McGill University, historically "The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning", opened in 1829 with teaching in the Faculty of Medicine. McGill is a coeducational, nondenominational institution with its main campus on the lower slopes of Mount Royal in the City of Montreal. The Faculty of Medicine of McGill University and the teaching hospitals are located on or near the Montreal campus. Eleven of the twelve faculties of McGill are on a 32.5 hectare (80 acre) site with approximately 75 buildings, including a students' centre, gymnasium, swimming pool, winter stadium, museum, concert hall, and student residences. The twelfth faculty is on the Macdonald Campus.
The language of instruction at McGill University is English but students have the unique opportunity to take advantage of the multicultural environment of the Montreal area.