The University of New Brunswick is one of Canada’s oldest universities, founded in 1785 in New Brunswick. Having up to seven faculties, it is spread across two campuses: Fredericton (the main campus and home to many Arts and Humanities graduate programs) and Saint John. The University offers admission to international applicants from across the globe.
UNB also offers scholarships to international applicants. Funding is made available through Graduate Assistantships, where an applicant works with a supervisor on a thesis. Scholarships are also available through departmental awards and research funding. UNB advises international students to explore external awards and funding opportunities because graduate funding may not cover all expenses.
The University mostly opens its application window for the Fall intake, and it runs from December to January. It charges an application fee of CAD $125 for international applicants.
To apply for admission, applicants must submit the following documents:
Transcript: Applicants can upload unofficial copies of their transcripts directly to the online portal during the application phase. Upon acceptance, official transcripts must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies by the previous institution. Depending on your program, you may be required to use a service like WES ICAP in place of traditional official transcripts.
References: UNB requires applicants to upload three references, at least two of which must be from professors who know their academic and research capabilities.
English Language Proficiency: All international applicants whose mother tongue is not English, including applicants who are landed immigrants or reside in Canada, will need to submit a language test. The School of Graduate Studies will not issue waivers based on language tests. Applications will not be reviewed until the language requirement has been met and uploaded to the application. An international applicant is not required to submit proof of English language proficiency if the applicant has studied at an English-speaking institution for more than two years within the last five years or if the applicant is from a country where English is one of the official languages.
Where the applicant has neither studied at an English-speaking institution nor is from a country where English is an official language, language proficiency test scores must be submitted. The acceptable test results are:
● Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 125 and a minimum subscore of 105.
● TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):
- Computer-Based TOEFL: Minimum score of 213, including the Test of Written English (TWE) with a minimum score of 4.0.
- Internet-Based TOEFL: Minimum score of 94, including the Writing section with a minimum score of 25.
- Paper-Based TOEFL: Minimum score of 550, including the Test of Written English (TWE) with a minimum score of 4.0.
- TOEFL ITP is not accepted.
● IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Module: Minimum overall band score of 7. The online version is not accepted.
● MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): Minimum score of 85%.
● CanTEST (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees): Minimum score of Band 4.5.
● Pearson Test of English (Academic): Minimum score of 65.
Statement of Purpose: UNB requires a statement of purpose of not less than two pages, single-spaced. The first page should explain your academic goals, how you intend to actualize them, and why UNB is the best place to pursue those goals. The second page should provide a detailed description of how your academic or non-academic background has shaped your academic goals.
CV/Resume: Some departments prioritize a CV over a portfolio, while others, such as Architecture, prefer a portfolio to a CV. Please refer to your program for more information.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Some programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Please review your program requirements to determine whether the GRE is required.
Research Supervision: Some programs require a supervisor for research-based degrees as part of the application process. To increase your chances of securing a supervisor, you are free to reach out by email to any faculty member. However, approaching a potential supervisor should be taken seriously. Learn about the supervisors whose research most closely aligns with your interests. Read some of their research papers that interest you, tell them about your review of their work, provide a specific direction regarding what you are interested in working on, and indicate whether you are flexible enough to work on other related topics.
