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Apply to the B.A. program

B.A. programs in Religious Studies are offered in cooperation with the Faculty of Arts, and all admission requirements, application procedures, and academic rules and regulations of that Faculty apply to students in these programs. This means that students wishing to apply for any of the B.A. programs at the School of Religious Studies must apply to the Faculty of Arts through the Applying to McGill website.

Prospective students seeking advice should contact the appropriate School of Religious Studies advisor.

Apply to the B.Th. program

Owing to McGill University's implementation of a comprehensive online application system, paper applications to the B.Th. Program can no longer be accepted. All applicants must apply onlineThe online application process should take about 20 minutes and a credit card is required for payment of the application fee. Once completed, the online application form may be printed for your own records. For more information contact studaffairs.relg [at] mcgill.ca (Student Affairs) or call 514-398–5251.

Requirements

Documents

  • Transcript(s) of all previous post-secondary academic work. Applicants to the B.Th. & B.A. Programs as a first degree must submit high school and/or CEGEP transcripts
  • Copies of your unofficial transcript(s) must be uploaded to complete your application
  • Official transcript(s) are required only if you are admitted, and must be mailed directly from the institution to the mailing address below

BTh applicants also need:

  • Personal Statement, according to the directions in the application. Please download and use the Personal Statement Form

  • Two letters of recommendation including at least one from an instructor in an academic institution previously attended

  • Your referee must download and use the B.Th. Reference Form
  • The two letters of recommendation must be sent to the mailing address listed under Mailing address tab.

After your application has been received, you will be given access to your Minerva account. Using Minerva, you will be able to upload your unofficial transcripts and personal statement to complete your application. You can find full instructions on how to prepare, upload, and submit relevant documents on the Applying to Undergraduate Studies website.

If you are applying for admission to one of the theological colleges, another complete set of these required documents must also be sent to the college concerned.

Please note that your file will not be considered by the Admissions Committee until all the required documents have been received.

Proof of proficiency in English

The language of instruction for most courses at McGill University is English; however, you may make arrangements to write term papers, examinations and theses in English or in French, except in courses where knowledge of the language is one of the objectives of the course.

You must demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency prior to admission to McGill, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. Click here to find out if you are exempted from submitting proof of English proficiency with your application.

Admissions

Readmission

Students requesting readmission to the Bachelor of Theology program after an absence of one academic term or more must submit an electronic readmission application.

For more, see the Faculty of Arts website: https://www.mcgill.ca/oasis/students/current/seeking-readmission

Supporting documents, if applicable, must be sent separately to the Student Affairs Office, Birks Building, room 107, 3520 University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7.

  • Students should state the reasons for their absence from the University and give a summary of their activities during that period. 
  • Students who withdrew because of illness should provide a medical note stating that they are ready to resume their studies.

Mature students admission policy

Those who will be 23 years of age or older by September 1 of the year that they seek admission (or by January 1 for admission to the Winter Term) and who lack the academic qualifications normally required for entry into the B.Th. program may apply as mature students for admission to a qualifying year.

Students admitted to a qualifying year enroll for a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 30 credits of designated Religious Studies and Arts courses, determined by the B.Th. adviser (in consultation, for affiliated students, with their college adviser). During their second term, they may apply to the B.Th. program (120 credit).

Those who, during the qualifying year, earn a CGPA of least 2.5, normally will be granted admission to the program. Upon admission, credits completed during the qualifying year, with a grade of C or better, may be applied toward the 120-credit requirement. An additional 12 credits may also be applied, in recognition of study or work experience elsewhere. (This includes both maturity credits and transfer credits, if any; applicants with more than 12 recognizable transfer credits must apply directly to the BTh program.)

More on the Mature Student category is available here: 

https://www.mcgill.ca/applying/requirements/mature

Each student is considered on an individual basis, based on all elements in the file.

Reconsideration of an admission decision

An unsuccessful applicant or a School of Religious Studies Council member acting on behalf of an unsuccessful applicant who believes that not all factors having a bearing on the application have been fully considered has the right to request that the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee review the application.

Starting on March 1, any applicant whose request for admission has been denied may submit a written request for reconsideration of the admission decision. The request must include information in support of reconsideration. This request must be sent to the Chair of the B.Th. Admissions Committee. Regardless of when they are received, requests will only be processed after March 1. It will not be possible to reconsider admission decisions after August 1. A fee of $40.00 will be charged before the request is processed.

If the findings of the review procedure uphold the initial decision of the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee, the applicant has the right to appeal in writing to the Director. The Director shall put the appeal before the B.Th. Appeals Committee, which shall consist of three full-time members of the School of Religious Studies Council who are not at the same time members of the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee.

The decision of the B.Th. Appeals Committee will be final.

Interfaculty transfer

If you are currently registered at McGill in another degree program and you wish to transfer into the School of Religious Studies, Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) program for the fall term, you must submit an electronic transfer application by June 1. The online application is available as of March 1 through the Student Records menu once you have logged into Minerva. Supporting documents must be sent to the Student Affairs Office, Birks Building, room 107, 3520 University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7.

For more up to date information, please see: https://www.mcgill.ca/oasis/students/current/inter-faculty-transfer

Required supporting documents

  • Two letters of recommendation including at least one from an instructor in an academic institution previously attended. Your referee must download and use the B.Th. Reference Form.
  • Personal Statement, according to the directions in the application. Please download and use the attached form, Personal Statement Form.

If you are currently registered in the B.Th. program, and you wish to transfer for the fall term to another faculty, you must submit an electronic transfer application by June 1. The online application is available as of March 1 through the Student Records menu once you have logged into Minerva. Supporting documents, if applicable, must be sent separately. Please consult the appropriate Faculty website for detailed information.

Deadlines

Applicants to the B.Th. Program may be accepted into either the Fall or Winter Term. Please note that all required documents listed above must be received by the School of Religious Studies in order for the applicant to be considered by the Admissions Committee.

Fall admission

  • January 15 (U.S & International high schools)
  • February 1 (Canadian high schools)
  • March 1 (Quebec CEGEP)
  • May 1 (Transfer, Second degree, Special, or Visiting)

College affiliated applicants may be considered for admission to the fall term after these deadlines only upon recommendation of the affiliated college. Please contact the college of your affiliation for more information. 

Please note that CEGEP applicants must apply by March 1 and High School applicants must apply by January 15 to be considered for Entrance Scholarships. You can find more information about Entrance Scholarship on Scholarship and Student Aid Office website.

Winter admission

Please note that the application opens on October 1 and is due November 1 for January Admission (for all applicants).

Please note that all required documents must be received by the School of Religious Studies in order for the applicant to be considered by the Admissions Committee.

Mailing address

McGill University
Bachelor of Theology Program
Enrolment Services
Student Records
3415 McTavish Street, Room MS 13
Montreal, Quebec H3A OC8 Canada

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