McGill University Residence & Housing
Montreal, Quebec
Housing, commute, campus setting, and city fit. This focused guide keeps the detailed tables, official sources, and practical next steps in one manageable reading path.
The short answer
- For 2026–2027, McGill guarantees a place to new undergraduates aged 22 or under who are in first year and applied by the housing lottery deadline.
- That deadline was June 14, 2026 at 11:59pm, and applications are now closed. Late applicants must contact the housing office directly, with no guarantee.
- Rent for 2026–2027 runs from $5,239.00 at Laird Hall on the Macdonald Campus to $15,210.00 at New Residence Hall downtown.
- Traditional dorms like McConnell Hall require a $6,150 meal plan, plus $500 oneCard Flex and a $35 Residence Life activity fee.
- You pay a $1,500 deposit and a $35 application fee by the deadline to reserve a space. The lease runs August 20, 2026 to May 2, 2027.
Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Official university sources · How we review guides
McGill residence costs, including meals
For McGill's 2026-27 Royal Victoria College West Wing basement double, rent plus the meal plan is about $16,332.25. A regular single is about $19,416.50. We calculate rent over the posted 8.45-month lease. The $500 oneCard Flex charge and $35 activity fee are extra.
These are planning calculations, not published lump-sum bills. McGill posts monthly rent and a $6,150 mandatory meal plan. Solin has kitchens and no mandatory meal plan. Fall 2027 residence pricing wasn't confirmed in this source; don't carry these monthly rates into a new lease.
Cost sources checked October 13, 2026. Recheck due February 1, 2027. This is a focused cost check.
| Room and cycle | Term | Room charge | Meal plan | Room + meal total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RVC West Wing: basement double2026-27 | 8.45-month lease | $1,205.00/month × 8.45 | $6,150.00. Mandatory AYCTE plan | $16,332.25Our calculation. Our calculation; add $535 in oneCard Flex/activity charges. |
| RVC: regular single2026-27 | 8.45-month lease | $1,570.00/month × 8.45 | $6,150.00. Mandatory AYCTE plan | $19,416.50Our calculation. Our calculation; add $535 in oneCard Flex/activity charges. |
| Solin: regular single2026-27 | 8.45-month lease | $1,245.00/month × 8.45 | No mandatory meal plan; food extra | $10,520.25Our calculation. Calculated rent only. Add $600 oneCard and $35 activity fee. |
- McGill undergraduate residence fees. Latest available: 2026-27 monthly rents, 8.45-month leases, meal plan and separate oneCard/activity charges. Checked October 13, 2026.
Solin Hall or Royal Victoria College?
Solin suits students who want an apartment kitchen and are comfortable travelling to campus. Royal Victoria College (RVC) puts you across the street from the main campus, with a dining hall in the building and a mandatory meal plan. Compare the daily routine as well as the rent.
| Consideration | Solin Hall | Royal Victoria College |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southwest of downtown campus, near Atwater Market and the Lachine Canal. McGill describes a four-stop subway commute. | Across the street from the main campus. |
| Living arrangement | Apartment bedrooms with shared kitchen, living, dining and bathroom space. | West Wing has women-only single and double rooms; the mixed-gender Tower has single rooms. Washrooms are shared on each floor. |
| Food | Shop and cook in the apartment kitchen; no mandatory meal plan. A oneCard amount still applies. | Mandatory all-you-care-to-eat meal plan, an in-building dining hall and shared kitchenettes. |
| Included in rent | Laundry, electricity, hot water, heating and internet. | Laundry, electricity, hot water, heating and internet. |
Building details checked September 11, 2026: Solin Hall, Royal Victoria College and residence and meal-plan fees.
McGill residence rates and the first-year guarantee for 2026–2027
McGill is one of the few large Canadian universities that publishes a real first-year residence guarantee. Newly admitted undergraduates who are 22 or under, starting their first year, and who applied before the housing lottery deadline are guaranteed a place. The lease runs August 20, 2026 to May 2, 2027. That is 8.45 months. Rent is billed monthly.
