McGill University
McGill University is a public research university in Montreal founded in 1821, delivering 300+ programs across 11 faculties to 10,000+ graduate students and a large international undergraduate body from 150+ countries, with revenue from tuition, federal/provincial research grants, philanthropy, and international partnerships.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1821
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What McGill University does
McGill University is a public research university chartered by the Province of Quebec in 1821 and headquartered at 845 Sherbrooke Street West in Montreal, with a secondary campus (Macdonald Campus) in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue for agricultural and environmental sciences. It delivers 300+ academic programs across 11 faculties and 13 schools, enrolling 10,000+ graduate students alongside a larger undergraduate population that is nearly 30% international and represents over 150 countries — the highest international proportion among Canadian research universities.
The institution's technology and research portfolio spans quantum devices (a phonon laser operating at 10 milli-Kelvin to 3.9 Kelvin), biomedical innovations (click-clotting technology published in Nature that forms clots 13× tougher than natural in 5 seconds; the world's smallest 2.7mm vocal-cord bioprinter; a light-activated microneedle patch for IVF hormone delivery; gene therapy development for Spastic Paraplegia Type 4), agricultural science (3D necroprinting using mosquito proboscises, perennial grain soil-microbiome research across 871 lakes), AI tooling (RF-PHATE visualization in Nature Computational Science), and therapeutic candidates (melatonin MT2 receptor drug advancing to clinical trials for insomnia and neuropathic pain). These outputs are produced under a centralized Office of Innovation + Partnerships with commercialization and licensing support, alongside the McGill Innovation Fund.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: tuition and fees across Quebec-resident, Canadian out-of-province, and international tiers; research grants from federal tri-councils (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, CFI) and Quebec matching plus international funders; philanthropic donations (including a US$12.8M UAE gift and $5.75M healthcare-system gift); and international partnership programs (AI Centre of Excellence in India, UAE-Indonesia Future Leaders, McGill-KFAS Kuwait). Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer admissions through mcgill.ca and Minerva, international recruitment via International Student Services and pre-arrival programs, a School of Continuing Studies for professional certificates, and channel partnerships with foreign governments and foundations for cohort-based delivery.
McGill University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- McGill University
- Legal name
- McGill University
- Website
- https://mcgill.ca
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1821
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- McGill University is a public research university in Montreal founded in 1821, delivering 300+ programs across 11 faculties to 10,000+ graduate students and a large international undergraduate body from 150+ countries, with revenue from tuition, federal/provincial research grants, philanthropy, and international partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
McGill University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
Keywords
Where McGill University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
McGill University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from domestic and international undergraduate and graduate student tuition across 300+ programs. International students represent nearly 30% of enrollment and pay higher tuition rates.
- Research Grants and Funding: Federal funding from CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, CFI; provincial funding from Quebec government (FRQ, MEI); international funding; and foundation grants supporting research infrastructure and projects.
- Donations and Philanthropy: Private donations from alumni, corporations, and foundations including major gifts for scholarships, research chairs, and capital projects.
- International Partnerships and Programs: Revenue from international partnerships such as the UAE-Indonesia Future Leaders Program ($12.8M donation) and AI Centre of Excellence in India.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Quebec Residents - Undergraduate |
| Subscription | Annual | Canadian Out-of-Province - Undergraduate |
| Subscription | Annual | International Students - Undergraduate |
| Other | Annual | Entrance Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
McGill University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
McGill University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral academic programs across 11 faculties and 13 schools, supplemented by professional certificates and continuing education through the School of Continuing Studies. The institution also conducts funded scientific research in fields such as quantum science, life sciences, AI, biomedical engineering, and sustainable agriculture, and operates research support services including libraries, technology transfer, and innovation partnerships.
Product overview
McGill University is a public research institution founded in 1821, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across 11 faculties and 13 schools, including professional and continuing education through the School of Continuing Studies. The institution's research infrastructure includes the Office of Innovation + Partnerships for technology transfer and commercialization, the McGill Innovation Fund for supporting spin-off companies, and extensive research labs and facilities across quantum science, genomics, agricultural research, and medical technology. Student services encompass housing, dining, international student support, study abroad programs, experiential learning, and financial aid. The institution conducts significant research in medical technology, AI tools for healthcare, agricultural science, and quantum physics, with notable initiatives including AI research centers in India, psychedelic neuroscience research, and various biomedical device developments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- School of Continuing Studies Professional Certificates
- McCall MacBain Scholarships
- UAE-Indonesia Future Leaders Program
- Centre of Excellence in AI (India)
- McGill-KFAS Catalyst Initiative
Quantifiable outcome
- Highest average entering grades in Canada among universities
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use McGill University
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
McGill University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
McGill University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS)coreMcGill-KFAS Catalyst Initiative supports research collaborations and clinical exchanges between McGill and Kuwaiti institutions. The initiative builds on McGill's 24-year history of training oral and maxillofacial surgical residents from the Middle East.
