McGill University Exam Deferral: Complete 2026 Guide
If you are unable to write a final exam because of a serious health or wellness condition or another extenuating circumstance, McGill says you may be eligible to apply for an exam deferral. Eligibility, deadlines, and the final academic decision depend on your Faculty’s rules and the current University process. Start by checking the official McGill Deferred Exams guidance and your Faculty instructions.
Medical documentation is not automatically required for every illness-based request. McGill states that supporting documents may be required and that medical documentation is required for illness absences of five or more days. Do not assume that a document itself guarantees a deferred exam; submit the request through the correct University process and respond to any Faculty follow-up.
New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time.
McGill’s Official Deferred-Exam Workflow
McGill’s guidance is a better starting point than generic deadline rules. Students should:
1. Review the options and consequences in the current Deferred Exams guidance and their Faculty regulations.
2. Confirm eligibility for the specific final examination and circumstance.
3. Submit the request through the required McGill process, which may include the Deferred Exam Application in Minerva.
4. Provide only the supporting documentation requested by the University or Faculty, then monitor McGill email for a decision or follow-up.
For illness-related requests, the official University page says medical documentation is required for absences of five or more days. For a shorter absence, do not assume a school form or note is required—or sufficient. Ask your Faculty what it needs, and obtain clinical documentation only when a clinician independently finds it appropriate.
New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time.
Faculty-Specific Requirements and Deadlines
McGill is a large university with many different Faculties, each managing its own student affairs. The deadlines and specific procedures can vary, so you must be aware of the rules that apply to your specific program.
| Faculty | Office Location | Submission Deadline | Special Notes |
|---------|-----------------|---------------------|---------------|
| Arts | OASIS (Dawson Hall) | 5 days | Follows the standard university process. |
| Science | SOUSA (Burnside Hall) | 5 days | Follows the standard university process. |
| Engineering | Student Affairs (FDA) | 5 days | Follows the standard university process. |
| Desautels Management | BCom Office | 3 days | Has a stricter deadline; immediate action required. |
| Education | Student Affairs | 5 days | Follows the standard university process. |
| Music | Student Affairs (Strathcona) | 5 days | Performance exams have different protocols. |
| Law | Student Affairs | 3 days | Has a stricter deadline; immediate action required. |
| Medicine | Student Affairs | 3 days | Has a stricter deadline; immediate action required. |
Missing these deadlines can have severe consequences. If you are in the Faculty of Management, Law, or Medicine, you have only three days to secure and submit your documentation. This tight turnaround makes fast, reliable access to a physician absolutely critical.
Getting a Sick Note in Montreal: Your Options
When you are sick during exam season in Montreal, navigating the healthcare system can be incredibly stressful. You have several options, but they vary wildly in terms of convenience, cost, and wait times.
Option 1: Physician-reviewed documentation request
If your Faculty requests medical documentation and your situation is a short-term illness, you can request an assessment from MedLetter. A physician independently determines whether documentation is clinically appropriate. McGill’s Faculty—not MedLetter—decides whether the submission supports a deferred-exam request. Review timing can vary, so begin with the official Faculty process rather than relying on a fixed delivery claim.
New sick-note requests are temporarily paused while we review our service. We are not accepting new orders at this time.
Option 2: McGill Student Health Service
- Located conveniently on campus at 550 Sherbrooke Street West in the Brown Student Services Building.
- Offers both walk-in appointments and scheduled visits.
- The downside: It becomes notoriously busy during final exam periods. You may wait hours or be turned away if they reach capacity.
- Free for McGill students who have paid their student services fees.
- Provides fully bilingual service.
Option 3: Montreal Walk-In Clinics (CLSCs)
- There are multiple clinics located in the McGill Ghetto, the Plateau, and Downtown Montreal.
- The downside: Wait times are famously long, often ranging from 2 to 6 hours. Montreal walk-in clinics are notoriously slow, especially during flu season and exam periods.
- The visit is free if you have a valid RAMQ (Quebec health card).
- Out-of-province students frequently face billing issues, administrative hurdles, or demands for upfront payment at these clinics.
Special Considerations for Out-of-Province and International Students
A significant portion of McGill's student body comes from outside Quebec or internationally. Navigating the Quebec healthcare system without a RAMQ card adds an extra layer of complexity when you urgently need a sick note.
- Ontario students: While OHIP covers basic physician visits in Quebec, many local clinics refuse to bill OHIP directly, forcing you to pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement later.
- Other Canadian provinces: Coverage varies significantly. You will almost certainly need to pay upfront for your visit and the sick note, then navigate a complex reimbursement process with your home province.
- International students: You must use McGill's international student health insurance plan or pay entirely out of pocket for clinic visits.
- The MedLetter Advantage: MedLetter charges a simple $49 flat fee regardless of your insurance situation. No RAMQ card is needed, no complex inter-provincial billing, and no hidden fees. It is the most straightforward option for out-of-province students.
Having proper documentation protects your academic standing. Do not let insurance complications prevent you from getting the medical note you need to defer your exam.
Frequently Asked Questions About McGill Exam Deferrals
Does McGill accept online doctor's notes?
McGill’s official Deferred Exams guidance says supporting documents may be required and directs students to Faculty rules. If your Faculty requests medical documentation, check its current requirements and submit through the required McGill process. A physician-issued document may support review when clinically appropriate, but the Faculty decides the result.
What if I don't have a Quebec health card (RAMQ)?
Check the current McGill and provincial health-coverage information that applies to you. If your Faculty requests documentation, the academic process—not health-insurance status—determines how you submit the request; a clinician decides independently whether documentation is appropriate.
Does McGill accept notes in English only?
Follow your Faculty’s current documentation instructions. If a language or format question matters for your request, ask the Faculty office before submitting.
How long until I get my deferred exam date?
There is no universal timeline. Deferred-exam scheduling and decisions depend on the Faculty, course, and current University process. Monitor the official Faculty channel after submitting your request.
Can I defer a midterm exam at McGill?
For a midterm or other assessment, check the course outline and contact the instructor or Faculty according to the current course and academic-consideration policy. Do not assume a medical note is always required or guarantees an accommodation.
Next Steps After a Missed McGill Exam
Review McGill’s current Deferred Exams guidance, confirm your Faculty rules, and submit the correct request through Minerva or the applicable Faculty process. If illness is involved, seek clinical care when you need it. Where documentation is requested, a physician can independently assess whether short-term illness documentation is appropriate; no document guarantees a deferral.
Read McGill’s official Deferred Exams guidance before submitting your Faculty request.
McGill's Largest Courses
- PSYC 100 (Intro Psychology) — 1,500+ students
- ECON 208/209 (Micro/Macro Economics) — 1,200+ students
- MATH 140/141 (Calculus) — 1,000+ students
- BIOL 111/112 (Intro Biology) — 900+ students
- CHEM 110/120 (General Chemistry) — 800+ students
- COMP 202/250 (Computer Science) — 700+ students
McGill’s Faculty procedures control exam-deferral and academic-consideration requests. Start with the official Faculty process; if medical documentation is requested, submit only documentation that a clinician independently determines is appropriate.
Need medical documentation for a McGill request? Start with the official Faculty process. If it requests a clinician’s document, a physician may assess whether short-term illness documentation is appropriate; McGill makes the academic decision.
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