You must apply for readmission if:
- You previously studied in the Faculty of Science (B.Sc. or B.A. & Sc.) and have taken a break (of one term or more), and now want to return to your degree; and/or
- You are in Unsatisfactory Standing and wish to appeal to continue your studies.
- You have been instructed by the Readmissions Office to apply as a precaution. In some cases, students with multiple outstanding grades, such as deferred exams, may be at risk of falling into Unsatisfactory Standing once their final grades are recorded. If you are required to submit a readmission application in these circumstances, the Readmissions Office will contact you directly by email with instructions.
Readmission is NOT the correct process if:
- You were admitted to McGill but withdrew before the withdrawal with refund deadline; or
- You studied at another university after leaving McGill and have since completed at least one year of university studies.
Note: In both of these cases, you must submit a new application through Undergraduate Admissions if you wish to return to McGill.
On this page:
- Important information
- Deadlines
- Application procedures
- Application status
- Readmission decisions and offers
- Readmission after an extended absence
- Contacts and resources
Important information
- Readmission is at the discretion of the Faculty of Science and is not automatic or guaranteed. All applications are reviewed individually and in accordance with Faculty standards. The Faculty will assess an applicant's readiness to resume university studies and their plans for academic success and timely completion of their degree. In making this assessment, the Faculty may consider any information it considers relevant to the application.
- Apply early! Readmission requests are processed from the moment the module opens and in the order they are completed.
- You are responsible for following the application instructions and deadlines on this page and for checking your Application Status and External Comments in Minerva regularly for any additional information or action required.
- Tuition fees: If you are returning after a break in enrollment, your tuition rate may be different from when you last attended McGill. See Student Accounts for details.
- Immigration status: you are responsible for ensuring that your legal and immigration status is in order before resuming your studies. If you need renewed documents, you are strongly encouraged to apply for readmission as early as possible. Receiving an offer of readmission does not guarantee that you will have sufficient time to renew required documents. See the Legal Documents page for more information.
Deadlines
Deadlines vary depending on whether you wish to return to the same degree, or are also requesting a transfer to a different degree or B.Sc. Program Group. Consult the appropriate table below.
IMPORTANT: Apply for readmission only for the term in which you intend to register for and complete courses. If you are readmitted but do not complete at least one course during that term (either at McGill or as part of a McGill-approved activity like study away), your record will become inactive again and any courses you have registered for in a future term will be cancelled.
NOTE: If you have been away from McGill for five consecutive years or more, consult Readmission after an extended absence for deadlines.
| READMISSION ONLY: Returning to the same degree and, for B.Sc. applicants, the same Program Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| To resume your studies in: | Minerva module opens | Deadline to apply | Document submission deadline |
| Summer | March 1 | June 1 | June 1 |
| Fall | March 1 | July 1 | July 1 |
| Winter | October 1 | November 15 | November 15 |
| READMISSION & TRANSFER: Requesting a change of degree or, for B.Sc. applicants, a change of Program Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| To resume your studies in: | Minerva module opens | Deadline to apply | Document submission deadline |
Fall Readmission and Transfer applications are only accepted for the Fall term and must be submitted by the May 15 Transfer Application deadline. The Faculty of Science does not process transfer requests in Summer or Winter. | April 1 | May 15 | May 15 |
Notes:
| |||
Application procedures
Please follow all instructions as incomplete applications will be cancelled.
STEP 1: Create an application on Minerva
- If you no longer have access to Minerva, you must contact Service Point to be reactivated.
- Go to: Minerva → Students → Student Records Menu → Faculty Transfer & Readmission Menu
- To start an application, select “Request for Readmission.”
STEP 2: Provide required information in the Student Comments section
All applicants must complete the Student Comments section of the Minerva application. Applications that do not include all required information will be cancelled. Please review the instructions below carefully.
In the Student Comments Section, all applicants must include:
- Readmission statement
Explain why you are seeking readmission and why you are ready to resume or continue your studies. Your statement should:- Describe any circumstances that affected your academic performance and/or contributed to an interruption in your studies;
- Explain what has changed or how those circumstances have been addressed; and
Describe your plan for academic success moving forward. If you are in Probationary or Unsatisfactory Standing, it is highly recommended that you consult the self-assessment guide to help with your planning.
