After discovering the essays of American universities, many families expect the same work for Canada. "Does McGill require an essay?" and "McGill cover letter" come up in their searches. The answer is almost always no, and that is what makes a Canadian application so different: everything rests on grades.
Does McGill require an essay?
In general, no. For a French baccalauréat applicant, McGill asks for the school reports of première and the first term of terminale (the last two years of lycée), in French with grades out of 20, the results of the early baccalauréat exams, and proof of English, except for a student who has spent at least four years in an English-speaking country. No cover letter, no essay, no recommendation letters.
The exceptions are listed by McGill: Population and Global Health, Dietetics, Education, Global Engineering, Music, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Religious Studies and Social Work. Depending on the programme, they ask for a personal statement, letters, the CASPer test, proof of French or an audition.
What McGill looks at instead
Grades, and their position relative to the class: McGill writes that for the most competitive programmes, applicants are expected to present results above their class average. It publishes indicative ranges for the baccalauréat, out of 20.
| Programme | Overall average | Maths and sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 17 to 18.5 | Maths 15.5 to 17 |
| Science (biology, biomedical) | 17 to 18 | 16 to 17 |
| Engineering (most programmes) | 17 to 18 | 17 to 18 |
McGill stresses that these thresholds vary from year to year and guarantee nothing. Admission remains conditional on passing the baccalauréat at the first sitting and maintaining results until the end of the year.
Applying to university in Canada: Toronto and UBC
Outside Quebec, the rules change. The University of Toronto asks, depending on the programme, for a supplementary application: Rotman Commerce and Computer Science by 1 February, an online profile for engineering by 15 January, a questionnaire for music, a "One Idea" submission for architecture, a statement of interest for kinesiology. The general deadline is 15 January, with a recommended date of 7 November.
UBC, in Vancouver, is the closest to an American application: almost all high school applicants complete a Personal Profile, short answers of roughly 50 to 500 words, assessed on engagement, leadership, substance and voice. The exceptions are architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism, dental hygiene and music. The deadline is 15 January 2027, with a 15 November 2026 date for international applicants seeking scholarships.
Dates and fees for autumn 2027. Application fees: CAD 140.16 at McGill, 196 at Toronto, 173.25 at UBC for an international applicant. Deadlines: 15 January 2027 at Toronto and UBC. For McGill, the deadline has fallen in mid-January in previous years; this is an assumption for 2027, to be checked on McGill's deadlines page, which we could not consult on 3 October 2026.
University applications in Canada for international students: preparing the file
Since grades decide, the work starts in première: McGill reads the reports of première and the first term of terminale, and compares each grade with the class average. For a student also aiming at Toronto or UBC, the required texts must be planned too, and they are prepared like short essays. For tuition fees and the France-Quebec agreement, see Studying in Canada with the French baccalauréat.
We build these applications with families at Carmine, and when maths grades fall short of the ranges, I work on them with the student in private lessons.