McGill University is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV, the university bears the name of James McGill, a Scottish merchant whose bequest in 1813 formed the university's precursor, the University of McGill College. McGill is consistently ranked as one of Canada's top universities and among the leading universities in the world. It offers degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study, with the highest average admission requirements of any Canadian university. Most students are enrolled in the six largest faculties: Arts, Science, Medicine, Education, Engineering, and Management.
The university's main campus is situated on the slope of Mount Royal in downtown Montreal, with a second campus, the Macdonald Campus, located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. McGill is known for its diverse student body, attracting students from over 150 countries. It is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the only Canadian member of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) within the World Economic Forum, and a member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities. McGill has a strong reputation for research and innovation, with a history of significant discoveries, including the first artificial blood cell, the first internet search engine (Archie), and contributions to the understanding of the nature of the atom. The university is home to numerous research centres and institutes, fostering collaboration and advancement in various disciplines.