McGill University

I am a current undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, St. George Campus. When I was younger, McGill was always my dream university. For me it was either McGill or U of T, and although I ended up at U of T, I have always admired McGill. I did not apply because I live in Ontario and as an only child my parents were worried about me being too far from home, which is very normal and something I completely understand. This summer I had the chance to visit McGill again while on vacation in Montreal, and it truly is one of the most beautiful campuses in Canada. McGill was founded in 1821 and named after James McGill, a Scottish merchant whose endowment made the university possible. Since then, it has grown into one of the most respected universities in the world, with Nobel Prize winners, groundbreaking research, and an incredible reputation in medicine, law, and science. The campus is in such a unique location, right at the base of Mount Royal, which gives it both a historic and lively atmosphere. The old stone buildings are surrounded by green spaces, and you really feel like you are in the heart of Montreal. When I visited, it happened to be move-in day and they were also setting up for OAP, the Open Air Pub. I have seen so many videos of OAP before, but seeing it in person felt so exciting. There was such a positive energy on campus and you could tell students here are proud of their school. I also noticed that people at McGill have a great sense of style. Everyone looked effortlessly put together and it really added to the atmosphere of the campus. Something else that stood out to me is the slope leading up to Mount Royal. Walking up there was no joke, I was out of breath and it felt like a workout on its own. It made me think about what it must be like to have classes up that hill every day, and in a way it is great for athleticism since students are constantly exercising just by moving between buildings. One of my high school teachers once told me that when they studied at McGill, students would take cafeteria trays in the winter and slide down the hill for fun. Imagining that made me smile because it shows how students not only study hard but also find creative ways to enjoy the campus and city. McGill seems to balance academics with a really strong sense of community and social life, and I find that inspiring. As a U of T student I sometimes wish we had more of that same social spirit, but it is also motivating to see what McGill offers. I am entering my last year at U of T now, but I am definitely interested in applying to McGill for my master’s. Based on my experiences and everything I saw, I can confidently say McGill is one of the most beautiful, vibrant, and prestigious universities not only in Canada but in the world. 🎓📚

I'm not in the habit of reviewing universities, especially not universities which I have never attended....however I have passed through it's campus countless times in my lifetime. Therefore I will give mcgill university a 5-star rating based on any knowledge of it as an institution but rather as a pleasant campus that I have visited many times. Alaric recommends 👐

McGill University is one of the top universities in Canada and the world. It’s also one of the few English-language institutions in the city of Montreal. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, right next to McGill Metro station, the campus is easily accessible. The university has a charming, historic feel, with many buildings dating back to the 19th century, surrounded by green lawns and trees. The quality of education is excellent — McGill graduates are well-prepared and often find jobs quickly after graduation.

McGill University, one of the top 3 universities in Canada, stands out not only for its academic excellence but also for its rich history and stunning campus. Located in the heart of Montreal, McGill is known for its world-class research programs and diverse student body. The university’s historic buildings, like the iconic Arts Building and the Redpath Museum, blend beautifully with more modern structures, creating a unique atmosphere that mixes tradition with innovation. Its central location provides easy access to everything Montreal has to offer, making it a perfect spot for both students and visitors. Whether you’re exploring the academic landmarks or simply strolling through the campus, McGill offers a memorable experience.

Not a student, not an alumni, just a traveler & photographer who likes architecture.

In awe of the amazing architecture, take a stroll around the campus, Redpath museum is a must.

Very cool university! Perfect location. Classic-looking buildings with modern equipment inside. Visited a chemistry lab - nicely organized. Also the book store is good, bought a couple souvenirs. Parking is expensive tho on Rue University.

Walking through University to reach out Mount Royal Park, gave a chance to see Pro-Palestinian camps and old academic facilities including Arts Building, Redpath Museum, Burnside Hall, McLennan Library Building, and McIntyre Medical Sciences Building. It is a must for Montreal tourists to see it!

Great Setting Canada's most respected and famous University. Located right in the city on a beautiful campus. Old with a lot of charm.

This school is huge and beautiful. It was so enjoyable walking around the campus. There was not a lot students when I visited but sometimes, there were still students running to class or biking around. So photogenic at the same time.

