing from your Program
- Please discuss with your Supervisor/Program Advisor and contact your Graduate Program Coordinator. Please make sure to read the Regulations Concerning a University Withdrawal and be aware of the applicable deadlines and fees. You will submit the following form:
- Form for University Withdrawal
Leave of Absence / Time Limitation
Requesting a Leave of Absence
- Consult Graduate and Postdoctoral Leave of Absence Policy to access an submit a leave request form
- If a Leave is not granted, you can withdraw from the University. and then submit a form to Request Readmission.
- Leaves of absence must be requested on a term-by-term basis.
- For Master’s non-thesis students only:
- For the Summer term, IF your program permits it, you simply would not register for the term. No request for a leave is required. Then you may simply register in the following Fall term to continue as usual.
Time Limitation
When you have exceeded the maximum number of terms permitted for you to complete your degree.
- Information on time limitation procedures. Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator.
- The time limit for completion of a degree is:
- M.Sc.: By the end of M.Sc. Year 3
- Ph.D.: By the end of Ph.D. Year 7
Continuing Your Program After Time Away
- If you have not been registered for one or more terms, you will have to request to be readmitted.
- This is also required for thesis students who were not registered due to time limitation, but must now register prior to submitting their initial thesis.
- Request for Readmission Form.
- Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator.
If you have been on a leave of absence, you can simply register on Minerva as usual for your scheduled returning term. Please alert your Graduate Program Coordinator.
Special letters
To access the following list of documents can be accessed by logging into the service desk.
- Fee Letters or Proof of Payment
- Semester Dates Letter
- Language of Instruction of McGill University Letter
- McGill’s Accreditation Information Letter
- Immigration Canada (CIC) PhD letter – required for the CIC Federal Skilled Worker program (confirms completion of 2 years in a PhD program and current academic standing)
- Letters Confirmation Completion of Program
Initial Thesis Submission
Procedure for Initial Thesis Submission
Please refer to GPS Initial Thesis Submission
Consult the Initial Thesis Submission Deadlines
Steps for Master’s and Doctoral Students – New!
All Master's and Doctoral Students must now use the MyThesis platform in MyProgress to submit their thesis.
Master's submission guidelines
Doctoral submission guidelines (including Oral Defence)
Special Letter Confirming Initial Thesis Submission
Log into the service desk to access your initial e-thesis letter – confirming submission of initial e-thesis
Final Thesis Submission
Procedure for Final Thesis Submission
Graduation and Convocation
Applying to Graduate
- Only non-thesis graduate students need to apply to graduate. This is done via Minerva, in the final semester of your program, mid-way through the term. Be aware of the deadlines to be added to the list of graduating students!
- Please follow these step-by-step instructions (most students will choose only “Primary Curriculum”). Once you have applied to graduate, “Expected Graduation Term/Year” will appear on your unofficial transcript in Minerva.
Note that once the apply-to-graduate deadline has passed, you must use this webform to submit a graduation request. Upon approval by your Graduate Program Coordinator, the form will be sent to Enrolment Services for processing. If you have any questions, please email your Graduate Program Coordinator.
Convocation
Inviting Family to Convocation
- Please consult the international students website for information on inviting family to Canada for your convocation.
Convocation Ceremony, Diplomas, Caps/Gowns
- Get details regarding McGill convocation ceremonies for all faculties, including AES.