| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.26 |
| Liaison | Karen Oberer |
| Submission Date | Jan. 17, 2024 |
McGill University
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.60 / 4.00 |
Cara
Piperni Director, Scholarships & Student Aid Student Services |
Percentage of need met, on average, for students who were awarded any need-based aid :
Percentage of students graduating without student loan debt:
Percentage of entering students that are low-income:
Graduation/success rate for low-income students:
A brief description of notable policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
McGill’s Entrance Bursary Program makes need‐based aid available to all (first time, first degree) newly admitted undergraduates, regardless of geographic origin and citizenship. McGill's In-Course Financial Aid Program (Bursaries and Loans) makes need-based aid available to all degree students regardless of geographic origin and citizenship. Additionally, McGill has a specialized aid programs for Indigenous students, and students from Youth-in-Care (child protection services)
Growth in McGill’s need‐based aid programs is made possible by the University’s commitment to redirect a percentage of net new revenue derived from tuition increases be allocated to student financial support, as well as student financial support being a key capital campaign priority.
The Scholarships & Student Aid Office also provides information and advice on scholarship funding, government student financial assistance programs, debt management, and individualized budget counselling. Financial assistance is available through Tuition Fee Deferrals, a Work Study program, and McGill loans and bursary programs (both Entrance and In-Course). In terms of out-of-classroom experiences, there are special need-based bursary programs to support the extra costs or foregone earnings of exchange away, field semesters/courses, unpaid/underpaid off-campus internships and research opportunities.
A brief description of notable policies or programs to support non-traditional students:
Funding support for non-traditional students:
The University has partnered with Canadian Indigenous-run charity Indspire to provide the McGill Okòn:ra Undergraduate Award offer $5000/year up to $20,000 per degree. This is a guaranteed level of funding, upon which other scholarships or bursaries may be added on the basis of merit or need respectively.
The University also offers a bursary guarantee every undergraduate student in or from care. Our Youth from Care bursary value is tuition/fees or $5,000 per year whichever is higher. We have a full-ticket award for some Quebec students from care, and within Student Services a social worker who acts as a key contact to ensure holistic services and ongoing support.
In our last reporting year, $15.5M in aid was provided students from under-represented groups. Students with demonstrated financial need may self-identify across a number of profiles: first generation, Indigenous, Black, visible minority, with permanent disability, caregiver of dependants, in care of provincial/state authority, sexual orientation or gender identity minority, refugee/displaced persons/asylum seeker/stateless person, and/or from a rural location far from any university. This allows our professionals to appreciate financial and other barriers being faced, and ensure intentional continuity of care. For example, students are considered 'full-time' with a permanent disability, students may qualify for financial support for ADHD testing, international students struggling with finances receive help to ensure their international health insurance is extended to their dependants.
For more information, see: https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/special-funding
Notable policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
McGill has published guidelines for pregnant and care-giving students, entitled Guidelines for the Academic Accommodation of Pregnant Students and Students Caring for Dependants (2012). The Environmental Health and Safety unit has published Guidelines for Accommodation of Pregnant/Breastfeeding Students in Labs. The McGill Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Leave of Absence and Vacation Policy also allows students to go on leave for maternity, parental, and family health reasons; students on maternity and parental leave may request and expect guidance on thesis and research work while they are away.
For further information, see:
- Guidelines for accommodation (2012) - pregnant and caregiving students: https://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/files/students.srr/guidelines_for_the_academic_accommodation_of_pregnant_students_and_students_caring_for_dependants.pdf
- EHS Guidelines for Pregnant/Breastfeeding Students in Labs: https://www.mcgill.ca/ehs/files/ehs/guidelines_pregnant_students_in_labs.pdf
- The Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Leave of Absence and Vacation Policy: https://mcgill.ca/gps/students/registration/progress/leave-vacation
Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
Website URL where information about the institution’s accessibility and affordability initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.