Population and Global Health

The Department of Global and Public Health offers a Bachelor of Arts, Faculty Program in Population and Global Health — a groundbreaking undergraduate program that applies interdisciplinary and action-oriented approaches to tackling complex public health challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

Grounded in equity, justice, and allyship, the program emphasizes real-world learning and participatory practices that extend beyond the classroom. Students will develop a deep understanding of the social, political, economic and environmental determinants of health and gain hands-on experience through community-based research and policy engagement.

Our faculty and students work collaboratively with partners across McGill, Canada and the globe to generate solutions to pressing population and public health issues. The program prepares students to:

• Understand and critically evaluate global and local health inequities;
• Analyze complex health systems and structures through interdisciplinary methods;
• Design and evaluate policies and programs with a focus on ethical, inclusive and sustainable approaches; and
• Apply their knowledge in practicum and field-based settings.

Experiential Learning and Partnerships

Students engage in hands-on learning through applied research, policy labs and community-embedded projects. Practicum and internship opportunities are developed in collaboration with partner organizations in areas such as:

• Health equity and social justice
• Health and environmental sustainability
• Planetary health
• Reproductive and sexual health
• Prevention and health promotion
• Indigenous health and well-being
• Immigrant health
• Health policy and governance
• Community health

Careers and Further Study

Graduates of this program are well-positioned to pursue careers in policy, research, advocacy and public service across non-governmental organizations, government bodies, global institutions and community-based settings. They are also competitive applicants for professional and graduate programs in public health, law, social sciences, health administration, medicine and global development.

Research and Teaching Environment

The Department of Global and Public Health fosters a dynamic and collaborative environment, drawing on faculty expertise from disciplines such as:

• Public health and population health sciences
• Health policy and political science
• Sociology, anthropology, and geography
• Indigenous studies and critical race studies
• Environmental studies and sustainability science
• Ethics, law and human rights

Students benefit from learning in a research-rich environment that connects theory and practice, with access to innovative projects and mentorship across McGill and with our local and international partners.

Faculty Program in Population and Global Health (B.A.)

Admission Requirements

Bachelor of Arts, Faculty Program in Population and Global Health

To be eligible for a B.A. degree, a student must fulfil all Faculty and program requirements as indicated in Degree Requirements for the Faculty of Arts.

Bachelor of Arts in Population and Global Health

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Population and Global Health program come from a wide range of academic and personal backgrounds, including the social sciences, humanities, life sciences and health-related disciplines. The program welcomes students who are passionate about equity, social justice and making a meaningful impact on population and global health challenges.

We value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from students with lived experience, community engagement or non-traditional academic paths. While no specific academic background is required, an interest in interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking and systems-level problem-solving is essential. The program is designed to support students in developing both conceptual understanding and practical skills to address the social, political and environmental determinants of health across contexts.

• Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts, Faculty Program in Population and Global Health must fulfil all Faculty and program requirements as indicated in the Degree Requirements for the Faculty of Arts.
• Additional Requirements:
  • List of non-academic activities
  • Essay responses to three short answer questions (250-300 words each)

Note: Meeting the general requirements does not guarantee admission. While the language of instruction is English, some practicum placement sites in Quebec require a working knowledge of French. The language for placement sites outside of Quebec is generally English.

Complete details on the Population and Global Health program is available on our Departmental website.  

Application Procedures

All application material and supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the McGill admissions processing system by the application deadline. Refer to the Applying and Admissions site for information and instructions.

Please see our website for information on required documents.

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the Department of Global and Public Health website.

Please check the general application deadlines for Undergraduate Admissions, and make sure that your program does not have an alternate deadline.