Top 10 Notable Alumni of McGill University

Justin Trudeau, John Abbott, Wilfrid Laurier, and Peyush Bansal are some of the most notable alumni of McGill University, making significant contributions to politics, business, and leadership. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, McGill ranks 29th globally. It reflects its strong academic reputation and excellence as a leading educational institution.

McGill University was founded in the year 1821. It is the second-best university in Canada located in Montreal, Quebec. Many politicians, actors, CEOs, and Nobel laureates are members of McGill University's alumni network. They once sat in the same classrooms where you could be, if you want to study in Canada.

There is no doubt that McGill University has shaped great minds who have made a big impact in many fields, from politics to business. In this article, we are going to list down the top 10 notable alumni of McGill University, including some renowned Indian figures.

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List of McGill University Alumni

McGill University's alumni network includes over 300,000 members from 185 countries, showing its diverse community. We have selected 10 notable alumni from different fields to highlight their achievements.

1. Justin Trudeau: Current Prime Minister of Canada
2. John Abbott: 3^rd Prime Minister of Canada
3. Wilfrid Laurier: 7^th Prime Minister of Canada
4. Peyush Bansal: Co-founder and CEO of Lenskart
5. R. Srinivasan: An Indian nuclear scientist
6. Ahmed Nazif: Former Prime Minister of Egypt
7. John O'Keefe: Neuroscientist and Nobel Prize Winner
8. Thomas Chang: Inventor of the first artificial blood cell.
9. Leonard Cohen: Iconic singer-songwriter and poet
10. Alain Bellemare: President-International at Delta Airlines

Let’s know about them in detail.

Justin Trudeau

Justin Trudeau is the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, serving since 2015. He completed his BA degree from McGill University in the year 1994. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher and advocate for youth and environmental issues. He recently announced several changes in the Canadian Student visa policies such as discontinuing the SDS visa scheme and more.

John Abbott

The 3rd Prime Minister of Canada, John Abbott, was once a student at the prestigious McGill University. He earned his Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree in 1854. Before holding this position, he served as a professor and dean at McGill’s Faculty of Law. His tenure as Prime Minister was short, John Abbott made significant contributions to railway expansion and economic policies in the country.

Wilfrid Laurier

Wilfrid Laurier studied law at McGill University and graduated in the year 1864. Wilfrid later became the 7th Prime Minister of Canada and served as PM from 1896 to 1911. Laurier worked to bridge the gap between English and French Canadians and was an advocate for national unity.

Peyush Bansal

A well-known Indian entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Lenskart, Peyush Bansal is a popular alumnus of McGill University. He pursued a BTech in Electrical Engineering (BEE) from McGill University in 2006 and later attended IIM Bangalore. He started his career as a Program Manager at Microsoft before starting into entrepreneurship, founding multiple startups.

M. R. Srinivasan

R. Srinivasan is a renowned Indian nuclear scientist. He is known for his contributions to the Indian nuclear program. He earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and later played a key role development of India’s nuclear power plants. He also served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India. He was honoured with two of India’s highest civilian honours: Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Ahmed Nazif

Ahmed Nazif is a former Prime Minister of Egypt, serving from 2004 to 2011. As Prime Minister, he played a key role in implementing economic reforms to modernize the country's economy. He earned a PhD in Computer Engineering from McGill University in 1983. Before becoming Prime Minister, he held various ministerial positions in the Egyptian government.

John O'Keefe

John O'Keefe is a renowned neuroscientist and Nobel Prize winner. He was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of place cells in the brain. O’Keefe studied at McGill University, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1963, and later pursued a PhD.

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Thomas Chang

A renowned Canadian physician, scientist and inventor, Thomas Chang pursued an undergraduate degree from McGill University. He invented the first artificial blood cell in 1957 while still an undergraduate student at McGill University. This shows the immense support and research opportunities provided by the university, during his studies.

Leonard Cohen

A legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen is another notable alumnus of McGill University. He studied English literature at McGill, graduating in 1955. During his time at the university, he developed a passion for writing and poetry, which later shaped his music career. He sang iconic songs like "Bird on the Wire" and "Suzanne.”

Alain Bellemare

Alain Bellemare is currently working as President-International at Delta Airlines. He pursued BE in Aerospace Engineering before pursuing a Master’s degree in Engineering from McGill University. Bellemare has held key leadership roles in major companies, including serving as the CEO of Bombardier Inc. before joining Delta Airlines.

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