What is the Foundation Program U0?
The U0 year is the initial stage of your B.A. degree, designed to provide a broad foundation for your further studies in the Faculty of Arts. You can pick from one of the two options:
General option
- 18 credits of core requirements selected from the list of suggested foundation courses: a minimum of 6 credits in 3 of the 4 categories, listed below, must be completed;
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Languages
- Mathematics & Science
- Remaining courses can be selected from the list of suggested foundation courses.
- A maximum of 18 credits may be chosen from any one category (eg. Social Sciences) but no more than 12 credits per department is permitted.
Option - En Francais
- 18 credits of core requirement of courses conducted in French.
- Credits may be comprised entirely of language course; or substantive content courses conducted in French; or a combination of the two.
- Contact the French Language and Literature/ French as a Second Language department for placement tests and departmental approval;
- Remaining credits of elective courses must be selected from the list of suggested foundation courses;
Who needs to complete U0?
- If you are entering the B.A. directly from high school with no Advanced Standing credits; or
- You are entering with 0-23 credits of Advanced Standing or Transfer Credits from previous studies.
The Bachelor of Arts Foundation Program is intended to provide you with a broad foundation for a three-year degree program, you should take this opportunity and select courses in a variety of disciplines, keeping in mind the guidelines outlined for the program. Don't limit yourself to only one or two disciplines — explore and keep your options open. You may be surprised to find out that you have other interests. You may even discover an area of study you had never considered before, or you may learn that you are not as keen on a particular area as you had previously thought.
Courses which are chosen as part of your B.A. Foundation Program may also count towards your intended departmental programs. For example, it may be possible to count a Political Science course taken this year towards the Major Concentration, Minor Concentration or Honours program in Political Science
You will not have a departmental academic advisor until your second year (U1 year). You are, however, encouraged to contact departmental academic advisors if you have specific questions about prerequisites or about the requirements of the program(s) you are considering.
Navigating your U0 year
Advanced standing
- Advanced Standing credits may exempt you from part or all of the Foundation Program requirements. For example, if you passed the Art History AP (6 credits) with a grade of 4 or higher, you will have fulfilled the Humanities category of the B.A. Foundation Program.
- For further information read about advanced standing credits.
Course load and requirements
Course load
- If this is the first time you are studying in English, we strongly recommend that you take only 4 courses (12 credits) during your first term and that, as one of these, you consider taking an English as a Second Language course. Link to placement test
- If you discover that 4 courses are quite manageable, you may wish to take 5 courses during the second term.
- If you would like to improve your writing skills, you should consider taking a course offered by the McGill Writing Centre.
Course requirement
- Foundation courses taken to fulfill the core requirements in either option must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.
- Foundation courses must not be taken under the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade mode.
- You are eligible to register in First-Year Seminars, which are small-enrolment classes offered by several departments exclusively for Foundation Year students.
Registration
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For help with course registration refer to the registration information.To find out how to register, registration tips and the purpose of the add/drop period.
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You must not register for courses which are scheduled to meet at the same time.
Advancing to U1
- If you have earned 24 or more credits - including advanced standing credits at the time of admission - after successful completion of your first term (Fall):
- You are eligible to advance to U1 and to select your programs of study. For new students as of Fall 2025: you must complete at least one Faculty of Arts program - as part of your Multi-Track, Honours or Joint-Honours requirements - to graduate with a B.A. degree.
- Ensure that all of your final grades for your first term at McGill are showing on your record.
- Submit a "Removal of Foundation Year Program Request" form to change your year from U0 to U1 as of the Winter term.
- You may still request this change even if your 18-credit foundation program core requirements are not yet fully met.