McGill residence or an off-campus apartment?

Who gets McGill residence

McGill guarantees residence to newly admitted undergraduate students who are 22 or under on September 1, are starting their first year of university studies, and have accepted their offer of admission before the residence confirmation deadline. The deposit and application fee must be paid by that deadline, usually in June.

For the 2027-2028 year, McGill says housing applications open in March, with confirmation in June 2027. Upper-year, graduate and exchange students have their own application steps on McGill's housing site. Check the dates there; they change every year.

A residence contract is a lease too

McGill states that accepting a residence offer is a commitment to a lease under Québec law for the full academic year, with cancellation penalties if you end it.

Under the Civil Code, a student who rents from their own school keeps the right to stay only while enrolled full time there. A regular apartment lease works differently: it renews automatically each year unless you or the landlord give notice.

Residence: what it offers

• Furnished rooms: McGill lists a bed, mattress, desk, chair and mini-fridge, depending on the residence
• On or right beside campus, with other first-year students around you
• A guaranteed place if you meet the conditions and deadlines, with rent billed monthly by McGill
• Depending on the residence, a meal plan or shared kitchens; McGill's housing FAQ has the details

An apartment: what it offers

• Your own kitchen and more space, alone or with roommates you choose
• A regular Québec lease, usually 12 months, that renews automatically; you can stay through the summer and the next school year
• If you leave early, you can transfer your lease or sublet, following the rules in our guide to Québec leases
• More to organize: utilities, internet and furniture, unless the apartment is furnished with utilities included

The middle option: a furnished apartment near campus

A furnished apartment close to campus gives you an apartment's independence without buying furniture or opening accounts. Our five buildings in Milton-Parc are six to sixteen minutes on foot from McGill's Roddick Gates. The apartments are fully furnished, utilities are included, and layouts go from studios to six bedrooms. Leases start May 1, July 1 or September 1.

How to choose

• First year and eligible: residence is guaranteed if you apply on time; an apartment is also an option
• Upper year, graduate or exchange student: check McGill's application steps for your status, and plan for an apartment in case
• Coming with friends: a shared apartment lets you live together; our guide for parents and guarantors explains how roommate leases work
• Staying for the summer: a 12-month apartment lease covers it, while a residence contract covers the academic year
• Moving from abroad: a furnished apartment means you can arrive with a suitcase

Finding an apartment

McGill's off-campus housing page links to Places4Students, the listing service McGill partners with, and to McGill's Good Neighbour Guide. You can also see our available apartments and their 3D tours on our McGill page.