We have presented a few of the more frequently asked questions below to help you. Please take this time to review the information provided to assist you.
COURSE REGISTRATION
Where can I find help on how to use Minerva to register for courses?
Step by step instructions and a tutorial video can be found on this website. In addition, the Department of Global and Public Health office is available to help you with registration difficulties. Please contact the studentaffairsofficer.dgph [at] mcgill.ca (Student Affairs Officer).
When do I need to start registering for courses?
Registration for courses for newly admitted students begins in June and ends a couple of weeks after classes in the semester begin. A complete list of registration start and end dates can be found here.
When do I register for my Winter term courses?
You should register for your Winter term courses at the same time as you register for your Fall term courses. Otherwise, they may fill up. You can make changes in December and up until the add/drop deadline in January if needed or if you change your mind about your course selections.
How do I register for courses?
There is a detailed description of how to register for courses, including an excellent Tutorial Video on the 91黑料网 website.
I tried to register for a course but received a registration error. What do I do about this? Where can I go for assistance?
There are a number of different error messages you could receive if you have been unsuccessful registering for a course. These messages are listed and explained on the 91黑料网 Website, where you will also find tips and suggestions for solving common registration issues.
What if the courses fill up? Is it possible to be added to a waitlist?
Enrolment in most courses at 91黑料网 is limited. Students who are required to take a course will be able to register (if a GPHL course is full, contact %20studentaffairsofficer.dgph [at] mcgill.ca (Enoch Leung)), but students looking for electives or complementary courses may have trouble if they try to register for very popular courses late in the registration period. If it is a non-GPHL course for your program requirements that you are trying to register in and it is full, you will need to contact the department offering the course for assistance.聽One factor behind the popularity of the courses in your program is the interdisciplinarity of the Population and Global Health programs. They comprise courses from units across different departments, and faculties, and both Montreal-based campuses of the university. This means that from time to time you will come across courses that have restricted registrations. Just as the Department of Global and Public Health will restrict non-Global and Public Health students from taking our courses (when they start to reach capacity), other units will do likewise.
Many courses have waitlists, including the GPHL courses. If you receive an error message saying the course is full, you will need to add yourself to the waitlist for that course. Full instructions of how to use Minerva waitlists, including a tutorial video, can be found on the 91黑料网 Website. Rest assured that if you add yourself to the waitlist(s) for the courses as soon as you are able (waitlists normally all open before the end of June), there is a good chance that you will secure a spot in the course before September).
Note that returning students (i.e. non-CEGEP students who did their U0 year at 91黑料网) are able to register before U1 students who are new to 91黑料网. Next May, new students will be considered a returning student and will be able to register ahead of the incoming class.
What is the S/U option? And can I use it?
The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option is explained in the e-Calendar. All Faculty of Arts students may take advantage of the S/U option (according to the regulations), however students in the Faculty Program - Population and Global Health (B.A. degree) may wish to use this option to complete their program pre-/co-requisite science and numeracy requirements. If you have any questions about whether the S/U option makes sense for you to use, please contact the %20studentaffairsofficer.dgph [at] mcgill.ca (Program Advisor).
Why am I unable to register in BIOL 111 and/or MATH 139/140?
During several weeks in June, when new Science students are registering 鈥� the Foundation Program courses (intro science and math) are closed to everyone else. They will reopen again to Arts students later in the registration period. Rest assured that registration has followed this model for the last couple of years, and it has not created a problem for incoming Faculty Program in Population and Global Health students.
If I am interested in taking French courses as electives or in my Foundation year, where do I go to take the French Placement Test?
Information about French courses and the French Placement Test can be found on the French Language Centre website.
How do I know on which campus the courses I have registered for, are given?
Our courses in the streams may contain courses (e.g., ENVR) which can be given on both of our Montreal-based campuses. Please be vigilant about being aware of the building courses are delivered in and whether they are at our downtown or Macdonald campus.
STREAMS
I am a Faculty of Arts student and there's a "restricted" course in my Stream. Will I receive credit for it?
Faculty of Arts students should be aware that they can take a maximum of 30 university level required, complementary and elective credits outside the Faculties of Arts or Science for the entirety of the degree. Minerva will not warn you if you have registered for a restricted course. Once completed, the course will be "E-flagged" (course is excluded from credits and excluded from the GPA). You do not want this to happen, so please confirm with your advisor at Faculty of Arts OASIS (Office of Advising and Student Information Services).
I am not sure which Stream I want to follow, but I don't want to fall behind. What can I do?
You may choose to complete some electives as you determine which Stream you would choose to go into.
PROGRAM
Do you have an online program?
No, we do not offer on-line courses.
Do I need to speak French to complete this program?
No. All courses are offered in English. While knowledge of French is very useful with regard to securing a practicum in a Montreal or Quebec public health setting, our students can complete their practicum requirement in placements across the country and abroad.
Can I be a part-time student in your program? How long does the program take to complete?
We presently offer a B.A. which requires 3 years of full-time, residential study. We do not offer a part-time option.
How long are your experiential learning opportunities? Where do they take place?
