You need to meet basic academic requirements in order to be considered for admission to McGill University. Entrance to the Schulich School of Music is competitive and subject to the availability of places in each program.
Admission decisions are based on:
- Your audition
- Your academic record
- One Music Education letter of support (Music Education applicants only)
- Other supporting materials, such as scores if you are a composition applicant or proof of English Proficiency if you are an international student.
- Available spots in a given program or for an instrument
Admission decisions based on screening material or auditions (recorded or live) cannot be appealed.
Instructions for referees (Music Education applicants only):
Please undergraduateadmissions.music [at] mcgill.ca (email) a reference letter (PDF format, maximum one page) providing information concerning the applicant’s musical, academic and/or personal background and potential as a music educator.
Academic requirements
Minimum admissions requirements depend on what type of applicant you are:
CEGEP student (Quebec)
- You need a diploma of collegial studies.
- Your overall CEGEP average must be 75% or higher if you're applying to a performance program, 80% or higher if you're applying to a music research program.
- If you receive an offer of admission, it will be conditional upon successful graduation from CEGEP and your final grades.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your CEGEP courses and your placement exams to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
- We do not use the Cote R code for admissions purposes.
High school student from Ontario
- You need a high school diploma from Ontario, including six level 4U courses (4U, 4M). You must have taken a minimum four 4U level courses. If you have only three 4Us you are still eligible to apply (to music) but should mention in your statement of intent.
- Your grade 11 and 12 average must be 75% or higher if you're applying to a performance program, 80% or higher if you're applying to a music research program.
- If you receive an offer of admission, it will be conditional upon successful graduation from high school and your final grades.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your placement exams and your IB Diploma (if applicable) to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
High school student from other Canadian provinces
- You need a high school diploma.
- Your grade 11 and 12 average must be 75% or higher if you're applying to a performance program, 80% or higher if you're applying to a music research program.
- If you receive an offer of admision, it will be conditional upon successful graduation from high school and your final grades.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your placement exams and your IB Diploma (if applicable) to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
High school student from the U.S.A.
- You need a high school diploma.
- Your grades 10-12 average must be B or higher if you're applying to a performance program, B+ or higher if you're applying to a music research program.
- If you receive an offer of admision, it will be conditional upon successful graduation from high school and your final grades.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your placement exams and your IB Diploma (if applicable) to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
- The SAT/ACT is not required for admission, but is required if you want to be assessed for academic scholarships.
High school student from outside Canada or the U.S.A.
- You need a high school diploma.
- Your high school average must be 75% or higher if you're applying to a performance program, 80% or higher if you're applying to a music research program.
- If you receive an offer of admission, it will be conditional upon successful graduation from high school and your final grades.
- If you are admitted, we will determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program by evaluating your placement exams and, if applicable, your:
- IB Diploma
- A levels
- French Baccaleaurate
High school student from Canada completing an International Baccaleareate.
- If you are completing the IB Diploma or individual IB Diploma Courses, you will normally be considered for admission based on your Canadian high school record and you will be required to self-report marks in percentage format. You may subsequently be granted advanced standing credits based on your final IB results.
- If already completed the IB Diploma. The Diploma with grades of 5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject is the minimum expected.
High school student from U.S.A. completing an International Baccaleareate.
- If you are completing the IB Diploma or certificates concurrently with a US diploma, you will normally be considered for admission based on your US high school record and you will be required to self-report marks. You may be granted advanced standing credits based on final IB results.
- If already completed the IB Diploma. The Diploma with grades of 5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject is the minimum expected.
High school student outside Canada or U.S.A. completing an International Baccaleareate.
- If you are completing the IB Diploma or individual IB Diploma Courses, you will be considered for admission on your high school transcript and predicted IB results (5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject).
- If already completed the IB Diploma. The Diploma with grades of 5 or better on each Higher and Standard Level subject is the minimum expected.
- You may be granted advanced standing credits based on final IB results.
University or college transfer student
- If less than one year into your university or college studies, you must submit transcripts of previous levels of study (for example your grade 12 transcript) for evaluation.
- Your university or college CGPA must be 3.0 or higher if you're applying to a performance program, 3.2 or higher if you're applying to a music research program.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your college or university course lists and your placement exams to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
Mature student
- You must be at least 21 years old with no academic background to qualify as a mature student.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your placement exams to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
- We strongly recommend a solid music background and/or experience.
Home schooled student
- You need the equivalent of a high school diploma.
- In lieu of minimum average requirements, we will assess: curriculum, external exams, reasons for home schooling, personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, extra-curricular activities.
- If you are admitted, we will evaluate your placement exams to determine whether you are eligible for advanced standing in your program.
- We strongly recommend that you take external exams such as the SAT/ACTs.
If you have questions about admission requirements, email the undergraduateadmissions.music [at] mcgill.ca (Admissions Office).
Recommended performance levels for applicants
These performance levels are guidelines, not requirements:
|
Canadian institutions |
Recommended level for music research programs |
Recommended level for performance programs |
|
McGill Conservatory |
Collegial I |
Collegial II |
|
Vincent d'Indy |
Lauréat I |
Lauréat II |
|
Conservatoire |
Cycle II 1ère partie |
Cycle II 2ième partie |
|
Any CEGEP |
CEGEP I |
CEGEP II |
|
Toronto Conservatory |
RCM Grade IX |
RCM Grade X |
