In Canada, the universities and colleges provides professional training and research leading to first and advanced degrees (BA, BSc, MA, MSc, PhD, etc.). There is no formal ranking of institutions in Canada. They are remarkably uniform in quality across the country.

The academic year generally runs from September to April. Spring and summer courses are available in some cases. Some institutions operate on a semester or trimester system which allows them to accept students to begin studies in September, January or May. University undergraduate programs normallylast three to five years. English and French are Canada's two official languages. At most universities and colleges, instruction is in one of the two languages, although a few use both. Students applying for admission must satisfy the institution's language proficiency requirements in the language of instruction.

Canada is a leader in second-language training. Many educational institutions offer beginner's and upgrading programs in English and/or French as a Second Language. Sometimes, the language courses are offered before students begin their regular academic program, and sometimes they can be taken at the same time.