University of Toronto St George campus quad in autumn with stone academic buildings.

Canada Open for September 2026 entry — automatically considered upon application by 15 January 2026

McGill Greville Smith Scholarship

The Greville Smith Scholarship is one of McGill University's most prestigious renewable entrance awards — CAD 12,000 per year for four years (CAD 48,000 / LKR 11.3 million total), open to outstanding international applicants. Selection is by the McGill admissions office and the Scholarships & Student Aid office, with around 12 awards made annually across the international applicant pool. There is no separate scholarship application — every admitted international undergraduate with the highest academic standing is automatically considered. McGill is Canada's #2-ranked university (QS #29 in 2026) and Montreal is one of North America's most affordable major student cities, making this a high-value award.

McGill University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

CAD 12,000/yr × 4 yrs (LKR 11.3M)

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Duration

4 Years (Renewable)

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Awards

~12 per Year

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Admitted to McGill Undergraduate

You must be admitted to a McGill undergraduate degree programme at the Downtown or Macdonald campus. Most direct-entry degrees qualify, including Arts, Science, Engineering, Management, Music, Architecture, and Agricultural & Environmental Sciences.

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Highest Academic Standing

Greville Smith Scholars typically have 3+ A* / A grades at A-Level (or IB 41+, SAT 1500+, equivalent international curriculum top results). For Sri Lankan applicants this means top-of-class A-Levels with subject distinctions and ideally Olympiad / contest results.

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International Applicant

Open to applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka or international schools elsewhere are eligible. The award is purely merit-based — no financial need consideration.

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English Proficiency

Meet McGill's standard English requirement — typically IELTS 6.5+ overall (with no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 90+. Sri Lankan applicants with 4+ years of English-medium secondary education usually qualify for a test waiver.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to McGill by 15 January

Submit your McGill undergraduate admissions application through the McGill online portal (mcgill.ca/applying) by 15 January 2026 for September 2026 entry. Include transcripts, predicted grades, and any required supplemental forms (Music auditions, Architecture portfolio, etc.).

Indicate scholarship consideration

Within the application, tick the Major Scholarship consideration box. Submit a separate 250-word essay covering academic interests, leadership experience, and reasons for choosing McGill. This same essay is used for all McGill major entrance awards including Greville Smith.

Admissions + scholarship review

Admissions decisions for international students are released in stages between February and May. Greville Smith Scholar designations are typically released in March-April alongside admissions, identifying the top-ranked international admits.

Renewal each year

The CAD 12,000 award is paid in two semester instalments (CAD 6,000 in September and CAD 6,000 in January). Renewal is automatic for years 2-4 provided you maintain full-time enrolment and a CGPA of 3.5+.

Why McGill?

McGill is consistently Canada's top-2 university (QS #29 globally in 2026) and is widely regarded as one of the most international universities in North America — around 30% of undergraduates are international. The Downtown campus is at the heart of Montreal, North America's most affordable major city for students.