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Registration

2024-2025 Academic year

Fall 2024:

Returning students:

  • Registration starts: May 29, 2024

(All returning students have been assigned a personalized start time for registration which can be viewed on Minerva under ”Student Menu > Registration Menu > Check your Registration Eligibility and Verify Your Curriculum.)

New students:

  • Registration starts: July 2, 2024

Very important: All graduate students (new and returning) must register for the registration confirmation course numbers REGN RCGR for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 no later than August 14, 2024 (July 14 for students who have a DFW (Differential Fee Waiver). You can add/drop courses until September 10, 2024 for the Fall term courses and January 14, 2025 for Winter term courses.

Winter 2025 (new admits):

  • Registration starts: TBA
  • Registration deadline: January 4, 2025

All graduate students must enter registration confirmation course number REGN RCGR by January 4, 2025. You can add/drop courses until January 14, 2025 for the Winter term.

Registration tips

How to avoid late fees

  • Frequently review deadline dates. There is a late course change fee of $50 per course, no exceptions.
  • Submit your Graduate Exam Application Form (Performance students) on time. There is a late application fee of $100.
  • Ensure that all you have submitted all legal documents and paid any outstanding fees that may have put holds on your file.
  • Request to add undergraduate and extra courses early.
  • Do not leave changes until the last minute as the Graduate Studies Office is very busy.
  • Review your program requirements, additional required courses, and program milestones at least once a year with your advisor/supervisor.
  • Check the Class Schedule (timetable) for last minute changes periodically to see if they affect your choices.

Graduate seminars: Registration and priority lists

  • If you cannot register on MINERVA for a course you would like to take, contact the instructor by email to indicate your interest and attend the first class. 
  • Do not register for more than 2 classes per semester.

Seminar registration limits and priority lists

Registration in seminars is usually limited to 12 students per class, or 14 for Performance Practice (MUPP) and Performance (MUPG) seminars.  If too many students have registered for a seminar, some students may be asked to drop the course.  The following priority list will be followed:

  • Music students in a specific program for whom the seminar is required and who need the seminar to graduate in the year in which it is offered
  • Music students in a specific program for whom the seminar is required
  • Music students in a specific program for whom the seminar is an elective seminar
  • Other McGill students in graduate programs (music and non-music)
  • Visiting graduate students
  • McGill undergraduate music students who have the necessary prerequisites
  • Other McGill undergraduate students who have the necessary prerequisites
  • Visiting undergraduate music students
  • Special Students

 

All Graduate students will be charged per-credit fees for all extra courses beyond the requirements of their programs, including ensembles and lessons.

Follow these steps for a successful registration experience:

Step 1: Be prepared

  1. Review your admissions letter or current McGill student record for missing legal documents, added course requirements and other holds.

  2. Complete the following mandatory tutorials:

    Academic Integrity Tutorial: Accessed through Minerva.
    More information to test your knowledge here:

    Online sexual violence education program for the entire McGill community (A mandatory online sexual violence education program for the entire McGill community).
    Accessed through myCourses.

  3. Update your address and phone number on Minerva.

Step 2: Check your program requirements and milestones

  1. Visit your program pages.
  2. Once there, review your program requirements, yearly milestones and guides for comprehensives, thesis, recitals, colloquium. Download and print your personalized degree audit form.
  3. Check your Yearly Program Study Plan accessible below.

Yearly Program Study Plan - All programs

D.Mus. Composition (Thesis)

D.Mus. Performance (Thesis)

Post-Graduate Artist Diploma Yearly Program Study Plan

Graduate Diploma in Performance Yearly Program Study Plan

M.A. Music Education (Thesis)

M.A. Music Technology (Thesis)

M.A. Music Theory (Thesis)

M.A. Musicology (Thesis)

M.A. Musicology Gender and Women's Studies (Thesis)

M.Mus. Collaborative Piano

M.Mus. Piano Yearly Program Study Plan

M.Mus. Composition

M.Mus. Conducting

M.Mus. Early Music

M.Mus. Jazz

M.Mus. Opera and Voice

M.Mus. Orchestral Instruments

M.Mus. Organ

MA. Music Theory Gender and Women's Studies (Thesis)

PhD Composition (Thesis)

PhD (All Areas Except for Composition and Gender and Women’s Studies (Thesis)

 

Step 3: Meet with your advisor/supervisor

  1. With your audit form in hand, meet with your Advisor/Supervisor and look over your program requirements and milestones together.
  2. Plan or review your program of studies.

