Graduate students pursuing thesis-based programs within the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (AES) benefit from diverse funding sources throughout their studies at Ď㽶ĘÓƵ. Financial support may come from a combination of guaranteed funding, prospective funding, and employment salary.
Upon admission to a graduate program in AES, a student will be offered a funding package which will include a certain amount of guaranteed funding and may include additional prospective funding. The proposed funding arrangement will be outlined in a departmental funding letter addressed to the student, in supplement to the offer of admission from the University.
Students admitted to non-thesis graduate programs in AES are responsible for procuring funding (e.g., scholarship or personal funds) to cover their tuition, fees, and living expenses for the duration of their program. Students should give serious consideration to financial planning before submitting an application. You can find tuition and fee information on McGill’s Student Accounts Graduate Fee Calculator or you may contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for your program of interest. Information on the cost of living is given below. Applicants may wish to consult the Fund your Studies web page for financial aid or external scholarship possibilities.
Components of an AES Graduate Funding Package
Guaranteed Funding
All students admitted to an AES thesis-based graduate program will receive sufficient financial awards to cover their university tuition and various incidental fees in their entirety, for the duration of their program.Ěý
Prospective Funding
Graduate students in thesis-based programs may also receive additional (prospective) funding in the form of a supplemental research stipend or external or internal scholarships and awards. This additional funding would serve as the “take-home” portion of the student’s funding package (i.e., to be used for living expenses, etc.). The availability of these sources of funding may vary among students and across programs, and, if available, will be outlined in the student’s departmental funding letter.
See Cost of Living - Points to Consider
Internal and external awards
Many internal and external award opportunities are available to the AES graduate student community. AES graduate students are obliged, if eligible, to apply for awards from internal and external sources including (but not limited to):
- Masters student funding opportunties
- Doctoral student funding opportunities
- Examples:
- Fonds de recheche du Québec
- Fonds de recherche duu Québec - Santé (FRQS)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) - Postgraduate programs
- Internal Named Awards
- Examples:
Maximum limits (Cap)
It is important to note that, if, subsequent to an initial funding offer, a student receives an internal or external award bringing the student’s total take-home amount to $25,000 or more, the supervisor(s) may decide, in consultation with the student, to reduce the existing amount of supplemental research stipend. However, any such reduction may not bring the student’s total take-home amount below $25,000.
The Faculty also has the prerogative to modify guaranteed minimum funding if the take-home component of funding packages surpasses $35,000. This adjustment aims to ensure fair allocation of funding resources among AES graduate students.
Note: In instances where funding from external sources covers tuition, fees, and/or living expenses, the guaranteed funding portion may also differ; this will be outlined in the student’s departmental funding letter.
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Teaching Assistantships and Employment Salary
Throughout their academic journey, graduate students may engage in work roles such as that of teaching assistant, research assistant, invigilator, and more. Income from employment is therefore another possible source of funding for the student. This option is contingent upon the students' eligibility to work in Canada, applying for available employment positions, and fulfilling the specific requirements of those roles. It is important to note that AES units cannot extend teaching assistantships (TA-ships) or paid positions to all graduate students. Eligibility for such roles is subject to union collective agreements. Consequently, the availability of work for pay, including TA-ships, cannot be guaranteed, and the associated salary cannot be counted toward funding packages.
Note: Employment salary is subject to tax deductions at source (employment insurance, Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, etc.). For more information, visit the Student Accounts website or consult a tax specialist.
Additional sources of information for employment:
Cost of Living – Points to Consider
Montreal is considered a comparatively affordable city for students to live in.
Estimated Monthly Living Costs (CAD)
| Ěý | Cost Estimate Range | ||
| Item | Low | High | Average Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing and accommodation1 | $1,080 | $2,225 | $1,653 |
| Food and groceries2 | $240 | $480 | $360 |
| Utilities and cable2 | $100 | $120 | $110 |
| Internet2 | $50 | $100 | $75 |
| Phone2 | $60 | $100 | $80 |
| Entertainment2 | $120 | $200 | $160 |
| Transportation2 | $80 | $156 | $118 |
| TOTAL | $1,730 | $3,381 | Ěý$2,556 |
1 (one-bedroom apartments)
2
To study in Québec, international applicants must demonstrate financial capacity to cover several study and living costs including access to a for one year of studies. Students should ensure they have enough funds to cover living expenses for the duration of their program. Students can use a to estimate their expected expenses. Additionally, McGill’s Office for Scholarships and Student Aid can provide guidance and assistance if needed.