Contact email, if your McGill email is inactive
If you no longer have access to your McGill email account, provide a current email address where the Faculty can contact you.- If any scenarios in the table below apply to you, additional information is required in the Student Comments Section. Review the table and follow the instructions for ALL scenarios that apply to you. More than one scenario may apply.
| Scenario | In addition to your Readmission Statement and email (if your McGill email is inactive), you must also provide the following in the Student Comments section: |
|---|---|
| You have applied for Summer readmission | Indicate the specific courses you intend to register for in the Summer Term. |
| You have applied for readmission to the B.A. & Sc. | The Minerva application may not allow you to select your program or, if you are in the multi-track stream, to identify both of your programs. As such, indicate the program or programs you wish to return to. Please include this information even if you were able to select your program correctly in the application. |
| You have been away from the university | If you have been away for at least one term, but no more than 5 years: provide a brief summary of what you have been doing since you last attended McGill (e.g., work, studies or other activities). If you have been away for 5 years or more: Additional requirements apply. See Readmission after an extended absence for important information about the review process and the additional information and supporting documents you must submit. |
| You intend to pursue Study Away in the term you are readmitted | Indicate that you intend to apply for Study Away for the same term. If your readmission application is approved, you must accept your readmission offer before submitting a Study Away application by the required deadline. Readmission and Study Away are separate applications, and approval for readmission does not guarantee approval for Study Away. |
| You are seeking simultaneous readmission and transfer AND have completed 84 or more credits | Explain why you are requesting a transfer at this stage of your degree. As transfers are normally not permitted after 84 credits, your explanation will be considered a request for special consideration. |
STEP 3: Submit any required supporting documentation
Supporting documents are required in the circumstances listed in the table below. If none of these scenarios apply to you, you do not need to submit supporting documents with your application. However, the Faculty may request additional documents or information if needed to assess your application or your readiness to return.
If supporting documents are required, they must be submitted by the applicable deadline. However, you are strongly encouraged to submit them as soon as possible. Applications are reviewed in the order they become complete.
Review all of the scenarios below carefully, as more than one may apply to you.
| Scenarios | Required documents |
|---|---|
| You studied at another university during your absence | Email a PDF copy of your unofficial transcript(s), including all pages, from all schools that you have attended to readmission.science [at] mcgill.ca (readmission[dot]science[at]mcgill[dot]ca). Include your name and McGill ID in the subject line. If readmitted, you must make arrangements to have your final, official transcript sent from the institution(s) you attended. For detailed instructions, consult the Enrolment Services website and scroll down to the section on University/College Studies. NOTE: Transfer credits cannot be assessed in advance. Your record will only be reviewed once you apply for readmission and supporting documents are received. Approval for readmission does not guarantee approval of transfer credits. |
| Health circumstances (including mental health) affected your studies | If health circumstances contributed to an interruption in your studies, affected your academic performance, or contributed to Probationary or Unsatisfactory Standing, you should discuss your plans to resume or continue your studies with a health care professional before applying for readmission. You must provide a medical note from an accredited health care professional confirming that you are ready to resume or continue university studies. Medical notes must be sent to readmission.science [at] mcgill.ca (readmission[dot]science[at]mcgill[dot]ca). Include your name and McGill student ID number in the subject line. Note: Depending on your circumstances, the Faculty may request additional documentation about the circumstances that affected your studies and how they have been addressed. Where ongoing treatment or support is needed, the Faculty may also require documentation from a health care professional in Canada confirming that appropriate care is in place. |
| You have failed the same course twice | Students are normally permitted to repeat a failed course only once. If you need to take a course for a third time, you must obtain permission from your Degree Advisor as part of your application for Readmission. You must email your Degree Advisor to explain why you did not pass the course on your previous attempts and why you believe you will be successful on a third and final attempt. You are encouraged to consult the self-assessment guide to help you identify the steps you will take to succeed. Your advisor will inform the Readmission Office of the outcome of your request. Permission to take a course for a third time does not guarantee readmission. |
Application status
The Faculty may request any additional information or documents it considers necessary to assess your application and your readiness to return to studies.
As such, it is your responsibility to check your Application Status on Minerva regularly for any updates. If your application status is Faculty File Incomplete, this means that additional information/action is required from you before your readmission application can be processed. Review the “External Comments” of your application for details on what is required.
If your application status is Faculty File Incomplete and you do not provide the requested information by the document submission deadline, your application will be cancelled.
Readmission decisions and offers
If your application is approved, you must formally accept your offer of readmission in Minerva by the deadline indicated in your offer letter. Your readmission is not complete until you have accepted the offer.
