Financial aid for new students
We allocate a limited number of one-year and multi-year packages to the top-ranked applicants in Music. Rankings are based on auditions and/or research potential and expertise.
Start looking for external (non-McGill) funding early
Before you apply to a graduate program, look for multi-year external funding through government agencies, foundations, etc. You can often apply for external funding before beginning your studies.
- If you don't have any funding, you should apply directly for government student aid.
- Work-study opportunities are available if you are a full-time student who needs financial assistance.
We have a grant mentoring program each fall to help new and current music students apply for funding.
Internal (McGill) funding packages for new graduate students
How we allocate funding:
- Our top-ranked students receive funding offers first, normally in the admission letter. We may also offer you funding in a second round (after you have received or accepted your admission offer).
- If you secure external funding, we may reassess your McGill funding package so that we can offer financial aid to other students.
Funding amounts:
- Doctoral student funding ranges from $15,000 to $90,000 (spread over 3 or 4 years).
- Not all master's students receive internal funding. We may offer you $1,000 to $24,000 (spread over 2 years).
What's in internal (McGill) funding packages?
4 types of funding are offered to incoming music students:
- Music entrance fellowships/awards
We automatically consider all applicants for entrance fellowships/awards. If we offer you this funding, it will be from a source such as: Max Stern Fellowship, Schulich Scholarships, Graduate Excellence Fellowships.
- Differential fee waivers (international students)
We offer a limited number of one-year differential fee waivers (exemptions from the international tuition supplement) to international students.
- Research stipends
Your new supervisor(s) may offer you a non-taxable award from a grant to support your academic training. This is called a research stipend.
- Graduate assistantships
Research assistantships are paid from a professor's grant or contract. You receive an hourly wage to perform research-related work.
Other opportunities
See Student Resources for other work opportunities of interest to music graduate students.