Step 4: Select your courses

  1. Review the graduate seminar offerings.
  2. Select desired seminars for both semesters and alternates if your choices are full.
  3. Review Ensemble Audition schedule for Performance students.

Step 5: Register

As a student, it is your responsibility to ensure your registration information is transferred to your student record by the end of the course add/drop period.

Register for all courses on Minerva.

Registration tips by program

M.A. registration tips

Minimum credit requirements

Master's students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits per term in the 1st year and Fall term of the 2nd year.  

Thesis

Follow these guides to register for your thesis in the right semesters:

Thesis Register For:
M.A.1 Fall
MUGS 683 Master's Thesis Research 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

and 
MUGS 684 Master's Thesis Research 2 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer
Winter
MUGS 685 Master's Thesis Research 3 9 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer
M.A.2 Fall
MUGS 686 Master's Thesis Research 4 12 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

M.Mus. registration tips

Minimum credit requirements

Master's students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits per term in the 1st year and Fall term of the 2nd year.  Sound Recording students must register for a minimum of 12 credits per term for 4 terms (2 years).

Composition M.Mus.: Follow this guide to register for your Thesis Research credits in the right semesters:

Composition Students Register For:
M.Mus.1 Fall
MUGS 684 Master's Thesis Research 2 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer
Winter
MUGS 685 Master's Thesis Research 3 9 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer
M.Mus.2 Fall
MUGS 686 Master's Thesis Research 4 12 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Sound Recording M.Mus.: You must register for all of your courses in the Fall and Winter semester.  You are not registered as a student in the summer months.

M.Mus. Performance: Ensemble registration

Register only for the number of ensemble options required for your program.  All others will be charged per credit fee reflecting your citizenship status.  See your program page for ensemble requiremens.

Lessons and vocal coaching registration

  1. If you did not submit your teacher and vocal coach preference form, do so immediately.  
  2. Notification of teacher/coach assignment will come by email to your McGill email address.  Use the course number in this email to register.

Performance Colloquium registration

Register for the Performance Colloquium in your first year.  You must attend three colloquia presentations during your program, but you register only once.  Your grade is entered upon completion of your requirements.  See your program page for details.

Recital registration

  1. Review recital options with your teacher (see your program page).
  2. Choose the order and sequence of recitals so that your total credits per semester are balanced in the 1st three semesters.
  3. 2nd year students: Register all recital credits in the Fall semester regardless of the semester in which you will actually perform.

D.Mus. registration tips

Comprehensive exam credits

See your program page for comprehensive exam guidelines and registration deadlines.

D.Mus. Performance: Ensemble registration

Register only for the number of ensemble options required for your program.  All others will be charged per credit fee reflecting your citizenship status.  See your program page for ensemble requirements.

Lessons and vocal coaching registration

  1. If you did not submit your teacher and vocal coach preference form, do so immediately.  
  2. Notification of teacher/coach assignment will come by email to your McGill email address.  Use the course number in this email to register.

Recital registration

  1. Review recital options with your teacher (see your program page).
  2. Register for your recital credits in the term in which you will be doing it.
  3. For your Lecture Recital, register for MUPG 771 in the term during which you will be doing it.

Ph.D. registration tips

Comprehensive exam credits

See your program pages for comprehensive exam guidelines and registration deadlines.

Doctoral Colloquium registration

If you are in your first year of the Ph.D. program, register for MUGS 705D1/D2 (Doctoral Colloquium).  Attendance is required across four semesters, but you must only register once.  Your grade will be entered upon completion of all course requirements.

Language requirements

French: Fill out a request on the McGill student website.  The form will be signed by the Graduate Director and returned to you.  Take a placement exam.  The language department will complete the permit overrides and you will be able to register.

Other languages: Get permission from the language department to take the course.  That department will need to complete a permit override for approval.  Fill out a request on the McGill student website.

Graduate Diploma (G.D.P. and P-G.A.D.) registration tips

Balance your program credits evenly between the two semesters.

Lessons and vocal coaching registration

  1. If you did not submit your teacher and vocal coach preference form, do so immediately.  
  2. Notification of teacher/coach assignment will be emailed to your McGill email address.  Use the course number in this email to register.

Recital registration

  1. Review recital options with your teacher (see your program page).
  2. Balance your recital credits in order to be registered full-time during the year.
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