McGill has a beautiful campus with tons of history and interesting displays. The campus is absolutely huge and spans across the whole of downtown Montréal. Even if you're not a student here, it's worth visiting and looking around inside the buildings, and there's usually always a friendly student or member of staff to answer questions about the university. The grounds around are beautiful to take a break on during a warm day, and worth taking a few shots here too!

Does it have a nice campus? Yeah. Are the profs nice people? Usually. But you can't forget that McGill is first and foremost a research institution and it operates as such. Student services are either unavailable or completely useless. The building itself is in constant need of repairs and you can hear drilling and banging during lectures. The library has a lack of study spaces and a mouse infestation (they're pretty cute though ngl). The vending machines always swallow your change. Most of the student population seems to be on anxiety meds (usually caused by McGill itself lol). It's really a culmination of things that drive us up the wall. Nobody goes to McGill for the quality of education, c'mon. We came here for the name and we're all hanging on by the skin of our teeth, but hey, if nothing else, it'll toughen us up.

Do not waste your time. The student support from McGill is practically non-existent and you are viewed as just a number. The school itself is perpetually underfunded, and you will not get any meaningful advice or help if you are an entering first-year student undecided about what major/career to pursue. Additionally, many introductory classes, especially in math and science, are not set up in a way that promotes student learning, and some of the explanations given by the professors will actually confuse you even more. When I was there, I worked very hard for lackluster grades. I left after a year and went to a community college for the next couple of years to reset my academic career. It was a truly eye-opening experience when I ended up learning much more in terms of both breadth and depth in the first 2 weeks at a COMMUNITY COLLEGE relative to the equivalent course at McGill, which is supposedly a world class university. After community college, I transferred to a decent public university that is probably not as well known as McGill, but where I had a far superior experience to what I would have gotten had I stayed there. I used to think that McGill's problems were mostly due to it being a large public school. I was wrong. Even though my new university was also a large public school, I was privileged to get highly supportive faculty mentors who took me under their wing from literally day one, and participated in very exciting research projects as an undergrad. The people at this school were also much friendlier compared to the ones I met at McGill. In my last year, I applied and was accepted to some top schools for my masters degree, one of which is a highly prestigious private university that is ranked higher than McGill internationally. That same university also offered me a merit based scholarship. Now I am employed as an engineer at a large firm that is known as one of the best in its industry, and have also been doing very well in my performance reviews. When I look back at my years in school, that year I spent at McGill was a clear outlier compared to the many successes I had later on, both academically and professionally. If I had stayed there, I would have continued believing I was stupid and that there was something wrong with me. I am grateful that I left McGill and only wish I had done so sooner.

Set aside the rankings, history and name reputation of McGill, I find the quality of the undergrad education a bit shallow. I completed a BCom (Bachelor of Commerce) in accounting last year. Looking back at when I started three years before that, I was super-motivated but then by the time I finished the first year and a half of mandatory core business classes, I was worn down by the amount of bullshit and lost some of that drive when I returned to more relevant subjects to my field. Sure classic theories are important but the curriculum dearly lacks innovation. Some of the lecturers are world-class, others are abysmal. Of course, McGill had to overbook the program so everyone is on their computers trying to get a seat in their preferred sections during the first 5 minutes of registration before space runs out. The advisors at the student affairs office are grumpy. Sometimes there are classes you want to take that just aren't available because no one is there to teach it. There are lots of these ghost classes actually that haven't been offered for years. After finding out that nearly half of the Information Systems courses were not offered (the ones that were more technical and skill-based as opposed to theoretical), I gave up on getting a concentration in IS. After all, it's the school name that gets people's attention, not the degree. It's cool to wear a McGill shirt. I was down at Lake Placid, NY (a small town) last weekend and a lot of the American folks immediately recognized the small McGill logo on my wind jacket. I did not try asking if they knew about Desautels Faculty of Management. I grew up and did my whole schooling in Montreal, so apart from the brand equity on my CV, the McGill experience left me more or less indifferent. I only pay around $1900/semester as a Quebec resident, but the international students who are paying 10X more might find that it's a hard sell for just a brand name and the privilege opportunity of living in Montreal. Confusing "McGill is a great school" with "Montreal is a great city" is like giving a restaurant 5 stars because the reviewer was in a good mood. Besides, Concordia's downtown campus is much closer to good food than McGill is.

