McGill University - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Given its large student body, McGill is surprisingly safe. There is a lighted pathway through campus to make night travel as safe as possible. There are, of course, a few thefts.As for the area surrounding McGill, it is also fairly safe for a city, but that safety is dependent on the street smarts of the students. Montréal is considered one of the safest cities in North America, but that does not mean that you do not have to take normal precautions. Do not walk alone after midnight. Avoid walking outside of Métro stations, as that is where most muggings occur. Every year, there is usually a stint of muggings in the area surrounding McGill. The best one can do is to be alert and cautious. There are also often incidences of flashers or voyeurs around the girls’ dorms, but rarely a sexual assault. McGill is not in its own bubble; it is open to both the good and the bad that a large city like Montréal brings.

Student Health Services at McGill follow the Canadian model of universal health care. All international students must prescribe to McGill insurance to ensure health coverage. The coverage that students get, however, is pretty mediocre, at least compared to many private plans. Getting an appointment at the clinic can take two weeks, so if you have anything that needs to be dealt with right away, you have to wait in line for an hour or so. The doctors are overworked and can be less than friendly with their patients. For prescriptions, students pay up front and are reimbursed later, which can be a hassle. Student Health Services try, but they are just too understaffed to serve the needs of 20-plus thousand students.

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Students Speak Out

McGAs0 says: McGill University 2014 Business

Last year there were some rumors... Last year there were some rumors about some muggings just on the border of campus, but I haven't heard of anything since then. There are numbers for security that you can call, and for certain hours during the night, you can have someone walk you home if you live close to campus. 12345 Safety & Security: March 24, 2009 Report

McGLS says: McGill University 2015 Engineering

Security on campus is quite good.... Security on campus is quite good. No one that I know has ever felt unsafe on campus. There was a recent scare in the student ghetto, but security was quickly increased in that area. There is no more than normal amounts of crime on campus, and if there is a spike in theft, it is quickly quelled by campus security. 12345 Safety & Security: March 20, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

In my experience, safety is good... In my experience, safety is good on campus. They have lighted pathways at night and Walksafe to get you where you need to go. As well, I often see McGill campus security driving around, both day and night. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I’ve walked through the campus... I’ve walked through the campus late at night and have felt extremely safe; they have 24-hour security, very good surveillance of the buildings, and safety post throughout the campus in case of emergency, and everything is really well-lit. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Excellent, as far as my experience... Excellent, as far as my experience has been; obviously, there are stories about muggings, but these are few and far between and never anywhere near campus. McGill also has Walksafe and drive safe programs, and obviously its own security teams for dealing with trouble on campus and in residences. The only semi-complaint that I would lodge is the fact that dialing 911 (the police’s emergency number) on a McGill line will direct you to McGill security before the municipal dispatch; this could obviously be an issue in a truly dangerous situation. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

McGill keeps record of the total incidents of crime reported both on and off campus. You can review these statistics online at www.mcgill.ca/security/statistics.

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