PGSS Fees
This page provides you with a list and summary of the PGSS Fees.
This page provides you with a list and summary of the PGSS Fees.
$40.95/member/term
The Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) represents all graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at McGill University. The PGSS engages in advocacy, outreach, and lobbying, provides activities, events and services to its members, and operates restaurant, pub and catering services out of the David Thomson House Graduate Student Centre which it maintains for its members. This fee is collected in the PGSS’ Society Activities Fund and disbursements from this fund are made in accordance with the PGSS’s governing documents. This fee has no end date, is not opt-out able, and increases each year with the Consumer Price Index (as calculated for the calendar year previous ending on March 31st).
This fee is levied equally from every PGSS regular member on a per semester (fall and winter) basis. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$0.76/member/term
This fee is for the purpose of financing the maintenance by the PGSS of the David Thomson House Graduate Student Centre which is the home of the PGSS. This fee is not for the purpose of capital investments or leasehold improvements.
This fee is levied equally from every PGSS regular member on a per semester (fall and winter) basis. The fee has no end date and is not opt-out able. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS)
$10.10/member/term
This fee is used by the PGSS to provide funding to Post-Graduate Student Associations (PGSA) that the PGSS recognizes following procedures set out in its governing documents. Collected funds are made available to PGSS recognized PGSAs in proportion to each PGSA’s number of members.
This fee is levied equally from every PGSS regular member on a per semester (fall and winter) basis. This fee has no end date and is not opt-out able. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$2.07/member/term
This fee establishes the funding for the PGSS-GPS Grants Program which provides financial support for events and projects of academic and philanthropic nature initiated by and for PGSS members and PGSS – Post-Graduate Student Associations. It can be used to help host conferences, lecture series, symposia, and a host of other events and projects. The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies also contributes to the funding for this program. The Grants Program Fund is administered by the PGSS and disbursements are made by the PGSS Member Services Committee in accordance with the PGSS’s governing documents.
This fee is levied equally from every PGSS regular member on a per semester (fall and winter) basis. This fee has no end date and is not opt-out able. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$1.50/member/term
This fee is for the purpose of financing special projects of the PGSS that require funding outside the normal operational funding implemented by PGSS’ permanent fee levies. Special projects are approved by the PGSS in accordance with the procedures set out in its governing documents.
This fee is levied equally from every PGSS regular member on a per semester (fall and winter) basis. This fee levy ends in the winter term of 2027 and is not opt-out able for the duration. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$1.01/member/term
This fee exists to maintain funding for the PGSS’ Needs Based Bursary Program which provides financial aid to PGSS members pursuing masters or doctoral studies who demonstrate financial need, with priority given to members who are caring for dependents. The Program is funded by income from an endowment created by the PGSS and the University for such purpose. The Program is administered by McGill’s Scholarships and Student Aid Office.
This fee is levied on PGSS members pursuing masters or doctoral studies, each fall and winter term. The fee has no end date and is not opt-out able. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$8.25/member/term
The purpose of this fee, charged to all undergraduate and graduate students, is to create a fund to support new environmentally sustainable projects that will benefit the McGill community. The funds from this fee will be available to all members of the McGill community upon approval of a project proposal, and will be managed by a parity committee made up of students and administrators. This fee in non-optoutable and all student contributions to the fund are matched by McGill University.
This fee was re-approved in 2017/18 and will continue to be levied up to and including Winter 2023. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a student referendum conducted by the Students Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) and the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society (MCSS).
$3.00/member/term
This fee was created to enhance the childcare services available at the SSMU Daycare. Its primary purpose is to expand the Daycare services to children from 18-24 months old by providing additional staff. The fee also goes to cover some administrative overhead as well as activities for the children.
This fee was established in Fall 2020 and was renewed in Winter 2025 by referendum. It will be levied throughout Fall 2025 and Winter 2026, at which point it will be brought back to the membership for renewal. This fee is non-optoutable and is charged to all PGSS members excluding members of the Macdonald Campus and in online programs. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a student referendum conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$2.00/member/term
This fee exists to provide additional support to the McGill University Library Network. All fees collected are matched by McGill University. The Office of the Trenholme Dean of Libraries and the PGSS Library Committee co-operatively decide to which library improvement project(s) the fees will be allocated.
This fee renewal was approved by referendum in Winter 2025 to renew the non-opt-outable PGSS Library Improvement Fund Fee at a rate of $2.00 per semester, payable by all PGSS members with matching funds contributed by the University, starting Fall 2025 up to and including Winter 2030.
$2.75/member/term
This fee was created to address the increasing challenge of accessing mental health services within McGill University and within the City of Montreal. Keep.meSafe is a mental health counselling service provided by Morneau Shepell that will give all McGill University students access to hundreds of licenced counsellors located within the City of Montreal for in-person counselling with minimal wait times, and 24/7/365 immediate unlimited access to licenced counsellors through telephone and secure clinical mobile chat.
This fee was established in Fall 2020 and will be levied until Winter 2024. This fee is non-optoutable and is charged to all PGSS members. Any changes to the fee can only be made following a student referendum conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$730/member Coverage from Sept. 1, 2025 – Aug. 31, 2026 (annual)
$486.86/member Coverage from Jan. 1 – Aug. 31, 2026 (for new winter students)
Graduate students classed as Canadian full-time or additional session/non-thesis extension, as well as all students in a thesis evaluation term or who are post-doctoral candidates (that are classified as PGSS Members), are automatically covered by the Post Graduate Students’ Society’s Health and Dental Insurance Plan (HDIP). Students who do not have valid Canadian Medicare (e.g., RAMQ, OHIP, etc.) should refer to the University Administered Health Plan. International students are registered for Dental coverage only (PGDE).
Students not charged for insurance fees during the fall semester will be automatically enrolled in the insurance plan during the January adjustment period (at 2/3 of the annualized rate). For details on what is covered by the Health and Dental Insurance plan as well as opt-in and opt-out procedures and deadlines, please refer to the information contained on www.studentcare.ca/pgss or by telephone at 1-514-789-8775 or 1-866-795-4435.
Any changes to the fee can only be made following a referendum of PGSS members conducted by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS).
$25.00/member,
The Digital Doctor Fee ($25.00) provides students with unlimited 24/7/365 access to Canadian-licensed general practitioners (GPs) online or via mobile devices. They enable consultations from anywhere, including when travelling internationally. Students may opt out of this fee on a term-by-term basis during a limited opt-out period via Minerva.
This fee is levied equally on every PGSS member, to be charged in the Fall semester for full-year access (September to August), and at a pro-rated fee ($16.70) for students starting in the Winter semester to access the program from January to August. The fee was established effective as of September 2025 to August 2030 inclusive and is opt-outable. Any changes to the fee can only be made following the end of the contract in 2030, when it will be brought back to PGSS for renewal.
**Note that opting out of this fee, would result in also opting out of the Digital Dr. Mental Health Add-on.
$30/member
The Digital Doctor: Mental Health Add-On ($30.00) provides students with enhanced virtual mental health support, including Mental Health Counselling, Mental Health Physician services, and Care Concierge. Students may opt out of this fee on a term-by-term basis during a limited opt-out period via Minerva.
This fee is levied equally on every PGSS member, to be charged in the Fall semester for full-year access (September to August), and at a pro-rated fee ($20.00) for students starting in the Winter semester to access the program from January to August. The fee was established effective as of September 2025 to August 2030 inclusive and is opt-outable. Any changes to the fee can only be made following the end of the contract in 2030, when it will be brought back to PGSS for renewal.