In October 2023, the Quebec provincial government announced its plan to increase tuition at English universities for out-of-province Canadian students.
While the government’s original plans were to nearly double tuition rates, in December 2023, Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry settled on hiking tuition rates by about 30 per cent. In an effort to sustain out-of-province undergraduate applications, McGill launched the Canada Award, while Concordia University launched the Canada Scholars Award—both of which subsidize part of the increased tuition for most out-of-province students.
According to McGill’s Fall 2024 Admissions Profile, 22 per cent of the university’s incoming undergraduate class is from Canada beyond Quebec. For these out-of-province students, The Tribune unpacks the Canada Award.
What is the total monetary value of the Canada Award?
The Canada Award is valued at $3,000 CAD annually, with $1,500 CAD disbursed to recipients each semester. The Award offers up to $12,000 CAD over the course of eight semesters, translating to four years of full-time study.
The award is classified as taxable income, which means recipients must report the return on their T4A tax slips. McGill issues these students a T4A tax slip each February for the award granted in the prior year term.
Why did McGill launch the Canada Award?
In a 2023 CBC interview with journalist Mark Kelley, McGill Vice-President (Administration and Finance) Fabrice Labeau mentioned that the Quebec government’s intention to raise tuition rates would “price [McGill] out of the market and close access to […] degrees and to the McGill experience.” The Canada Award was thus created to maintain the university’s competitiveness.
“So what we’re trying to do here is [to send] a message to our students and our prospective students […] saying, you’re welcome here at McGill,” Labeau said to CBC. “We’re going to help you overcome these new barriers that have been put up by the government.”
In another statement, McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini said that the university’s success is founded in the talent of a diverse student body, and the Canada Award aims to support students who otherwise would not be able to come to McGill.
Who is eligible for the Canada Award?
Currently, the Canada Award is offered to out-of-province, full-time undergraduate students admitted to McGill in Fall 2024 or Winter 2025, in the Faculties or Schools of Agricultural and Environmental Science, Architecture, Arts, Arts & Science, Education, Music, Nursing, and Science.
Additionally, students who have undergone an interfaculty transfer in Fall 2024 or Winter 2025 from an ineligible faculty to an eligible faculty can also receive the Canada Award.
To qualify for full-time status, students must be registered and billed for 12 or more credits per semester. If students receiving the award withdraw from a course with a refund and fall under 12 credits, the award will be revoked. However, if students withdraw from a course after the refund deadline, they can keep the award.
Students in part-time studies due to a disability can also claim the Canada Award, so long as their disability is recognized by Student Accessibility and Achievement.
For students entering McGill in the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 semesters, the Canada Award will still be offered, albeit with added restrictions: Canada Award recipients will also have to be in receipt of a one-time or renewable Entrance Scholarship or Bursary.
Students who deferred their admission to the Fall 2025 semester or beyond will only receive the Canada Award if they meet the Fall 2025 eligibility criteria.
How is the Canada Award issued? Does it interact with other scholarships or bursaries?
The Canada Award requires no application. It is automatically deducted from tuition rates on e-Bills for eligible students. During the add-drop period, if a student fluctuates between full-time and part-time status, the Award will simultaneously be added and dropped on their student fees account menu.
McGill scholarships and bursaries are distributed regardless of whether a student is a recipient of the Canada Award.
For more information on the Canada Award, visit McGill’s Scholarships and Student Aid website.
