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PGSS Health and Dental Insurance for Canadian Students

Canadian graduate students who have registered full-time are automatically enrolled in the Enhanced Plan of the PGSS Health and Dental Plan.  Canadian students who have registered part-time are not automatically enrolled but may choose to opt-in. 

Canadian graduate students have the option to modify or change their plan, combine it with another plan, or simply opt out entirely.  To learn more about the PGSS Health & Dental plan, including what your coverage entails, the cost, and how to opt-in or -out, kindly visit the ·É±ð²ú±è²¹²µ±ð.Ìý

Health and Dental Insurance for International Students

International graduate students are required to participate in the McGill International Health Insurance plan and as such are automatically enrolled. Coverage begins on September 1st, although you may activate you plan between August 1st and August 31st, if you plan to arrive in Canada early. You may activate the plan early in , using the Student Menu. Some international students may qualify for an exemption allowing them to opt-out of the plan. The Exemptions webpage contains the eligibility requirements for an exemption, the required supporting documents, exemption instructions, and exemption deadlines.

Additional information can be found on McGill International Health Insurance plan website, including benefits, claims, and accessing healthcare.

International graduate students are also enrolled in the offered through PGSS.

°Õ³ó±ð Student Wellness Hub offers various on-campus and online health and wellness services. Available on both the Downtown and Macdonald campuses, the Student Wellness Hub can connect you to healthcare including (but not limited to) access to clinicians, peer support, off-campus care, wellness programming, and self-guided care.  Services provided through the Student Wellness Hub are free to full-time and part-time students who have paid their Student Services fees and are covered by insurance. To learn more about eligibility, how to book an appointment, and making claims (insurance), please visit the Student Wellness Hub website.

Students on Macdonald Campus

´¡³Ù t³ó±ð Student Wellness Hub's Macdonald Campus location, students can:

• Access clinical services from a Student Wellness Hub clinician (e.g., doctor, nurse, counsellor, dietitian, or Local Wellness Advisor) on location.

• Consult the online self-directed resources and other virtual resources.

• Engage in activities with the Macdonald Hub Peer Supporters.

Healthier McGill

The Healthy Living Annex (HLA) focuses on health promotion for the Student Wellness Hub. Located in the Brown Student Services Building (Suite 3100), the HLA is designed to support you. To do so, it welcomes in a physical and virtual space, to support you throughout your wellness journey.

The HLA provides a variety of individual and group peer support activities to help you create a wellness toolkit. These activities include (but are not limited to): Happy Lamps, group therapy sessions, Animal Therapy, and the Art Hive Open Studio.

To keep up-to-date on the Student Wellness Hub be sure to follow on Instagram and Facebook. Check their pages regularly for up-to-date information on Hub services, evidence-based psychology infographics and videos, online wellness forums, and upcoming event information.

There are a variety of ways to access healthcare services in Quebec. If you are having trouble navigating the healthcare landscape, the Student Wellness Hub's Access Advisors and/or Local Wellness Advisors may connect you with the appropriate resources on-campus or off-campus. Similarly, the Student Wellness Hub curates a webpage dedicated to navigating healthcare in Quebec which compiles information and advice related to accessing off-campus care.  

If you are unsure how your health and/or dental insurance impacts your access to healthcare off-campus, PGSS has assembled an interactive PDF guide for to help you. Additionally, the Student Wellness Hub provides an interactive that allows you to search for specific services based on your particular health and/or dental insurance plan.

The Student Wellness Hub has also compiled a comprehensive list of clinics and services in the vicinity of both campuses (Downtown and Macdonald). 

Prescription medication(s)

Prescriptions originating from outside Quebec cannot be filled by a pharmacist once here. It is important to bring at least a six-month supply of your prescribed medication with you. If you are from elsewhere in Quebec (e.g., far from your prescribing doctor), ensure that your prescription has at least six renewals. If you require a follow-up, provide the Student Wellness Hub with a referral from your doctor as soon as possible. 

Follow-up care from a specialist

If you require follow-up care from a medical specialist, be sure to get a referral from your family doctor prior to arriving. It is important to get on the wait list to see a medical specialist (e.g., dermatologist, allergist, general surgeon) as soon possible. Pressures on the Quebec healthcare system contribute to extended wait times to get an appointment with a medical specialist.

Long-term psychotherapy, therapy, and consultations

A variety of resources are available both on- and off-campus. To connect with the appropriate resource in Montreal, consult the Student Wellness Hub. Services available at the Student Wellness Hub are typically offered in a short-term capacity. This includes access to mental health professionals such as Counsellors, Local Wellness Advisors, Psychiatrists, and Sexologists.

Formerly known as the Office for Students with Disabilities, the team at Student Accessibility & Achievement works with students who have been documented by a health professional as having a disability(ies), mental health condition(s), chronic health condition(s), or other impairment(s). These may be temporary, permanent, or episodic.  

Graduate students are encouraged to book an appointment with an Access Service Advisor to discuss your barriers and determine what resources or accommodations will help make your time at McGill a success. 

Any member of the McGill community that has been impacted by sexual violence, including (but not limited to) sexual assault, harassment, partner violence, or cyberviolence/intimidation, the Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support, and Education is here to support you.

To report sexual violence (in relation to McGill's Policy Against Sexual Violence, available as a PDF), please consult the Office for Mediation and Reporting's Sexual Violence webpage.

Resources for survivors and/or victims of any form of unwanted act of a sexual nature are available on the For Survivors webpage.

The McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (MORSL) supports every student’s inner wellness. MORSL welcomes all students, of any faith or religious denomination—including those with no religious or spiritual affiliations.

MORSL has a wide variety of faith volunteers and resources to help you connect with your religious or spiritual community in Montréal.  

Visit the MORSL event calendar for a variety of self-directed and group activities such as spiritual yoga classes, live and recorded workshops, a calming meditation room, and other special events.

The offered by PGSS aims to improve the well-being of graduate students and reduce the stigma around mental health. This program is a free, student-run, active-listening service that will match you with a trained peer. Your peer will meet with you one-on-one to confidentially discuss anything that may be occurring in your life.

There are many other peer support programs at McGill such as programs for new graduate students, for specific populations, and for specific departments/faculties to name a few. Visit the Students Helping Students webpage for a comprehensive list of available peer support programs.  

Staying physically active is an important component of your overall health. offers everything from fitness classes to intramural sports.

Membership and access to the sports complex are included in student fees for all full-time and part-time McGill students. If you are interested in training at the , an additional membership (with fees) is required.

To join team sports with your peers, consider joining an intramural sport. If you’re looking for a team, check out the . All students who have paid the athletics fee are eligible to participate. To learn more about which intramural sports are available, please visit McGill Recreation’s webpage.