Heraldry of McGill University

[3] Today, the university has approved multiple logos across its faculties and departments,[4] including a separate coat of arms used by the Macdonald Campus.

The banner contains two silver crowns composed of fleur de lis representing Montreal's royal history and French origin.

Separating these crowns is an open book, the heraldic symbol of an institution of learning, bearing the words In Domino Confido ("I trust in the Lord"), which was a motto used by James McGill.

[1] The scroll below the shield contains the university's official motto, Grandescunt Aucta Labore ("By work all things increase and grow").

According to the McGill University secretariat, the scroll's usage is optional, and should only be used when the coat of arms stands alone and is large enough that the Latin words of the motto are legible.

Despite many varying designs over the last century, Nobbs' original design largely resembles that which is used today: a shield divided into two sections, the top containing two silver crowns separated by an open book with the Latin words In Domino Confido ("I trust in the Lord") on a red band, and the lower section containing three red martlets on a silver background.

Beneath the shield is a scroll containing the words Grandescunt Aucta Labore ("By work all things increase and grow"), which is the university's official motto.

[1] McGill University's official colour is red, specifically PMS 485 (CMYK: 100% magenta, 90% yellow) for printed work.