Upper Year Admissions | Future Students | Faculty of Law | UNB

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Faculty of Law

Upper Year Admissions

All applications are assessed by the faculty and decisions made are at the sole discretion of the Faculty. When considering applications to be a Transfer, NCA, Visiting, or Exchange student, in addition to other factors, class size and space availability will be taken into consideration and offers will only be made if there is space available in the classes that the applicant requires. Some years there will be no such applicants admitted. The Admissions Committee retains the discretion to request any documents, including language test results, that may be necessary to fully assess the application.

The categories of admission listed below are the only categories of admission to the Faculty of Law outside of admission as a first-year student.

NCA, Visiting, and Exchange students do not graduate with a UNB JD degree from the Faculty of Law.

UNB Law is an in-person law program; if a person is accepted as a Transfer, NCA, Visiting, or Exchange student, the person will be required to be in Fredericton and to attend classes in person.

Upper Year Admissions Categories

(deadline – June 1st for both Fall and Winter terms)

Only applicants who have completed a minimum of one year at another Canadian common law institution can apply as a transfer student. Individuals who have completed a law degree are not eligible to transfer. Successful transfer applicants will be required to complete a minimum of four full-time academic terms (two full years) of the UNB JD Program and must satisfy all curriculum and course requirements as prescribed by the Faculty Regulations.

In addition to a completed online application form, the following supporting documents are to be submitted by the application date of June 1st:

  • official transcripts from all post-secondary programs attended by the applicant;
  • a statement of reasons for seeking admission as a transfer student;
  • references from two instructors from the applicant’s current law program; and
  • any other documents that the Admissions Committee may require.

Credit for courses completed at another institution will only be given for courses that are determined by the Faculty to be equivalent to first-year courses offered at UNB Law.

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.

(deadline – June 1st for both Fall and Winter terms)

Applicants who are attending a recognized Canadian law faculty may be eligible to attend the Faculty of Law and receive credit from their home institution for course work completed at UNB Law. Admission under this category is only available to students with an approved letter of permission.

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

  • a letter of permission sent directly from the applicant’s home institution;
  • official transcripts from the applicant’s home institution; 
  • a statement of reasons for seeking admission as a Visiting Student: and
  • other documents that the Admissions Committee may require.

(deadline – June 1st for both Fall and Winter terms)

Applicants who have obtained a law degree at a non-Canadian law faculty or a Canadian civil law faculty and who wish to fulfill requirements of the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) can apply for admission as an NCA student. These students will take only the courses required to address the gaps identified in their NCA Assessment Report. NCA students are required to submit with their applications any documents that may be required by the Admissions Committee. 

More information on the NCA and accreditation process can be found at: National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) - Federation of Law Societies of Canada

Please note that NCA students are not permitted to register for Foundations of Canadian Law which is available for first year students only.

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.

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

  • official transcripts from all law programs attended;
  • a personal statement including reasons for seeking admissions as a NCA student;
  • a resume detailing the applicant’s education, work experience and community involvement
  • a copy of the assessment of the National Committee on Accreditation;
  • Course Request Form – this form most be submitted by email to lawadmit@unb.ca; and
  • any other documents the Admissions Committee may require.

Exchange students must be nominated by their home university to attend UNB Law and must be currently enrolled in a law program at their home institution.  For information on applying as an Exchange student please visit www.unb.ca/goblal or email global@unb.ca.