McGill University Admissions for Chinese High School Students: Evaluates high school grades and Huikao scores; Gaokao is not required. The minimum average score is 85, with a deadline of January 15.

The McGill University admissions website outlines the requirements for applying to undergraduate programs with a regular Chinese high school diploma. Unlike most universities that require the Gaokao, McGill primarily evaluates high school grades and Huikao (Academic Proficiency Test) scores.

Evaluation Criteria

• Admissions Basis: High school transcripts (Grades 10, 11, and the first semester of Grade 12), along with all available Huikao / Academic Proficiency Test (APT) scores. Huikao scores must be reported as numerical scores or letter grades, not merely "Pass/Fail".
• Huikao Only Provides Pass/Fail, or No Huikao in Your Province: You must submit external exam scores. The university prefers the ACT or SAT, or official AP scores. If none are available, you may provide school graduation exam scores, or class rank if those are unavailable. Applicants who cannot provide any of these may still apply and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The admissions page specifically notes that Hubei province does not have a Huikao, so students must submit external exam scores such as the SAT.
• SAT Cannot Replace Huikao: Students from provinces with a Huikao must still submit their Huikao scores.
• Gaokao: Not required; however, if you have taken the Gaokao, you must arrange to have your official scores sent to the university.
• After Admission: You must maintain your academic performance until graduation. Your high school must then send the complete official high school transcript, graduation certificate, and all final Huikao scores.

Grades and Prerequisites

The minimum requirement is typically an average of 85% or higher in each academic year and all prerequisite courses; many programs are more competitive and have higher requirements, so meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.

• Engineering (including Computer, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, and Bioengineering): Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry must be studied through high school graduation with Huikao scores; Biology does not count as a prerequisite.
• Science: Mathematics, plus at least two of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
• Management (Business): Mathematics studied through high school graduation.
• Architecture: Mathematics and Physics.
• Arts: No specific prerequisites; Psychology and Population and Global Health require separate applications.
• Nursing: Mathematics and two science subjects, plus proof of French proficiency. Social Work does not accept direct applications from high school students.

English Proficiency Requirements

• IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 6.5, with no individual band below 6.0; One Skill Retake scores are not accepted. Only official electronic score reports from IELTS are accepted.
• TOEFL: 90 for most programs (for the 120-point test taken on or before January 20, 2026), or 4.5 on the new 6-point scale (for tests taken from January 21, 2026). For the 120-point test, each section must be at least 21; for the 6-point scale, Reading, Listening, and Writing must be 4.5, and Speaking must be 4.0. The Faculty of Management and TESL Education programs require 100 or 5.0. MyBest scores are not accepted.
• Duolingo: 125 (130 for B.Com. and TESL).
• Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency and received by the document deadline. This requirement may be waived for students who have lived and attended school continuously for four years in a country where English is the primary language.

Key Dates

• January 15: Application deadline (applications and documents for Music and Religious Studies are due on the same day).
• January 21: Deadline for Major Entrance Scholarship applications and supporting documents.
• March 1: Deadline for supplementary documents.
• Programs with limited space may prioritize applicants who submit their documents early. If a program reaches capacity before the document deadline, applications with incomplete documents may be canceled. It is recommended to submit all documents as early as possible.

Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international/china; https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/english-proficiency. Policies are subject to the latest official updates.

Frequently asked questions

Does McGill require the Gaokao from Chinese high school applicants?

No. Unlike most schools that require the Gaokao, McGill mainly looks at high school grades and the Huikao (Academic Proficiency Test) results. The Gaokao is not required, but applicants who took it must arrange for the official results to be sent to McGill. The Huikao results must be numerical or letter grades, not just pass/fail, and the SAT cannot replace them where Huikao results exist.

What grades does McGill expect?

The minimum is typically an average of 85% or higher in each academic year and in the prerequisite courses, but many programs are more competitive and meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission. Engineering needs Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry through the end of high school with Huikao results; Science needs Mathematics plus at least two of Biology, Chemistry and Physics; Management needs Mathematics; Architecture needs Mathematics and Physics.

What English scores does McGill require?

IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, and One Skill Retake scores are not accepted. TOEFL: 90 for most programs on the 120-point scale (tests up to January 20, 2026), or 4.5 on the new 6-point scale (tests from January 21, 2026) with 4.5 in Reading, Listening and Writing and 4.0 in Speaking; the Desautels Faculty of Management and the TESL program require 100 or 5.0. Duolingo is accepted at 125 (130 for B.Com. and TESL), and MyBest scores are not accepted.

What are McGill's key dates?

The application deadline is January 15 (Music and Religious Studies applications and documents are due the same day). The Major Entrance Scholarship application and documents are due January 21, and supporting documents by March 1. Programs with limited places may favor applicants whose documents are complete early, and applications may be cancelled if a program fills before the document deadline.