Meh, ok classes, ok library, shitty mental health. Same time great location and huge party scene. Work hard play harder #faco

I've never heard of McGill University, but apparently it is a well known and well regarding University. Since we were staying close by and had just walked the Mont Royal park, we decided to walk around the University. I'm glad I did because the architecture is absolutely beautiful. It's filled with old, stone buildings that have so much charm and characteristic to them. I would have loved to go to a school where classes are held in these type of buildings.

I honestly couldn't see myself anywhere other than McGill. The "work hard, play harder" attitude pushes students to not only be exceptionally well rounded, and have stellar time management skills, but also to be able to genuinely connect with a large network of students that make up McGill. If you love a challenge and are mentally strong, come to McGill. The feeling and pride of being a McGill student is unmatched.

So, you're looking for a university on Yelp. My, my, how can I know what you're looking for? Do you seek knowledge about the student life, the academic standards, the buildings or the crowd? Well, let me begin. I had the honour of studying and graduating from McGill with a Master's. This university seems to have a policy of snapping the best professors from all over the world. I kid you not, the genius density at McGill is off the charts. Your professors will, as a standard, be quite demanding and expect you to rise to their challenge. Considering the high admission standard university-wide, you should be more than a match for whatever they throw at you. Useful tip: if you graduate from their law school, you should be immediately eligible for admission to both the Canada/Quebec and New York State Bars. Apparently, only York uni can boast the same privilege. I have to take care in maintaining fairness while making this criticism: being such an enormous and multidisciplinary university, combined with a wide range of activity focuses beyond the academic, McGill's bureaucracy can be bothersome to deal with. For your own benefit, please assume that the right hand won't know what the left is doing. Your departmental policies may not match the university's official (and sometimes obscure) regulations. There may be small print that hasn't made it into the tons of handbooks you're showered with. I can't emphasize this enough: take control of your degree's admin. Ask which courses exactly are needed, and whether everything you have done, are doing and plan to do is kosher with the uni. Having obtained such answer, ask again later. For added surety, phone the relevant Dean in the central offices. Do it! So you're in and moved to Montreal. Your international tuition, compared to US fees, is laughable. Costs of living in Montreal amaze you for their awesomeness. The drinking age is 18. Time to make some friends. Well, undergrads are normally welcomed hotly by the city (sweltering August heat) and the students association (guzzling beers during Frosh). During the year they can join a swathe of student societies ranging from cultural to athletics, via politics and pure outlandishness. If you're not from Montreal proper, you may feel like an international student. The McGill International Students Network is at your service, wherever you hail from. They organize tons of meet-and-greet events in the first weeks of term, so you can begin establishing networks outside of your department. The Student Society building is a spacious but unsightly dwelling for undergrads looking for a hangout. You're treated to an array of function rooms and commercial catering outlets. Meh. Graduate students, on the other hand, possess their own separate society and their own Grad Club, Thomson House. It's a classy members club arranged on four floors with a great and cheap restaurant in the basement, a bar and several lounges on the ground floor and a massive ballroom on the first. If you're an undergrad, befriend a grad student and enjoy Thomson House hospitality and great beer selection. Location-wise it couldn't be better. The city has a ridiculously low cost of living and rent, Ghetto excluded, is really great. Electricity is at its cheapest in North America, and many apartments come with this included in the rent. If you know your farmers markets, grocery shopping is a breeze. So overall McGill combines the best of most worlds. It is an Anglophone university in the most European city this side of the Atlantic. Everything is within walking distance, including some of the world's best nightlife. The high proportion of international students makes McGill an eye-opening experience for many, while its academic and teaching standards are amongst the highest in the world. Well, my suggestion is to come here and have a blast.

