McGill, “what else? “ The choice of Quebec’s prestigious English-speaking university when starting their undergraduate studies is almost obvious to most of the approximately 2,000 French students enrolled. “It happened naturally”recognizes 19-year-old Julien Larmanjat, who is completing his first year of a degree (equivalent to a licentiate in France) in microbiology and immunology at the McGill Faculty of Science.
It is not surprising to find on the green campus of the university, located in the heart of Montreal, a young man with a profile like his: his father is a computer scientist and his mother an editor – both bilingual -, he spent four years with them in Amsterdam and obtained the scientific high school diploma, with “very good” honours, at the Parisian bilingual private high school Etoile, international section.
All teachers encourage their students throughout the year to try their luck outside France; mission successful, ten of their senior students landed at McGill. “ Myself, what particularly motivated me, Julian explains, is that I wanted to escape the hell of preparatory classes or first year of medicine in France. No question of being on antidepressants! McGill struck me as the perfect balance between the assurance of gaining an internationally recognized degree and the ability to fully enjoy my student life. »
Cross-country skiing in winter on Mont-Royal – the green lung of Montreal –, local beers in the city’s student bars during French evenings – because, contrary to the promises of “ cosmopolitanism » by McGill, international student communities mix relatively little, describes – and “benevolent pedagogy” given in class… The cocktail has something to seduce.
Lectures are complemented by laboratory sessions in small groups, led by PhD students. “The involvement and availability of the teachers towards the students is total”, he rejoices. Only regret, he thought he could easily integrate the “medicine” at the end of his first cycle, he was already disillusioned, “It’s even more selective in Quebec than in France” ; it doesn’t matter, Julien does not rule out crossing the Atlantic in the opposite direction, to obtain a master’s degree in a European university.
“More and more”
McGill’s reputation for excellence, in 28And the position of the best universities in the world in the latest Global 2000 ranking (compiled by the center for world university rankings for 2022-2023), attracting cohorts of international students every year; out of 40,000 students enrolled in about 300 courses offered (sciences, arts, engineering, management, cognitive sciences, etc.), a third comes from abroad.
You still have 50.9% of this article to read. The following is for subscribers only.