- Quebec GovernmentcoreEight-year partnership to increase French proficiency among out-of-province students, with 60% of out-of-province undergraduates achieving Level 4 French by graduation. Government providing up to $20 million annually.
- CU Boulder, UBC, U of Toronto, Versiti Blood Research InstitutesminorCollaborative development of click clotting technology published in Nature, forming stronger blood clots 13x tougher than natural clots for trauma care applications.
- AirbusminorAirbus Tech Hub in Canada partnering with academic institutions including McGill University for sustainable materials research, decarbonization technologies including hydrogen and next-generation batteries, and AI-driven manufacturing.
- National Research Council of Canada and Princeton UniversityminorCollaborative development of phonon laser device operating at extremely cold temperatures for communications and medical diagnostics applications.
- Jubilant Bhartia FoundationcorePartnered to launch AI Centre of Excellence in India, focused on education and research. The initiative aims to produce job-ready AI engineers and future research leaders through a Master's programme, addressing India's AI talent gap and digital economy growth.
- QiagenminorQiagen collaboration with McGill University for low-biomass sample methods in microbiome research.
- ValiRx plc and IRICoRminorEvaluation and Material Transfer Agreement to assess second-generation RNA Helicase inhibitor target engagement and potency, with option to acquire equity stake and provide up to £2 million in seed funding.
- Drexel UniversityminorCollaborative research on 3D necroprinting technology using mosquito proboscises as high-resolution 3D printing nozzles, published in Science Advances.
- Bank of Montreal (BMO)minorBMO partnership in innovation ecosystem including AI research collaboration with McGill University as part of BMO's dual-horizon AI strategy.
- Quebec GovernmentcoreConsortium partnership advancing a new drug for insomnia and neuropathic pain, targeting melatonin receptors. Supported by over $1.6 million in research grants with plans for human trials.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
McGill University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Toronto: Canada's other leading public research university with comparable breadth of graduate and professional programs, similarly large international enrollment, and overlapping research strengths. The closest direct competitor for students, faculty, and federal research funding in Canada.
- University of British Columbia: Canadian public research university with strong international student base, comparable breadth across science, engineering, medicine, and business, and similar reliance on federal/provincial research funding. Directly competes with McGill for global talent and rankings positioning.
- McMaster University: Leading Canadian medical-doctoral research university with similarly strong research funding profile and professional schools. Comparable in scale and competing for the same pool of Canadian and international students, particularly in health sciences and engineering.
Broad incumbents
- Harvard University: Premier global private research university with comparable breadth of faculties, top-tier research output, and global brand. A benchmark for McGill's research ambitions and fundraising capacity, though Harvard operates at a materially larger scale and with private endowment.
- Stanford University: World-leading research university with deep industry partnerships and a strong tech-transfer model. Comparable as a research intensity benchmark and as a model for commercializing academic IP, though Stanford's Silicon Valley ecosystem is far more developed than McGill's.
- University of Oxford: Historic global research university with comparable depth in humanities, sciences, medicine, and law. Comparable brand prestige, international student mix, and research intensity, though Oxford operates at a larger global scale.
- University of Cambridge: Elite global research university with similar broad faculty structure, strong research output, and international student base. Comparable as a benchmark for research excellence and global brand, though Cambridge is materially larger.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Premier research university with deep strength in engineering, AI, quantum, and life sciences that directly mirrors McGill's research priorities. A benchmark for research intensity, industry collaboration, and technology transfer outcomes.
- ETH Zurich: Leading European public research university with strength in engineering, quantum, and natural sciences that overlaps with McGill's STEM and quantum research portfolio. Comparable research output and global student mix, though based in a different regulatory environment.
Regional players
- Concordia University: Montreal-based English-language research university that jointly dropped the tuition legal challenge alongside McGill and shares the Quebec regulatory environment. A direct regional peer for Quebec-resident students and Quebec government funding, though smaller in research scale and international brand.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
McGill University social profiles
Digital presenceMcGill University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
McGill University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
McGill University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
McGill University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about McGill University
What does McGill University do?
McGill University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral academic programs across 11 faculties and 13 schools, supplemented by professional certificates and continuing education through the School of Continuing Studies. The institution also conducts funded scientific research in fields such as quantum science, life sciences, AI, biomedical engineering, and sustainable agriculture, and operates research support services including libraries, technology transfer, and innovation partnerships.
Is McGill University a public or private company?
McGill University is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was McGill University founded?
McGill University was founded in 1821. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is McGill University based?
McGill University is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does McGill University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Funding, donations and Philanthropy and international Partnerships and Programs.
Who are McGill University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Toronto, University of British Columbia and McMaster University. Broad incumbents are Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich. Concordia University is listed as a regional player.
Does McGill University have an API?
No public API is recorded for McGill University.
What industry is McGill University in?
McGill University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.