Requirements for International Applicants
International applicants who are applying from outside Canada should apply at least six (6) months in advance. Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Processing Times for Study Permit Applications process by visa offices outside Canada
Financial support
Applicants to the School of Graduate Studies at UNB who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents of Canada should be aware study in Canada is expensive and that often the financial offers made to students may not be sufficient to cover all of their expenses. For an estimate of fees and living expenses please click HERE
Students from abroad are encouraged to apply for awards, such as
as well as to programs in the home countries that may provide support.
- Please also visit the School of Graduate Studies Awards Register.
English language proficiency
English is both the working language and the primary language of instruction and examination at UNB. Hence it is essential that all students be able to communicate and comprehend effectively, both orally and in written form, in English. All international applicants to the School of Graduate Studies whose mother tongue is not English are required to demonstrate that they have a sufficiently good command of the English language to enable them to participate fully in the academic life of the University. This includes International applicants who are Landed Immigrants or reside in Canada. Proficiency in English must be demonstrated by one of the means listed below. This proficiency requirement will not be waived. The School of Graduate Studies will not issue the final "Certificate of Acceptance" until the English proficiency requirement is met.
The normal method for demonstrating English competence is through completion of the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language — TOEFL (minimum score of 550), including the Test of Written English — TWE (minimum score 4.0). Also, a computer based TOEFL (minimum score 213) including the Test of Written English — TWE (minimum score of 4.0) as well as Internet Based TOEFL (Minimum score of 80) including the Test of Written English - TWE (minimum score of 25). Information concerning the TOEFL & TWE is available at United States embassies and consulates, offices of the U.S. Information Service, or directly from:
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Educational Testing Service
P. O. Box 6151
Princeton, New Jersey
U.S.A. 08541-6151
Proficiency in English may also be demonstrated through completion of one of the following tests, and must include any written components of that test battery:
The British Council English Language Test — IELTS
- Minimum score of band 7
- For more information on this test, contact your nearest British Council Office or
International English Language Testing System
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
1 Hills Road
Cambridge, U.K.
CB12EU
The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery — MELAB
- Minimum score of 85
- For more information on this test, contact
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery
English Language Institute (ELI)
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
U.S.A., 48109-1057
The Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees — CanTest
- Minimum score of band 4.5
The Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees
Proficiency in English may also be demonstrated through the completion of a minimum of two years of university level education within the past five years, where the language of both instruction and examination was in English. Where this university is not in a country such as Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Australia, or New Zealand for which an official transcript is accepted as sufficient documentation, the required documentation to be submitted will be a copy of the official transcript plus a certified (i.e. by Registrar or equivalent university official) letter indicating the specific courses from the transcript in which both the “instruction and examination were in English. In such circumstances, the School of Graduate Studies reserves the right to require evidence of a TOEFL, ELTS, CanTest, or MELAB score that meets the university’s stated requirements.
Please note:
- Some Graduate Academic Units (GAUs) require a higher standard on these tests than the ones indicated as the minimum for the School of Graduate Studies. To enquire what the minimum Language Score is acceptable in the GAU to which you are applying, please enquire directly to the Graduate Academic Unit.
- A photocopy of the test scores for preliminary consideration may be submitted with your application until the official scores are received directly from the testing agency.
- Applications will be regarded as incomplete without test scores.
- If the School of Graduate Studies determines subsequent to admission that an individual's actual proficiency in English is not adequate, the student may be required to take a standardized English proficiency test at UNB and/or enrol in and successfully complete a UNB English language course(s) [AESL 6021 and/or AESL 6022] in order to maintain registration in the Graduate School.
Graduate record examinations (GRE)
Some Graduate Academic Units (GAUs) require Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). To enquire which GAU requires the GRE tests, please see Additional Required Documentation for those Graduate Programs.
The GRE tests are taken by individuals applying to graduate schools. The general test is offered as a computer-based test in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. Paper-based general test administrations are offered in areas of the world where computer based testing is not available. The test measures skills that have been developed over a long period of time and are not necessarily related to any particular field of study.
For more information about Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) tests, visit gre.org; alternatively, you may request the appropriate information from
the Graduate Record Examinations,
Educational Testing Service
PO Box 6004
Princeton, NJ USA 08541-6004
Duration of graduate programs
Graduate students proceeding to the master’s degree must complete their work within four years of the date of their first registration. Most Masters programs take between 1-2 years to complete. While those proceeding to a doctoral degree must complete their work within seven years. An extension of the time limit may be granted to a student in exceptional circumstances, provided that the Graduate Academic Unit concerned supports such an extension.
Almost all of the graduate degree programs offered by UNB involve the writing of a dissertation, thesis, or report which must be defended at an oral examination. Students who intend to come to UNB from other countries in order to study for a graduate degree are reminded of the above requirements, and of the consequent need to remain at this University until the oral examination has been completed successfully. Candidates who leave before completion of their dissertation, thesis, or report, will be required to return to the University in order to take the oral examination.
