To make the most of your time at McGill, keep in mind that your active participation in the advising process is essential. You must be proactive about seeking meetings with various advisors, professors, and counselors to ensure that you receive the advice you need to plan your studies and meet your academic goals. Advisors are happy to give you guidance, but it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you have met your degree requirements.
On this page:
Types of advisors
You will have access to two kinds of academic advisors: SOUSA advisors and program advisors - all advising sessions are confidential and free.
SOUSA Advisors
Science Office for Undergraduate Student Advising (SOUSA) provides academic advice to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science. SOUSA (faculty-level) advisors are experts in the regulations and requirements of the B.A. & Sc. and B.Sc. degrees.
Program Advisors
Program Advisors are specialists in the requirements of their specific courses and programs. There is a program advisor for every major, minor, honours, and Interfaculty program available in the B. Sc. and B.A. & Sc. degrees.
Speak with a SOUSA advisor if you have questions about:
- Freshman program (Science or Arts & Science)
- Degree planning
- Degree requirements
- University and Faculty regulations
- Study away/exchange
- Final exam issues
- Interfaculty transfers
- Readmission
Speak with a Program Advisor if you have questions about:
- Careers
- Course registration issues
- Getting the most out of your program
- Graduate school in your field
- Program requirements (major, minor, etc.)
- Research
| Service Point | |
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Though not an academic advising service, the Service Point team is a key resource. It is the student-facing arm of Enrolment Services and provides administrative services and assistance to students with the following items: |
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| To contact Service Point, please consult the Service Point website. | |
Who is your SOUSA advisor?
Your SOUSA advisor will normally be assigned to you around the 3rd week of June (after you have registered for courses).
Once the assignment process is complete, you can also find the name of your advisor on your unofficial Minerva transcript. In Minerva, select the “Student” tab on the top menu → select “Student Records Menu” → select “view your unofficial transcript”.
How do I contact SOUSA or my SOUSA advisor?
The SOUSA team is available to provide you with information and answer your questions. We provide service all year, but handle a very high volume of inquiries during certain peak periods:
*Please note that advisors are generally unavailable for individual appointments during the month of May due to their involvement in the graduation approval process.
New students can contact SOUSA at newstudentadvising.science [at] mcgill.ca. Please include your name and student ID number in the subject line.
Once you have been assigned your advisor (around the 3rd week of June), you can contact them and schedule a meeting by visiting: www.mcgill.ca/science/undergraduate/advice/sousa
When contacting SOUSA or your assigned advisor, always:
- Include your name and student number in the subject line.
- Use your McGill email address, which should be activated as soon as you accept your offer of admission. Please read McGill's policy on email communication with students.
- Allow at least 7 business days for a response. Do not send your questions to other people at SOUSA or McGill - this will slow the advising process and result in longer delays.