| Residence | Room options | Total rent |
|---|---|---|
| McConnell Hall (traditional, meal plan required) | Basement Double $1,100/month; Basement Single $1,195; Double $1,325; Double with bathroom $1,435; Single $1,450 | $9,295.00–$12,252.50 |
| Gardner Hall and Molson Hall (traditional, meal plan required) | Basement Single $1,195/month; Double $1,325; Double with bathroom $1,435; Single $1,450 | $10,097.75–$12,252.50 |
| University Hall (traditional, meal plan required) | Single $1,425/month | $12,041.25 |
| Douglas Hall (quiet residence, dorm style, meal plan required) | Double $1,500/month; Double with shared bathroom $1,605; Basement Single $1,605; Single $1,625; Large Single $1,715; Single with bathroom $1,760 | $12,675.00–$14,872.00 |
| Royal Victoria College Tower and West Wing | Basement Double $1,205/month; Small Double $1,415; Regular Single $1,570; Single with full bath $1,655 | $10,182.25–$13,984.75 |
| New Residence Hall (modern, meal plan required) | Regular Double $1,575/month; Large Double with closed bedroom $1,695; Regular Single $1,800 | $13,308.75–$15,210.00 |
| Carrefour Sherbrooke and La Citadelle (modern) | Carrefour Regular Double $1,295/month up to Large Single $1,605; La Citadelle Regular Double $1,540 up to Regular Single $1,770 | $10,942.75–$14,956.50 |
| Solin Hall (apartment style, no mandatory meal plan) | Petite Single $1,135/month; Regular Single $1,245; Grand Single $1,295; Small Studio $1,325; Large Studio $1,420 | $9,590.75–$11,999.00 |
| Laird Hall, Macdonald Campus (no mandatory meal plan) | Double $620/month; Single $680; Renovated Single $710; Large Renovated Single with bath $750 | $5,239.00–$6,337.50 |
Residence deposit
$1,500
Paid with a $35 residence application fee by the deadline to reserve the space.
Mandatory meal plan
$6,150
All-you-care-to-eat, billed end of September and end of January, plus $500 oneCard Flex and a $35 Residence Life activity fee.
Lease length
8.45 months
August 20, 2026 to May 2, 2027. Summer housing is arranged separately.
The guarantee has a hard edge
Miss the deadline and the guarantee is gone
The 2026-2027 residence deadline was June 14, 2026 at 11:59pm and applications are now closed. Late applicants are told to contact the housing office directly, with no guarantee attached. McGill Entrance Scholarship awardees get an extra benefit — one of their top two building choices — but only if they apply by the same deadline. No 2027-2028 rates, dates, or deposit amount have been published yet.
McGill does guarantee first-year residence — with conditions
2026-2027 cycle · Published for this period
McGill guarantees a place in residence to newly admitted undergraduates. You must be 22 or under, starting your first year, and you must apply to live in residence before the housing lottery deadline. If you miss the deadline, the guarantee is gone. Late applicants are told to contact the housing office directly.
The guarantee is for a place in residence. It is not for a specific building or room type. Entrance scholarship awardees are the exception. They are guaranteed one of their top two building choices.
Applies to: All applicants, Ontario high school, International
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate application, guarantee, and deposit · Verified August 16, 2026
The residence deposit and the 2026-2027 deadline
2026-2027 cycle · Published for this period
Applicants must pay a $1,500 residence deposit and a $35 residence application fee by the deadline to reserve a space. For the 2026-2027 year that deadline was June 14, 2026 at 11:59pm, and McGill's page now records that applications for 2026-2027 are closed.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate application, guarantee, and deposit · Verified August 16, 2026
The lease is 8.45 months, not 12
2026-2027 · Published for this period
All 2026-2027 undergraduate residence leases run from August 20, 2026 to May 2, 2027. McGill counts this as 8.45 months when it converts monthly rent into total rent. Rent is billed monthly. McGill states that students who withdraw from residences for academic or non-academic reasons will be held financially responsible.
Summer housing is a separate arrangement. International students in particular should plan for the May-to-August gap.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate residence fees 2026-2027 · Verified September 30, 2026
Traditional and modern dormitory rates
2026-2027 · Published for this period
Total rent for 2026-2027 is the monthly rent multiplied by 8.45. McConnell Hall runs from $9,295.00 for a basement double to $12,252.50 for a single. Gardner Hall and Molson Hall run $10,097.75 to $12,252.50. University Hall is $12,041.25 for its single. Douglas Hall runs $12,675.00 for a double to $14,872.00 for a single with bathroom. Royal Victoria College Tower and West Wing run $10,182.25 for a basement double up to $13,984.75 for a single with full bath. New Residence Hall runs $13,308.75 to $15,210.00. La Citadelle runs $13,013.00 to $14,956.50. Carrefour Sherbrooke runs $10,942.75 to $13,562.25.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate residence fees 2026-2027 · Verified September 30, 2026
The cheapest published McGill residence options
2026-2027 · Published for this period
Laird Hall at the Macdonald Campus runs $5,239.00 for a double to $6,337.50 for a large renovated single with bath. The des Pins and University Street houses run from $5,746.00 for a very small single with a Murphy bed at 510 des Pins up to $8,661.25 for a large single. Apartment-style Solin Hall runs $9,590.75 for a petite single up to $11,999.00 for a large studio. None of these carry a mandatory meal plan.
