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.
The round for September 2026 entry closed on 15 January 2026. The award runs on an annual cycle tied to admission, so expect a comparable deadline in mid-January for the following year. You are considered automatically from your admission application — there is no separate form. Confirm the current date with McGill University before planning around it.
McGill University
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
CAD 12,000/yr × 4 yrs (LKR 11.3M)
Duration
4 Years (Renewable)
Awards
~12 per Year
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
McGill University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
CAD 12,000 / Year for 4 Years. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
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.
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.
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.
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.
#29
QS World Ranking 2026
~12
Greville Smith Awards / Year
CAD 48k
Total Award Value
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat CA actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for CA, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
Check the requirement arrow_forwardSimilar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
University of Alberta International Tuition Scholarship
University of Alberta
Carleton Prestige Scholarship
Carleton University
Concordia Presidential Scholarship
Concordia University