📜University of New Brunswick

Fredericton, NB, Canada

QS World 2026 · #622

One of North America's oldest public universities, with a long-established forestry specialism across two distinct New Brunswick campuses.

About UNB

Founded in 1785, UNB is one of the oldest public universities in North America, and its Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management carries a genuine, long-established reputation tied directly to New Brunswick's forest industry. Students choose between two genuinely different campus experiences under one institution: Fredericton, the provincial capital with a calmer hillside setting, and Saint John, an industrial port city, both offering solid engineering and one of Atlantic Canada's older law faculties. Living costs across both campuses are among the more accessible in Atlantic Canada, and UNB's long history gives it an established alumni network.

Why students choose it

  • Forestry ties directly into New Brunswick's real forest industry, a genuine regional strength
  • Two distinct campuses (capital-city Fredericton or industrial-port Saint John) under one long-established university
  • Atlantic Canada living costs among the more accessible in this guide

🎓 Free application support for UNB

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to UNB — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

ABB (A Level)  ·  IB 30

High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

CA$25,000–CA$40,000/yr

mid tier for Canada — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

mixed campus, Fredericton, NB

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or UNB's financial aid office.

Many Canadian universities offer automatic entrance scholarships for international students based on high-school grades — often no separate application needed beyond the standard admission application.

  • University international entrance scholarships: e.g. University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, UBC's International Major Entrance Scholarship — merit-based, automatically considered for eligible applicants at many universities.
  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: Federally funded, but for doctoral/research study, not undergraduate admission.

Coverage ranges from a one-off award to full tuition for the most competitive automatic scholarships — check each university's international scholarships page for exact criteria.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Forestry

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Not required at Bachelor's entry — Law is typically a postgraduate JD here, entered via LSAT after completing a Bachelor's degree.

Computer Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Durations are typical for Canada — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes)
Typical deadline
Rolling from October, with most competitive programmes closing mid-January
Note
High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

TOEFL: 80–90 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to UNB for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where UNB ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Canada University Shortlist Builder to see whether UNB is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Canada university that matches.

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UNB FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to UNB as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into UNB?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, UNB expects around ABB at A Level or 30 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for UNB's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on UNB's own admissions page before applying.

How much does UNB cost for international students?

International tuition at UNB typically falls in the CA$25,000–CA$40,000/yr range (mid tier for Canada). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not UNB's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for UNB?

UNB follows Canada's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes), with applications generally due rolling from october, with most competitive programmes closing mid-january. High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance. Always verify the exact date on UNB's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for UNB?

Canada universities, including UNB, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is UNB known for?

One of North America's oldest public universities, with a long-established forestry specialism across two distinct New Brunswick campuses. Founded in 1785, UNB is one of the oldest public universities in North America, and its Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management carries a genuine, long-established reputation tied directly to New Brunswick's forest industry. Students choose between two genuinely different campus experiences under one institution: Fredericton, the provincial capital with a calmer hillside setting, and Saint John, an industrial port city, both offering solid engineering and one of Atlantic Canada's older law faculties. Living costs across both campuses are among the more accessible in Atlantic Canada, and UNB's long history gives it an established alumni network.

Can I apply to UNB with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — UNB accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Canada University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against UNB and every other Canada university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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