Visiting Students | Future Students | Faculty of Law | UNB

Global Site Navigation (use tab and down arrow)

Faculty of Law

Visiting students

Students attending other law programs may be eligible to receive credit from their home institution for one or more terms spent as a visiting student at UNB law, under an approved exchange program or on a letter of permission.

Applicants must obtain a letter of permission from their home institution before being admitted under this category.

Prospective visiting students are encouraged to submit applications by the June 1 deadline as upper-year course availability is limited. Late applications are considered if places are available in upper-year courses.

In addition to a completed application form, the following documents must be submitted:

  • Letter of permission sent directly from the applicant’s home institution
  • Official transcript of grades from the applicant’s home institution
  • Statement of reasons for seeking admission as a visiting student

Applicants applying under the exchange program must contact the International Recruitment Office and provide an application request.

Specific visitors

Deadline for fall semester: June 1

Applicants who wish to transfer to the Faculty of Law from another recognized Canadian law faculty after completing one academic year, or applicants who have completed a minimum of four academic terms towards a common law degree from a recognized non-Canadian law program, may apply for admission with advanced standing.

In all cases, candidates must attend full-time at UNB Law for a minimum of four academic terms (two full years) and must satisfy all curriculum and course requirements in order to receive the UNB degree.

A foreign law degree from a primary civil law jurisdiction (e.g., Scotland) does not qualify as a non-Canadian common-law degree program and therefore does not satisfy the requirements for transfer, nor will completion of four academic terms in such a program. 

In addition to a completed application form, the following supporting documents should be submitted by the application date:

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary programs attended by the applicant
  • Statement of reasons for wishing to transfer to or to be admitted with advanced standing
  • In the case of students transferring from another law program, two references from instructors in that law program
  • Other documents that the Admissions Committee may require

As English is the language of instruction at UNB Law, an applicant whose first language is not English may be required to take the TOEFL test.

Applicants who have failed their most recent year of study in any other law program, or are, for any reason of academic misconduct, ineligible to continue in their law program, are ineligible for admission.

In order to satisfy the Federation of Law Societies of Canada accreditation process, applicants from a recognized non-Canadian law program will be required to complete Constitutional Law and Criminal Law (first-year compulsory courses) and Administrative Law (second-year compulsory course) and Professional Conduct (third-year compulsory course) even in such subjects were completed as part of their previous law program.


National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) students are generally persons who obtained a law degree from a recognized university in another country and who were actively engaged in the practice of law for a number of years prior to emigrating to Canada.

The NCA, on behalf of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, evaluates the legal credentials and experience of applicants who wish to be admitted to membership in a Canadian law society (other than Quebec) and identifies specific legal subjects in which the applicant must demonstrate competence either by successfully completing an examination set by the NCA or by obtaining course credit at a Canadian law faculty.

UNB Law can annually accept only a limited number of NCA students as full-time no-degree students.

Admission process

Offers of admission are determined on a competitive basis involving assessment of the foreign law program; performance on NCA examinations; the number of years of experience in the practice of law, if any; and the number of courses the applicant wishes to take and the availability of space in those courses.

Offers of admission are made in July for both the fall and winter terms (commencing in September and January, respectively). The Admissions Committee gives priority to applicants who wish to take at least three courses per academic term of enrolment but not more than two courses in the first-year of the JD program.

Please note that NCA students are not permitted to register for Foundations of Canadian Law which is available for first year students only and that other courses may not be available due to enrolment limits. An offer of admission may be made for either the fall or winter academic terms or both.

Please note only Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be considered for admission.

Students accepted to take courses for the purpose of completing their NCA accreditation should note that for each subject required by the NCA the applicant must elect either a NCA examination or a course at UNB Law, not both during the same academic year.

Applicants who are found to have registered for both a course at UNB and a NCA exam in the same subject will have their course registration cancelled. Please note that an applicant will not be permitted to register or continue to be registered in a course unless they have maintained a satisfactory academic performance as assessed by the Associate Dean in each completed course. It is University and faculty policy that students are expected to attend all lectures.

Language requirement

As English is the language of instruction at the faculty of law, applicants whose first language learned and understood is not English are generally required to demonstrate proficiency in English by writing the TOEFL examination.

Application process

In addition to a completed application form, the following documents are to be submitted in support of an application for admission as a full-time no-degree student:

  • Official transcripts from all law programs attended
  • A personal statement including reasons for seeking admission as a full-time no-degree student
  • A resume detailing the applicant's education, work experience and community involvement
  • A copy of the recommendation of the National Committee on Accreditation
  • Course Request Form (PDF)
  • Any other documents that the Admissions Committee may require

Please print the above course request form and be return it to the Law Admissions Office before your application will be considered. The form may be emailed to lawadmit@unb.ca or mailed to the law admissions office.


In recent years, the University of New Brunswick and a number of overseas universities, particularly in Australia, have worked together to create a successful exchange program.

Contact UNB's International Office for more information on this program.