Our students can do their practicum/internship in a variety of population and public health practice or research settings. Our students will have two opportunities to engage with experiential learning in the community. GPHL 303 is the introductory course for community engaged learning. Students will work in small groups (2-3 members) and commit three hours per week for eight weeks in duration (24 hours total) at their placements. GPHL 401 is the final course where students engage in experiential learning. Students will work in small groups (2-3 members) and commit 35 hours per week for 13 weeks (455 hours total) at their placements. Placements can be local (e.g., Direction de la Sant茅 Publique), national (e.g., Canadian Public Health Agency) or international (e.g., WHO, UNAIDS)
How many credits/and/or courses am I expected to carry each semester as a full-time student?
Students typically carry between 10 to 15 credits in any given semester. A full-time course load is 12 credits or more. Refer to the 
Three Year Overview for the expected timeline in our program.
What is the difference between a U0 and U1 student?
鈥淯0鈥� or 鈥淔oundation Program Student鈥� is the term used to define students who have been admitted without advanced standing. Generally, this refers to students who are admitted to 91黑料网 from outside Qu茅bec. Admitted students who have completed CEGEP are considered U1 students. Refer to the section titled U0 (Foundation Program) Information for further information.
In the Faculty Program in Population and Global Health (B. A. degree), must I complete the Foundation Program before the end of my U0 year?
Yes, as a Faculty of Arts student you are required to follow the U0 requirements as outlined in Faculty of Arts. Note that students who are starting in U1 (e.g., CEGEP, International Baccalaureate) should not have to complete the Foundation Program. Please consult with your OASIS advisor.
Why is this a B.A. and not a B.Sc.? Could it become a B.Sc. or B.A.&Sc. in the future?
The program is offered as a B.A. because the Faculty of Arts structure provides the flexibility for students to take a broad range of courses, including opportunities to select streams aligned with their interests. At present (September 24, 2025), a B.Sc. or B.A.&Sc. option is not being considered.
What is the difference between a major and a Faculty Program?
Unlike students in the traditional B.A. Multi-Track Option, students in the Faculty Program do not complete minors. Admission to the Faculty Program requires a separate application through the 91黑料网 Portal (for prospective students). Current Faculty of Arts students in their U0 (Foundation Year) must submit an intra-university transfer request to be considered. Because this is a Faculty Program, students cannot simply declare or change into it as they would with a regular major.
Who can transfer into the B.A. Faculty program, and how?
The transfer process is still being finalized (as of September 24, 2025). Currently:
i. Intra-faculty transfers: Students in the Faculty of Arts in their U0 (Foundation Year) may apply for an intra-faculty transfer to the program.
ii. Inter-faculty transfers: Students from other 91黑料网 faculties are not eligible to transfer into this program at this time.
POST-GRADUATION
What career paths are available after completing the B.A. program?
Students graduating from this program can expect to find employment within the governmental public health system at the local, national or international level as well as the non-governmental sector. Students may work as research assistants, coordinators, program planners, health promotion specialists, analysts, consultants or find employment in managerial level positions. Refer to What Can I Do with my B.A. pamphlet聽for聽examples of career opportunities related to Population and Global Health.
What will appear on the diploma at graduation?
Graduates will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree. The diploma will indicate: B.A., Faculty Program in Population and Global Health.
How can students in this program prepare for medical school applications?
Students planning to apply to medical school should select electives that meet medical school prerequisites. A list of recommended courses can be found on our Department of Global and Public Health website under Full Program Details
How can students prepare for admission to a Master of Science in Public Health (MScPH) or a Master of Science in Epidemiology?
Students interested in graduate studies in public health, epidemiology, or global health are encouraged to pursue quantitative courses in statistics and mathematics to build strong data analysis skills.
Suggested courses will be posted may include MATH 123, MATH 140, MATH 141, MATH 203, MATH 204, MATH 324.
Any undergraduate math or statistics course covering the required topics listed in the program preparation form will help students meet MScPH or Epidemiology prerequisites.
Will graduates of this B.A. program have direct entry into the MScPH program, with the possibility of completing it in one year?
Discussions are ongoing (as of September 24, 2025) about creating pathways between the B.A. Faculty Program in Population and Global Health and the MScPH. Updates will be shared once decisions are finalized.
FUNDING
Do you offer funding to students?
The financial resources of the Department do not permit guaranteed minimum funding for B.A. in PGH students. Students in placements in GPHL 303 and GPHL 401 may be provided some funding by the host organizations and/or the Department of Global and Public Health.
STUDENT WELLBEING
Where can I access resources to support my academic success, and my physical and mental well-being?
The Student Wellness Hub is our students' place to go for their holistic health and wellness needs. It provides access to basic physical and mental health services, as well as health promotion and peer support programs, in convenient locations at both our Macdonald and downtown campuses. The Hub offers specialized programming related to stress, anxiety, depression, addictive behaviours and sleep issues, which can have a major impact on academic performance for broad segments of the student population. Our programming is geared towards helping students overcome these challenges and meet their academic objectives.