With the motto 'by work, all things increase and grow', this Canadian medical-doctoral university has certainly grown since it was founded in 1821. Built after a bequest from Montreal merchant James McGill, it now has 21 faculties and professional schools and offers degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study. Its main campus is located at the foot of Mount Royal in Montreal's downtown with a second campus situated 30 kilometres to the west. But it also can claim to be truly international - with research stations worldwide, including in France and Barbados.
In 2006 McGill was given an honourable mention in a Playboy magazine poll of the best party schools in North America. But the place was not lucky for escapologist Harry Houdini who died nine days after being punched in the stomach by a theology student during a performance in the union ballroom. Famous alumni include moody singer songwriter Leonard Cohen and pop composer Burt Bacharach.
