Frequently Asked Questions

You may book your transportation now - plane, train, or bus tickets - though please buy refundable tickets. 

For Arrival Day, please plan your travel to arrive on Sunday, July 7 (Cohort 1) or Sunday, July 21 (Cohort 2) between noon and 6 pm EST.

*NOTE: If you arrive before the specified arrival date, you must arrange for your own accommodation and your own transportation to the residence the following day.

For Departure Day, please plan to travel home on Saturday, July 20 (Cohort 1) or Saturday, August 3 (Cohort 2) between 10 am and 4 pm EST. Check out is in
the morning and you will need to take your luggage with you.

*NOTE: If you leave after this date, you will need to book your own accommodation and transportation to the airport, train station or bus station.

If you are an MSA Award recipient, DO NOT book transportation yourself.

If you've enrolled in Cohort #1:

Arrival day is Sunday, July 7 from 3 pm to 6 pm. Departure day is Saturday, July 20 from 8 am to 11 am. More details to come.

If you've enrolled in Cohort #2:

Arrival day is Sunday, July 21 from 3 pm to 6 pm. Departure day is Saturday, August 3 from 8 am to 11 am. More details to come.

Yes. A packing list will be sent out by email in the weeks prior to the start of MSA.

No. Participants will meet their roommate when they arrive at McGill.

After participants have paid the full amount for MSA, a form will be sent out to collect any information necessary to ensure their safe stay, including dietary restrictions and allergies. Participants’ meal plans will then be adjusted based on this information.

General Information on the program can be found on the McGill Summer Academy website. Important communications will be sent to participants via email. We also have an Instagram page that we recommend participants follow for updates.

Classes will take place in the morning, from 9:15 a.m. to Noon with a break. Afternoons and evenings will be dedicated to events, activities around Montreal, and free time.

There is a May 1st deadline to confirm that the in-person session will take place. If there is a need to cancel after May 1st, we would offer a choice of either reimbursement (minus the $120 confirmation fee), or the option to attend the academy in a virtual format at the virtual tuition rate. Given the current situation, cancellation due to COVID-19 appears unlikely.

Travel Documents

Most participants will need either a VISA or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. Some participants only need their passport. Find out if you need a VISA, eTA, or passport at the Government of Canada travel site.

Find out how to apply for a visitor VISA here.

Find out how to apply for an eTA here.

COVID-19 Travel Documents

As of April 1, 2022, pre-entry testing is no longer required for fully-vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water.

Unvaccinated travellers will continue to be required to complete COVID-19 tests upon arrival and on day 8 after arrival, as well as quarantine for 14 days. Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions.

More information on vaccination requirements to enter Canada available here.

All travellers entering Canada must use the ArriveCAN app to submit the following required information 72 hours prior to boarding their flight if travelling by air, or 72 hours prior to arrival in Canada if travelling by land:

• Their travel and contact information;
• Their vaccination information and proof of vaccination;
• Their quarantine plan (unless exempted under conditions set out in the Mandatory Isolation Order); AND
• A COVID-19 symptom self-assessment.

Remember to bring your travel document entered in ArriveCAN (e.g. passport).

1. A letter explaining your visit to Canada. This will be your offer of admission to MSA.
2. If you are under 18, you may need to provide the information of a custodian for the duration of your stay in Canada (If you are 17, it is not required, but it is recommended. It is required if you are 16 or under).

Name: Gillian Nycum, Ms.
Address: 3415 rue McTavish, McLennan Library Building, Montréal QC H3A 0C8
Phone number: 514 398-4751

A guardianship form for international students under 18 will be sent out in the coming weeks.

You will need to submit this information with your VISA application and show it to border services officials upon arrival in Canada. Find more information about VISA requirements here.

Yes, MSA Health Insurance is a specific and compulsory program for international participants. A group rate has been negotiated in order to make this more cost efficient. Due to liability concerns, it will be compulsory to use the insurance MSA offers.

Please contact summer.academy [at] mcgill.ca with any further questions.