McGill University was founded in 1821 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as a public institution chartered by a royal charter from King George IV, evolving from the private McGill College established through a bequest by Scottish-born merchant James McGill. It is one of Canada's oldest universities, pioneering coeducation, admitting women on equal terms early on, and becoming a leader in medical education with the founding of its Faculty of Medicine in 1829. Over two centuries, McGill has grown into a world-renowned research university, producing breakthroughs in medicine, science, and humanities, while maintaining its English-language instruction in a bilingual province and attracting global talent.
McGill's main downtown campus is located on the northern slope of Mount Royal in central Montreal, spanning a beautiful urban parkland setting with historic stone buildings, green spaces, and stunning city views. Iconic landmarks include the Roddick Gates entrance, the historic Arts Building and McLennan Library, the McGill University Health Centre nearby, and the striking McGill Ghetto residential area. A secondary Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (about 20 miles west) focuses on agriculture, environmental sciences, and food studies, featuring expansive grounds, farms, and research facilities. The campuses blend historic architecture with modern labs and are highly accessible via Montreal's public transit, surrounded by vibrant neighborhoods, cafes, and cultural sites.
McGill University is a public research university governed by its Board of Governors (for overall policy and finances) and Senate (for academic matters). The President and Vice-Chancellor (chief executive) is Professor Deep Saini (since April 2023). The Chancellor is a ceremonial role (currently Maryse Lassonde). The administration oversees 11 faculties and schools, supported by provincial funding, tuition (higher for international students), research grants, and philanthropy, with a strong emphasis on bilingualism, equity, and global engagement in Quebec's unique educational landscape.
McGill is organized into 11 faculties and schools, including Arts, Science, Medicine, Engineering, Management (Desautels), Law, Education, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Dentistry, Music (Schulich School), and Religious Studies, offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs with a research-intensive focus. It consistently ranks as one of the world's top universities (#27 in QS World University Rankings 2026, =41st in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, #1 or #2 in Canada across major rankings), excelling in medicine, law, neuroscience, environmental sciences, music, and interdisciplinary studies. McGill is affiliated with numerous Nobel laureates (especially in medicine and physics), boasts world-class facilities like the McGill University Health Centre, and emphasizes innovation, critical thinking, and global perspectives.
McGill enrolls over 39,000–40,000 students (around 28,000 undergraduates and 10,000–12,000 graduate/postdoctoral as of recent data), with a highly international and diverse community (over 30% international students from more than 150 countries). Student life centers on the vibrant Montreal setting, with residence options (including historic dorms and off-campus housing), hundreds of student clubs and societies (from academic groups and cultural associations to sports, arts, activism, and entrepreneurship), strong athletics (Redbirds varsity teams), and traditions like Frosh Week, Winter Carnival, and the McGill Winter Carnival. The culture blends rigorous academics with a lively social scene, bilingual environment, access to Montreal's festivals, food, music, winter sports, and urban culture, plus robust support for mental health, career services, and inclusivity in one of North America's most cosmopolitan cities.
Professors at McGill University
0 listed