The main language of instruction at McGill is English. You have the right to write essays, examinations, and theses in English or in French except in courses where knowledge of a language is one of the objectives of the course.
If you need to improve your English skills, you should take an intensive course in English as a second language before or at the start of your studies. Information concerning second language course offerings can be found through the School of Continuing Studies at www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/programs-and-courses/languages and the French Language Centre at www.mcgill.ca/flc, and in Summer Studies and School of Continuing Studies. There are special language requirements for Faculty of Education students; see Faculty of Education.
Note for the Faculty of Law: Due to the bilingual nature of the Law program, examinations, term papers, and essays may be written in either English or French. Participation in Moot Courts may also be in either language. While examination questions are set in the language in which a course is given, they may contain materials in either English or French.
Note for Health Sciences and M.D.,C.M. Programs: The language of instruction is English. Students are expected to have a working knowledge of the English language (comprehension, spoken, and written). Students are expected to be functional (comprehension, spoken, and written) in the French language by the time clinical rotations commence (January of the second year of the M.D.,C.M. program/April of the first year for master's programs in Physical & Occupational Therapy). Students will interact with francophone patients in the teaching hospitals and may also be assigned to francophone training sites for their clinical rotations/courses. Additional language courses and workshop information is available at
www.mcgill.ca/ugme/curriculum/starting-our-program-what-you-need-know/language-requirements.