Law (BCL/LLB) at McGill: Admission Average
McGill University · Montreal, QC
What average do you need for Law (BCL/LLB) at McGill?
Law (BCL/LLB) at McGill University typically admits students with averages in the low-to-mid 90s, roughly 88–94%. It ranks #2 of 16 McGill programs by admission average.
Canada's top bilingual law program - common law and civil law combined.
How competitive is it?
Of the 3 universities we track that offer it, none ask for a higher average and 2 ask for a lower average.
As a rough guide, 94% or higher is above the typical range, 88% up to 94% is inside it, and 84% up to 88% is a reach. Cut-offs move every year, so apply to a mix of schools.
Ontario applicants are assessed on their top six Grade 12 U/M courses, including the program's prerequisites. Work out yours with the Best 6 calculator.
Law at other universities
- Université de Montréal – high 80s-low 90s (CEGEP)
- Université Laval – high 80s
- Western University – LSAT-dependent
- University of Windsor – LSAT + GPA dependent
- York University – LSAT + GPA dependent
- University of Victoria – LSAT + GPA dependent
- Thompson Rivers University – LSAT + GPA dependent
- University of Alberta – LSAT + GPA dependent
- University of Calgary – LSAT + GPA dependent
- Dalhousie University – LSAT + GPA dependent
- University of Manitoba – LSAT + GPA dependent
- University of Saskatchewan – LSAT + GPA dependent
Typical high school prerequisites
- English
- No specific U/M prerequisites — any undergrad major qualifies
- Strong writing and analytical foundations
First-year courses
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Torts
- Criminal Law
- Property Law
These are typical for Law (JD) programs across Canada. About the Law (JD) degree
After a Law (JD) degree
Law (JD) usually takes 3 years (post-undergrad).
- Lawyer – $70,000 to $300,000+
- Crown Attorney / Prosecutor – $75,000 to $160,000
- Policy Analyst / Public Servant – $65,000 to $130,000
- Your undergrad major does not matter for law school admission - GPA and LSAT score are everything.
- The LSAT typically requires 3-6 months of intensive preparation - budget time and resources for this.
- Bay Street articling positions are extremely competitive - networking and grades from 1L matter enormously.
Applying to McGill
McGill University is Canada's most internationally recognised university and consistently ranks among the world's top 30. Situated in downtown Montreal on the slope of Mount Royal, McGill has produced more Nobel laureates per capita than any other Canadian university. Quebec residents pay some of Canada's lowest tuition, but since Fall 2024 out-of-province Canadians pay a much higher rate (roughly $13,000/year in tuition).
McGill University is in Montreal, QC, was founded in 1821 and has about 40,000 students. Domestic tuition is about $3,100 a year and co-op is not widely offered.
Deadlines: direct application January 15 (most programs).
- Quebec residents pay very low tuition (~$3,100/year before fees). Out-of-province Canadians admitted since Fall 2024 pay about $13,000/year in tuition - roughly double typical Ontario tuition - so budget accordingly.
- McGill's bilingual environment is a genuine asset - some French helps but full fluency isn't required for most programs. Quebec's planned French-proficiency requirement for out-of-province students was struck down in court in 2025.
- Montreal's cost of living is significantly lower than Toronto or Vancouver - a major financial advantage.
Other McGill programs
- Medicine (MDCM) – high 90s (95%+) + Casper + interview
- Computer Science – low-to-mid 90s
- Software Engineering – low-to-mid 90s
- Electrical Engineering – high 80s-low 90s
- Mechanical Engineering – high 80s-low 90s
- Chemical Engineering – high 80s-low 90s
- Management (Desautels) – low-to-mid 90s
- Economics – high 80s-low 90s
- Biology – high 80s
- Chemistry – high 80s
- Mathematics & Statistics – high 80s-low 90s
- Psychology – high 80s
- Political Science – high 80s
- Music (Schulich School) – Audition-based
- Nursing (BScN) – high 80s-low 90s
- Education – mid-to-high 80s