One of the best decisions I ever made was to get the hell out of the US in 2002 and go to McGill for my undergrad. Didn't know a soul and had never even met a Canadian before but ... c'est la aventure. Yes, it's heavily alcohol fueled (and sponsored) but that's college. Some favorite memories include but are not limited to ... The gorgeous old school buildings with marble floors and high ceilings, the creepy deco library that always smelled like feet, the underground walkways that connected the buildings and always made me feel like i was signing a death wish in a meager attempt to avoid the sub-zero temperatures above ground. Ah...and I loved the people in the sociology department where I worked for 2 years in a work study program meant to support my student loans but instead supported my nights at Time and Vol de Nuit. Those wonderful Italian dames brought me food and bought me presents and let me do homework for $9 an hour. tabernac!

its the harvard of canada you know! did you also know that welcome weekend for freshman is sponsored by molsen? did you also know that if you drink a case of molsen before you go to class you wont remember the class? did you also know that if you drink a case of molsen before you go to class you wont remember the class? my cousin went here and didnt even know he graduated till he got a letter sent to his house letting him know he didnt have to go back. oui oui

An absolutely beautiful campus right in downtown Montreal. I can't speak much for the quality of the academics, however this school seems to have a pretty good reputation (however, there are currently some negative rankings on princetonreview.com). I recently submitted a bunch of samples to their Genome Center- and they have been incredibly nice and great with everything. Furthermore, I was able to meet some of their students and biology professor while doing some research in Panama, and they all seemed very happy and had good things to say about the school. I might be back in Montreal again later this summer, and I will definitely walk through the campus more extensively again, as I'm sure it will be even more beautiful during the summer.

This university offers the worst academic experience for an artsy person or literary person. The campus is full of these Matt Damon-like "I am Matt Damon"- Americans who seem to outnumber the students who are locals. Unless you are drunk at one of their fraternity parties or wearing Tommy Hilfiger jogging pants low on your thighs, don't expect to make any friends. The professors are uninspiring and close-minded. They were teaching me about theories of theories or critic's essays instead of helping me analyze the actual literary texts themselves. I find their approach to teaching Liberal Arts subjects inferior to the methods and approach that is used at Concordia University. My artsy friends, this is a warning: Stay away from McGill. It will kill your passion for any liberal arts subject it tries to teach.

I give McGill an extra star because it's in Montreal. Don't get me wrong: McGill is a great school on its own, but it certainly gets a boost from being in the heart of such a fun and unique city. Going here as an undergrad was great because I could live within walking distance of the main campus, while still completely avoiding any university-related, rah-rah nonsense if I felt like it. Try doing that in a college town. The student body is pretty diverse, about a quarter international students (including lots of Americans) and a quarter from Toronto and the GTA. As such, McGill has a good international reputation, which is useful if you're planning on going on to do graduate work.

This review is only based on the university as a sight seeing opportunity. Based on that, welcome to Hogwarts! the Hospital is just magical. I hate to sound like an American in awe, but dammit, i'm an American in AWE! compared to the many campuses I've seen, McGill is so pretty. I really recommend walking around and seeing the campus!

If you're visiting McGill for the day there are a number of places you'll want to check out. First of all is the wonderful Redpath Museum, located on the lower campus, near the grand Arts Building. The Redpath Museum is free to access and worth an hour of perusing and falling into the stateliness and beauty from which McGill sprang. Another amazing place to visit is the Birk's library, located in the religious study building on University street on the Eastern side of the lower campus. Birk's library is so old and so beautiful that you'll have to remove your shoes to walk on the gorgeous hardwood inside and climb up to the loft. Be sure to check opening hours for that library online, as it's not open all day (search "mcgill birk's library hours" on your preferred search engine). In the religious studies building is also a beautiful chapel, so check that out too. Another lovely library feature can be found in the Islamic studies building on the Western side of the Arts building. There's a beautiful circular reading room with narrow staircases going up to a loft. When you tire of exploring the campus, do as the students do and enter the "McGill ghetto" on the Eastern side of campus and visit "McGill Pizza" on University and Milton for a delicious and slightly sketchy-looking authentic experience. They serve a good breakfast, as well as pizza and gyros. After this, stay on Milton and continue heading East to head over to the other reason why McGill students love McGill: the fact that it's right next to the coolest areas in Montreal. You'll hit Rue St. Denis and find pedestrian areas and little parks and lots of reasons to spend the rest of your day here. Enjoy!

nice enough campus to walk through - english speaking school - interesting stroll on the way to Mt Royal

I loved every minute of attending McGill and living in Montreal!!!