General Preparation Tips for all McGill Students
Learn about McGill Essentials from Get Ready at Campus Life & Engagement.
Get your McGill Student ID Card
All students require a McGill ID card to access practice rooms, libraries, residences and many more student services offered to McGill students. You will need to register for at least one course before you can obtain the McGill ID card.
How to get a new student ID card
You can also benefit from a reduced fare rate from Montreal’s public transit system by obtaining a Reduced-Fare OPUS card if you are a full-time student for the entire academic year.
To obtain a Reduced-Fare OPUS card
McGill Email & IT Services
Set up your McGill email if you have not yet done so. McGill email is the official means of communication between faculties and students.
Familiarize yourself with IT services for Students.
Get ready for classes by paying close attention to these key dates between May and September:
April
1-30:
- If you are an international student, you must now apply for a Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (CAQ, a provincial government study permit) and a Study Permit (a federal government study permit) once you have accepted the admission offer to attend McGill. Valid immigration documents are required to remain registered in a program here.
- Explore on-campus and off-campus housing options if you are looking for a place to live. Learn more.
- Set up McGill email: official communication is only via your McGill email account. Access your McGill email from Outlook by logging in via Outlook. Contact McGill IT for assistance if you have trouble accessing your McGill email.
- Canadian or US students may apply for financial-need based government aid, or McGill loans and bursaries. Info at: Scholarships and Student Aid Office.
May
Early May:
- Legal status: Confirm your legal status in Canada, even if you are born in Quebec. Tuition fee rates vary by legal status. Visit Legal Documents to determine which documents you need to provide for fee assessments. The tuition rates based on residency status are found on the Student Accounts website.
- Confirm your tuition rates as based on residency: Student Accounts
15: Deadline to choose your practical instruction (also known as private lessons) teacher
- Submit a practical instruction request (You may list up to three teachers of preference on this form.)
20 - 23:
- Attend "Intro to Course Registration” info session info session
June
4: “What to Register” Info Session for CEGEP and Transfer (U1) students
6: “What to Register” Info Session for High School (U0) Students
9: Registration opens for new students
- See Registration Dates to determine when you can begin to register for courses.
*May 26 – June 23: Music Placement Exams
- Theory, Musicianship, and Keyboard Proficiency
20: Deadline to apply for McGill Residence
July
3rd and 4th week: Students should receive placement test and transfer credits results via a personalized Program Audit (PA).
August
1st week:
- Pick up your McGill ID card from Service Point if you have not yet done so.
- Register with Student Accessibility & Achievement (SAA) before the academic year starts if you have documented disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic health conditions, or other impairments.
7: Post Placement Test and Transfer Credits Registration Info Session
- Which courses to register for based on placement test results and transfer credits
14: Deadline to register for at least one course to avoid registration penalties
- B.Mus. and L.Mus. students typically finalize the year’s registration before September’s add/drop deadline after having received the placement test results, and/or a summary of transfer credits and ensemble placements following auditions in the first week of September. If you need to register full-time before mid-September, use the sample first-year course plan for your program as a guideline then make changes to your course registration once you have received the ensemble placements and placement test results. Students have until Tuesday, September 10 to make changes to fall registration without incurring a course change fee penalty.
25: Welcome Orientation Day 1 & Discover McGill
26: Welcome Orientation Day 2 in small groups
TBC: Meet and Greet with Program Coordinators
27: Classes begin
30: Deadline to cancel registration if you do not plan on studying at McGill University this fall.
TBC: Ensemble Auditions
With the exception of percussion ensemble ((MUEN 598), guitar ensemble (MUEN 562) and Intro to Ensemble Play for Pianist (MUEN 581), all students must audition to seek placement in a small or large ensemble.
September
1: Labour Day (No class) and offices are closed.
9: Add/Drop deadline for fall courses; must finalize fall registration on this date.
16: Course Withdrawal WITH REFUND deadline
Write Theory, Musicianship and/or Jazz Placement Exams
Students may seek exemption from first-year core theory, theory and/or jazz courses by passing a placement exam. See Placement Exams for detail.
Registration
New students may register for courses starting early June. See Registration Guide for details.
Practice Rooms, Ensemble Room Bookings and Locker Rentals
As a Schulich School of Music student, you can use multiple facilities in the two buildings dedicated to music students: Strathcona Music Building and Elizabeth Wirth Music Building. Instructions on how to access a practice room, book an ensemble room and reserve a locker are found in Building Resources.
