Funding

Mobility Need-Based Bursary Exchanges

McGill University encourages students to study abroad as part of their McGill degree program by defraying part of the cost of eligible study abroad activities.

NEW! Minimum guaranteed financial aid for Exchanges 2022-2023! The Scholarships and Student Aid office guarantees that any student who is receiving (North American) government student financial assistance and/or McGill bursaries/loans for their normal costs of attendance will receive a minimum of $3000/term if they apply for the Mobility Bursary for Exchanges.

The Mobility Bursary for Exchanges is primarily for undergraduate students who:

• are approved for an exchange semester(s) abroad (where you study at one of McGill’s partner universities while earning credits and paying tuition to McGill)
• demonstrate financial need according to the guidelines

Application is submitted through Minerva under Finances

• For a fall semester, applications open in March
• For a winter semester, applications open in August

Enriched Educational Opportunities (EEO)

Enriched Educational Opportunities (EEOs) are high-quality off-campus mobility or other experiential opportunities and are officially recognized by your Faculty.

The University provided the Scholarships and Student Aid office with special funding to launch a pilot need-based EEO Bursary Program in 2017-2018. At minimum, the program is expected to run until Winter 2024. The program will help undergraduate students with the additional costs associated with these extra opportunities.

Note: Exchange semesters are not included in the EEO Bursary Program

To be considered for EEO aid, you must:

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree at the University
• Be full-time or deemed full-time (per government aid programs, due to disability or with young dependent children) in your EEO term or at minimum in the term preceding the EEO term
• be in satisfactory academic standing
• Demonstrate financial need for your standard costs of attendance

Application is submitted through the In-Course Financial Aid menu in Minerva.

Applications can be submitted at any time in the academic year and can also be made concurrently with your standard financial aid application.

McGill International Experience Awards (MIEA)

The McGill International Experience Awards (MIEA) were established in 2013 through a donation by Joseph Schull and Anna Yang.

The MIEA benefit students in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Law, and all other faculties through the Office of the Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning). Each faculty administers its own awards.

Different awards are open to students in the faculty of:

• Arts
• Law
• Science
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Management
• Agriculture and Environmental Science

Read more on the different International Experience Awards for each of the faculties as well as the eligibility criteria for each one.

Canada Learning Initiative in China (CLIC)

The Canada Learning Initiative in China (CLIC) connects Canadian university students with Chinese universities through unique study abroad programs. Participating in a CLIC program is a great way for Canadian students to have innovative and meaningful educational opportunities in China.

Financial support for travel and study in China, which includes:

• Travel Scholarship (amount is determined by McGill)
• 3000 yuan (≈$600CAN) per month stipend
• Subsidized accommodation (contact CLIC to find out if the program you are interested in has free accommodations)
• Free medical insurance (coverage details)
• No application fees at the Chinese university

Full list of CLIC benefits here.

To be considered for CLIC, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen under 45 years old
• Students may only receive CLIC support for one summer program throughout their  academic career.
• Be a full-time student from CLIC member universities.
• If you are already receiving a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council, you will not be eligible to receive CLIC financial support.

To apply to CLIC:

1. Review McGill’s exchange partners in China and rank your potential host universities by preference
2. Apply for McGill’s outgoing exchange program
3. Receive your nomination to your Chinese host university
4. Apply for CLIC funding through the CLIC website

Killam Fellowships Program

The Killam Fellowships Program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate Canadian students to spend one semester or a full academic year studying at a university in the United States. Students may apply to one of two programs:

• Direct Exchange: undergraduate registered at McGill university, paying their home fees, and attending the host university as an exchange visitor.
• Open Competition: self-placed visiting student (registering at the host university and paying host tuition fees).

The Killam Fellowships Program provides a cash award of $5,000 US per semester ($10,000 for the full academic year), a three day orientation in Ottawa, and a three day spring seminar in Washington. In addition, the Foundation provides all Killam Fellows with a health insurance allowance of up to $750 USD. All Killam Fellows are also eligible to apply for a mobility (in-country travel) grant in an amount not to exceed $800 US.

To be considered for the Killam Fellowships program, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen;
• be a full-time undergraduate student in good standing at a degree granting institution in Canada;
• be fluent in the English language (and/or French, where appropriate);
• have a superior and competitive academic record;
• be nominated by your home university.

Application deadline differs between the Direct Exchange and Open Competition Programs.

To apply, the following documentation must be submitted:

• Proof of citizenship
• CV
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• Course Selection Forms
• Letter of Acceptance
• English Language Proficiency Form (if English is not your first language)
• Two references

McCall MacBain International Fellowships

The McCall MacBain International Fellowships aim to enable globally-minded young Canadians to develop strong intercultural competencies and ties to different regions of the world, and to cultivate creativity, resilience, independence, critical thinking and the ability to “stretch” outside of their comfort zones.

Fellows spend a year abroad divided into three terms: language, academic and work/internship. Start dreaming big even at the application stage, where you will begin designing a year abroad within the parameters of these three terms.

To be eligible for the McCall MacBain International Fellowship, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• be between the ages of 19 and 24 (inclusive);
• be enrolled full-time in a first-entry undergraduate university program with a minimum CGPA of 3.0;
• have not left Canada to participate in a travel, work, volunteer, or study abroad experience independently (i.e. without parents) in a new language or culture for eight months or more during the last three years.

Please check the McCall MacBain International Fellowship website for information on deadlines and applications

Up to 1,500 per month (prorated), up to 8 months.

Students' activities abroad funded by this Mobility program cannot exceed 8 months per degree. The 8 months can be used in one activity, or by combining several travel activities.

• Must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at McGill
• Must be registered as a full-time graduate degree student at the time of travel (status accepted: Full Time, Additional Session, Continuing)
• Must have completed one full-time term at the time of application
• Must be in good academic standing

View full list of eligibility requirements here.