Your offer letter may include conditions that you must meet after readmission, particularly if you were previously in Probationary or Unsatisfactory Standing. It is your responsibility to carefully review and understand these conditions before accepting your offer. Failure to meet these conditions may affect your eligibility for future readmission.
After accepting your offer, allow a few business days for your McGill record to become active again. Once your record is active, review your unofficial transcript in Minerva to confirm that your academic record is accurate. If you notice any errors or missing information, contact readmission.science [at] mcgill.ca (readmission[dot]science[at]mcgill[dot]ca) promptly.
IMPORTANT: If you accept a readmission offer, but do not complete at least one course during the term for which you were readmitted (either at McGill or as part of a McGill-approved activity like study away), your record will become inactive again and any courses you have registered for in a future term will be cancelled. You will be required to re-apply for readmission if you wish to continue your studies.
If your readmission is refused
Readmission decisions are final and not open to appeal.
Depending on your circumstances and academic history, the Faculty may determine that you must take a specified break from your studies before you are eligible to apply for readmission again, or that you are no longer eligible for future readmission to the Faculty of Science. Any restrictions on your eligibility for future readmission will be clearly stated in your decision letter.
Readmission after an extended absence
If you have been away from McGill for five consecutive years or more, your application for readmission will require a more detailed assessment.
Readmission is at the discretion of the Faculty and is not automatic or guaranteed. Having previously been admitted to and studied in the Faculty of Science does not guarantee that you can return after an extended absence. When a significant amount of time has passed since you last studied, the Faculty must assess whether you are academically prepared to return to university-level Science studies and have a reasonable prospect of successfully completing your degree in a timely manner.
| To resume your studies in: | Minerva module opens | Deadline to submit your application | Document submission deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
Fall Applications for readmission after an absence of 5 years or more require additional review and are therefore accepted for the Fall term only, with an earlier application deadline. Applications submitted for another term or after the extended absence deadline will be cancelled, even if Minerva allows you to submit an application. | April 1 | May 15 | May 15 |
Additional requirements
If you have been away from McGill for 5 years or more, you must provide the information and documents required of all applicants in the Student Comments and Supporting documentation sections above, as well as the additional information and requirements listed below:
- All applicants must submit a Readmission Statement (in the Student Comments section of the Minerva application), but applicants who have been away for an extended period should include the following information in their statement:
- The circumstances that contributed to the extended interruption in your studies;
- How those circumstances have changed and the reason you now wish to return to your studies; and
- Your intended program(s) of study upon return and your plan for academic success.
- An up-to-date resume outlining your employment, educational or other activities since leaving McGill.
- One letter of reference that can help the Faculty assess your preparation and readiness to return to university studies.
- A University or CEGEP transcript showing recent academic studies. You must have completed at least three CEGEP- or university-level mathematics and/or science courses within the three years before applying for readmission. Courses must be completed in person at an accredited CEGEP or university; online courses are not accepted.
- The Faculty may request additional information or documentation where necessary to assess your application.
Your resume, reference letter and a copy of your unofficial transcript must be sent by email to readmission.science [at] mcgill.ca (readmission[dot]science[at]mcgill[dot]ca) by the document submission deadline.
Previous McGill coursework
If you are readmitted after an extended absence, courses you previously completed at McGill will remain on your academic record. However, there is no guarantee that courses completed five or more years ago can still be used to satisfy your current degree or program requirements. The McGill Department that offers the course may need to review it to determine whether the course content is still current. In some cases, you may be required to retake a course.
This assessment is normally completed as part of the readmission review and your readmission offer will indicate whether any courses need to be repeated. The Faculty cannot complete this review before you submit an application for readmission.
Before applying, however, you should have a clear plan for your return, including the program(s) you intend to pursue and an understanding of the courses you may need to complete or repeat. We strongly encourage you to contact the appropriate departmental advisor well in advance for guidance in planning your studies. Departmental advisors can advise you on whether older coursework is likely to remain applicable to your program, but this is not a formal assessment. Please plan ahead, as advisors must prioritize currently enrolled students and cannot provide guidance on short notice.
Contacts and resources
Please direct any questions you have about the readmission process, requirements, deadlines or decisions to readmission.science [at] mcgill.ca (readmission[dot]science[at]mcgill[dot]ca); include your full name and student ID.
| Additional resources | Links |
|---|---|
| Contacting your Degree Advisor | SOUSA Contacts |
| Self-Assessment Guide | Self-Assessment Guide |
| Graduation Checklist | Graduation checklist |
| International Student Services - Immigration Documents | Immigration Documents |