McGill International Distinction Award
The McGill International Distinction Award is the headline entrance scholarship for high-achieving international undergraduate applicants. Awards range from CAD 3,000 (One-Year Distinction) to CAD 12,000 (Major Distinction) across the standard length of an undergraduate degree. Every eligible international applicant is automatically considered when they apply — there is no separate scholarship form. Selection is purely on academic merit using McGill's entrance scholarship rubric.
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. Assessment follows the undergraduate admission application. Confirm the current date with McGill University before planning around it.
McGill University
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
CAD 3,000-12,000 (one-off or renewable)
Duration
1 yr (One-Year Award) or 3-4 yrs (Major)
Eligibility
All International Freshman Applicants
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 3,000-12,000 Entrance Scholarship. 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
Outstanding Pre-Tertiary Results
Equivalent to top 5% of McGill's international applicant pool. For Sri Lankan A/L applicants, that is typically 3 A grades. For IB applicants, 38+. For Cambridge International, A*AA or above.
International Fee-Paying Status
Reserved for international fee-paying students entering McGill from outside Canada. Quebec residents and Canadian citizens fall under a separate domestic scholarship scheme.
Automatic Consideration
Every eligible international applicant is automatically considered on the basis of their UG admission application. No separate scholarship application is required for the Distinction tier.
Apply by 15 January
You must submit your full McGill UG application (including all transcripts and English certificate) by 15 January 2026 to be considered for entrance scholarships. Late applications are admitted but not eligible for entrance awards.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to McGill by 15 January
Submit your undergraduate application via mcgill.ca/applying. Provide complete transcripts, predicted grades, and English proficiency results — incomplete applications are not eligible for scholarship consideration.
Automatic ranking by admissions
McGill's Admissions Office reviews your file for entrance scholarship eligibility alongside the admission decision. There is no interview and no additional application required.
Scholarship offer with admission
If selected, your scholarship offer appears in your applicant portal together with (or shortly after) the academic admission offer. Major Distinction awards are renewable annually contingent on maintaining a 3.5/4.0 CGPA.
Accept and enrol
Accept your admission and the scholarship is automatically applied to your fee schedule from your first semester onwards.
Why McGill?
McGill is consistently ranked Canada's top university by QS and one of the world's top 30 globally. Montreal's bilingual environment, lower cost of living vs Toronto/Vancouver, and large Sri Lankan diaspora make it a popular choice for SL undergrads.
#27
QS World Ranking 2026
#1
in Canada (QS)
CAD 12k
Major Distinction Top Tier
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
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