Early Start Credits

The Early Start Credits (ESC) provide an exciting opportunity for Grade 12 students registered in New Brunswick’s Anglophone high schools to select from a range of challenging courses and earn post-secondary credits in their final year of high school. ECS will provide a post-secondary experience online with classmates from many other places.

UNB

You’ll discover first-hand that an education at UNB is about mentorship and collaboration. It’s about taking chances and believing in your power to create a future that matters.

As a future UNB student, your opportunities are endless.

Admission requirements

UNB welcomes high school students into a variety of undergraduate courses each year. Students can apply for admission by completing UNB’s online application and selecting “Visiting Student” as their program of choice. Admission criteria for ECS include:

  • Minimum 80% in academic Grade 11 English
  • Minimum 80% overall average in Grade 11 academic courses
  • Letter of recommendation from the high school

In all cases, UNB reserves the right to require proof of language proficiency before permission will be granted to register in academic courses from high school applicants whose native language is not English.

High school students must submit an official transcript, a letter of permission from their high school guidance counselor (or other designate), and satisfy the eligibility criteria to be eligible for admission.

Depending on the UNB course, additional course pre-requisite requirements may be required.

Admitted students will be considered current UNB students and therefore subject to all academic, financial, and student conduct regulations and hold a permanent academic record with UNB.

Students who complete their course(s) with a final grade of C or higher may be eligible for transfer credit into their program of choice at UNB as determined by their program advisor. Students applying to programs at other institutions should check with the institution’s admissions office regarding the transfer eligibility of their course(s).

Available courses

Remote courses at UNB available to Grade 12 students in Fall and Winter:

  • HUM1021 Effective Writing I
  • PSYC1003 Introductory Psychology
  • HIST1305 Prohibition and Rum-running in Canada, 1827-1948
  • MUS1001 Music Through the Ages
  • RCLP1062 Citizenship and Community
  •  

  • HUM 1021 SJ02B Effective Writing I
  • SOCI 1001 SJ01B Introduction to Sociology 
  • SOCI1001 Introduction to Sociology
  • RCLP 1001 Leadership Foundations
  • RCLP 1011 Worldviews, Cultures & Reign
  •  

See the UNB timetable for course offering information.

Financing your education

Tuition and fees

Approximately $980 per course* (3 credit hours), plus additional costs for course textbooks and/or required course materials. Students are responsible for all associated costs. Funding may be available for students who require financial aid. Interested students who require financial support should apply for a UNB Early Start Credits Bursary by Sep. 15 (Fall 2023) and Dec. 15 (Winter 2024)**.

*Denotes domestic tuition only. International students are subject to all applicable international fees in addition to tuition costs. See the full breakdown of UNB international student tuition & fees.

** Late applications may be considered based on availability of funds.

See Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour for opportunities to finance your education after high school.

Next steps

  1. Create your personal UNB application account as your first step towards joining our UNB community and Early Start Credits.
  1. Complete the application by applying to the program “visiting student” (part time) and identifying you are a high school student interested in the Early Start Credits. Choose your course(s) from the drop down menu. There is a non-refundable $65 application fee.
  1. Have your high school send your transcripts and a letter of support to admissions@unb.ca.
  1. Apply for a UNB Early Start Credits Bursary by Sep. 15 (Fall 2023) and Dec. 15 (Winter 2024)
    1. Note: late applications may be considered based on availability of funds.

Students will be enrolled on a first-come, first-serve basis as there is a limited number of seats available in each course.

Contact us

For additional help, contact your high school guidance office or UNB Admissions: