MCGILL UNIVERSITY AND MONTREAL

McGill is a world-renowned university with a long tradition of excellence in teaching and research. Chartered in 1821, McGill is among the oldest and most distinguished of North American universities. McGill welcomed its first students in 1829 into the Faculty of Medicine. Today, McGill has 22 Faculties and Professional Schools offering programs of study in some 300 areas. McGill places a high priority on graduate studies and research. In fact, about 25% of students are enrolled in McGill's Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. A comprehensive, English-language university that is international in outlook, in composition and in quality, McGill supports the finest in educational facilities:

•   central and historic downtown campus
•   a second semi-rural campus for agricultural, animal, environmental, food and plant sciences
•   73 affiliated research institutes
•   5 teaching hospitals
•   3 affiliated theological colleges
•   2 concert halls with recording studios
•   16 libraries
•   5 museums
•   a nature conservation centre
•   a sports complex and stadium

McGill's main campus is located in downtown Montreal, on the Island of Montreal in the St. Lawrence River, in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec. The four departments participating in the Language Acquisition Program are located on the main campus within close proximity to one another and are readily accessible by bus and subway (Metro). Both historic and modern buildings grace the University's campus, which is located at the foot of Mount Royal, Montreal's grand mountain park. Just outside the landmark gates of McGill's downtown main campus is the busy commercial core of Montreal. There are three other nearby universities - Concordia, Université de Montréal, and Université du Québec à Montréal - which share and enrich the academic environment of the city. Montreal has one of the highest student/population ratios of all major cities in North America and, thus, provides a very student-friendly environment. Throughout the city, many large companies and industries thrive, absorbing a good number of McGill's graduates and regularly supporting the University's research efforts. Montreal is a safe, affordable, and very cosmopolitan city that offers an unusually high quality of life.

        All graduate students automatically belong to Thomson House, the graduate student social centre located in a beautifully restored Victorian mansion located at 3650 McTavish (just ask any graduate student where it is). Graduate student members can bring a guest, and post-docs and faculty can buy associate memberships. Thomson House includes a small resto-café, bar, reading room, and small meeting rooms that students can reserve for seminars and other meetings. This is the spot for celebrating the victories and drowning the sorrows of graduate school. Additional information is available from the McGill University website.