Laird Hall is at the Macdonald Campus. It is only a real option if your program is taught there.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate residence fees 2026-2027 · Verified September 30, 2026
The mandatory meal plan adds $6,685 to a dormitory year
2026-2027 · Published for this period
Traditional and modern dormitories require the all-you-care-to-eat meal plan at $6,150. This includes the quiet Douglas Hall and University Hall. The plan is billed at the end of September and the end of January. You also pay $500 in oneCard Flex dollars and a $35 Residence Life activity fee. McGill lists some buildings without a mandatory meal plan. These are the shared houses at 506, 510, and 522 des Pins. They also include 3601 and 3653 University, Solin Hall, and Laird Hall. The houses and Solin Hall charge $600 for oneCard instead. Laird Hall charges $400.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate residence fees 2026-2027 · Verified September 30, 2026
2027-2028 residence rates are not published
2027 pending · 2027-2028
McGill's undergraduate residence fee page covers 2026-2027 only right now. The 2026-2027 application cycle is closed. No rates, lease dates, deposit amount, or application deadline have been published for 2027-2028.
Use the 2026-2027 figures as a planning baseline only. McGill has not published a 2027-2028 increase, so do not assume any particular percentage.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Student Housing: undergraduate residence fees 2026-2027 · Verified August 16, 2026
Campus and city: what McGill publishes about student life
McGill calls Montreal “affordable, multilingual, creative and bursting with culture” and one of the best student cities in the world. These cards use only mcgill.ca statements about the city, the language mix, the two campuses, insurance costs, and the services on campus.
How McGill sells Montreal
Current recruiting content · Published for this period
McGill's recruiting page states: 'Affordable, multilingual, creative and bursting with culture, Montreal earns its stripes as one of the best student cities in the world.' The same page points to more than 300 clubs and frames the McGill experience around internships, research programs, and study-abroad opportunities.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Why McGill: Montreal, clubs, and experiential learning · Verified August 16, 2026
The actual language mix on campus
Current published counts · Published for this period
Quick Facts report a student body that is 49% English mother tongue, 21% French, and 29% other languages. McGill requires proof of English proficiency for undergraduate admission. It requires documented French only for Human Nutrition, Nursing, and Physical & Occupational Therapy.
You can complete most McGill degrees without French, but you will live in a French-language province. Treat French as a life skill for Montreal rather than an admission barrier.
Applies to: All applicants, International
McGill University: Quick Facts: enrolment, faculties, alumni, research funding · Verified August 16, 2026
The services McGill publishes for students
Current services · Published for this period
McGill's services hub lists athletics and recreation. It lists food and housing, internships and experiential learning, and study abroad. It lists clubs and activities, services for families, and international student services. It lists libraries and research services. It also lists the myCourses, Minerva, and myMcGill portals.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Services for students: athletics, housing, clubs, study abroad · Verified August 16, 2026
Downtown and Macdonald are different student experiences
2026-2027 · Published for this period
McGill's fee tables charge student services fees of $131.60 to $219.07 depending on campus and credit load. The residence table lists Laird Hall at the Macdonald Campus separately from the downtown buildings at roughly half the downtown rent. The Macdonald Campus is in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue at the western end of the island of Montreal.
Applies to: All applicants
McGill University: Undergraduate tuition rates Fall/Winter 2026-27 by residency · Verified August 16, 2026
Health insurance is a real line on the bill
2026-2027 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
McGill's 2026-27 fee tables include $345.00 of MCSS or SSMU health and dental insurance for Canadian students. For international students, they include $1,155.00 of international health insurance plus $150.00 of SSMU dental insurance. Both are printed at 2025-26 rates and McGill notes the rates may change for 2026-27.
Applies to: All applicants, International
McGill University: PDF: Tuition and Fees 2026-27, international undergraduates · Verified August 16, 2026
Housing and Location Questions
| Campus Setting | Major-city campus environment |
|---|---|
| Residence | Check the residence guarantee rules and first-year room styles. Check meal plans and deposit deadlines. Also check the pressure on off-campus housing. |
| City Fit | Students should compare transit, weather, cost of living, safety, and community feel in Montreal. |
| Commuting | If you live off campus, map your commute time to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities. Do this before you commit. |
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison, but official university pages remain the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology