Program decision · University of New Brunswick
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University of New Brunswick Programs & Pathways
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Program strengths and how to compare pathways. This focused guide keeps the detailed tables, official sources, and practical next steps in one manageable reading path.
Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Information checked against official university sources · How we review guides
Programs and Pathways
UNB programs, the two-campus split, and the Renaissance College question
UNB publishes 14 faculties and 250+ programs, certificates and diplomas across two campuses that feel nothing alike. Fredericton, established in 1785, runs ten faculties including Engineering, Forestry, Kinesiology, Law and Computer Science. Saint John, established in 1964, runs four — Arts, Business, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Science, Applied Science and Engineering — with a set of programs that has no Fredericton equivalent. Several routes also carry a second selection point after admission.
Engineering
UNB does not admit directly to an engineering discipline. Every student begins in a common first year that is available at both Fredericton and Saint John, and UNB states that by taking a common first year you will experience all nine engineering disciplines before choosing.
Selection: In second year Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical run at either campus; Engineering Physics, Geological, Geomatics and Software run only in Fredericton; Environmental Engineering is taken in Saint John. With the exception of Environmental Engineering, all programs are completed in Fredericton.
Environmental Engineering
UNB describes Environmental Engineering as the first four-year engineering degree offered on the Saint John campus, launched in Fall 2023. Students who leave after two years can take a Diploma in Engineering Foundations.
Selection: It is the one discipline that does not migrate to Fredericton, which makes it the only way to complete a full UNB engineering degree in Saint John.
Computer Science
The Fredericton Faculty of Computer Science calls itself Canada's original faculty of computer science, established in 1990, and offers the Bachelor of Computer Science with a cybersecurity specialisation, the BSc in Software Engineering, and a Diploma in Software Development. Saint John offers a separate BSc in Computer Science inside the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering.
Selection: Both routes publish a 75% minimum, but they are different degrees in different faculties on different campuses. Choose the campus deliberately rather than applying to whichever appears first.
School of Leadership Studies (formerly Renaissance College)
UNB states the school began in 2000 as Renaissance College and was established as Canada's first undergraduate leadership studies programme. It now grants the Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership, an accelerated three-year cohort degree of roughly 30 students, with a minor chosen from 40+ options.
Selection: Two internships are a defining part of the degree: a full-time paid Canadian placement of at least ten weeks and an international volunteer placement of at least ten weeks. A concurrent BA/BPhil admits up to twelve students each year.
Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing runs at both Fredericton and Saint John, with an Advanced Standing route at a Moncton site. UNB publishes 60+ years of nursing education, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio for most clinical experiences, and a 12-week final practicum on both campus pages.
Selection: Every applicant writes the Acuity Insights Casper test, and the decision is weighted 60% on the admission average or GPA and 40% on the Casper score. That is a genuinely different selection model from a pure-average program.
Saint John's Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering
Saint John runs four faculties — Arts, Business, Nursing and Health Sciences, and SASE. SASE carries Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Physics, Biological Sciences and Mathematics as departments rather than as separate faculties, plus Applied Coastal Ecology, Marine Biology, Environmental Biology, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Information Sciences and a BSc in Human Nutrition.
Selection: Several of those — Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Information Sciences, Applied Coastal Ecology — have no Fredericton equivalent, so the campus choice is a program choice.
Fredericton's ten faculties
Fredericton runs Arts, Management, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Forestry and Environmental Management, Kinesiology, Law, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Science. UNB states it is home to Canada's first engineering program, forestry program and faculty of computer science.
Selection: Forestry, Kinesiology, Geomatics, Law and the School of Leadership Studies exist only in Fredericton. If those are the target, Saint John is not an alternative route in.
Cybersecurity and research positioning
The Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity describes itself as Canada's research leader in cybersecurity and houses the Cybersecurity Attribution Data Centre. UNB also publishes that nearly 75% of all publicly sponsored research in New Brunswick happens at UNB.
Selection: The undergraduate entry point is the Bachelor of Computer Science cybersecurity specialisation in Fredericton, not a separate admission route.
An Engineering offer is not a discipline offer
UNB admits to a common first year available on both campuses, and states that by taking it you will experience all nine engineering disciplines before choosing. Discipline entry in second year is competitive and based on first-year academic performance. In year two, Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical run at either campus; Engineering Physics, Geological, Geomatics and Software run only in Fredericton; Environmental Engineering is taken in Saint John. From third year, with the exception of Environmental Engineering, every program is completed in Fredericton — so a Saint John start usually means a Fredericton finish.
Fredericton only
Forestry, Law, Kinesiology
Plus Geomatics, Software and Geological Engineering, Engineering Physics, the after-degree BEd, and the School of Leadership Studies degrees.
Saint John only
Radiography, Respiratory Therapy
Plus Applied Coastal Ecology, Marine Biology, Information Sciences, the Bachelor of Health, Environmental Engineering, and the Applied Management college bridges.
Both campuses
Arts, Science, Business, Nursing
Same published minimum, different faculty and different fee bundle — and in Computer Science, a different accepted science prerequisite.
Renaissance College is now the School of Leadership Studies
UNB states that the school began in 2000 as Renaissance College, created as part of UNB's efforts to reimagine undergraduate education, and that it was established as Canada's first undergraduate leadership studies programme. Today, as the School of Leadership Studies, it builds on the Renaissance College legacy. The degree is the Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership: an accelerated three-year, cohort-based degree of roughly 30 students, with a minor chosen from 40+ options and the option of a fourth year to turn the minor into a second degree.
Two internships are a defining part of the degree: a full-time paid Canadian placement of at least ten weeks, and an international volunteer placement of at least ten weeks with local organisations working on human rights, environment, sustainable community development, arts and culture, social innovation, leadership, gender, education and health. Admission needs a combined average of at least 75% in Senior English Literature and Grade 11 math, applications are reviewed as they arrive, and it is Fredericton only.
Current program
Engineering has no direct discipline entry
UNB states that by taking a common first year you will experience all nine engineering disciplines, allowing you to choose your program with confidence. The nine accredited programs are Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Engineering Physics, Environmental, Geodesy and Geomatics, Geological, Mechanical and Software. Admission to a specific discipline is competitive and based on academic performance in a student's first year.
An Engineering offer at UNB is an offer to first year, not to a named discipline. Plan for the second selection point.
University of New Brunswick: Engineering common first year and campus availability by year · Verified August 16, 2026
Current program
Which engineering years run on which campus
Common first year is available at both Fredericton and Saint John. In year two Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are available in either Fredericton or Saint John, while Engineering Physics, Geological, Geomatics and Software Engineering are only available in Fredericton, and Environmental Engineering is taken in Saint John. UNB states that with the exception of Environmental Engineering, all programs are completed in Fredericton.
Starting in Saint John means relocating to Fredericton for years three and four unless you take Environmental Engineering.
University of New Brunswick: Engineering common first year and campus availability by year · Verified August 16, 2026
Current program
The one four-year engineering degree in Saint John
UNB describes the BScEng in Environmental Engineering as the first four-year engineering degree offered on the Saint John campus, launched for Fall 2023. Students who complete the first two years can take a Diploma in Engineering Foundations. The Saint John engineering department states that students enjoy the benefits of small classes for up to two years in Saint John.
University of New Brunswick: Undergraduate program finder with per-program campus labels · Verified August 16, 2026
Current programs
Computer Science is two different degrees
Fredericton's Faculty of Computer Science, which UNB calls Canada's original faculty of computer science and dates to 1990, grants the Bachelor of Computer Science with an optional cybersecurity specialisation, the BSc in Software Engineering, and a Diploma in Software Development, with concurrent options in arts, science and geodesy and geomatics. Saint John grants a separate BSc in Computer Science inside the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering.
Both publish a 75% minimum, but the science prerequisite differs — Saint John accepts only physics or chemistry where Fredericton also accepts biology.
University of New Brunswick: Computer Science undergraduate degrees and cybersecurity option · Verified August 16, 2026
Current name
Renaissance College is now the School of Leadership Studies
UNB states that the School of Leadership Studies began in 2000 as Renaissance College, created as part of UNB's efforts to reimagine undergraduate education, that it was established as Canada's first undergraduate leadership studies program, and that today, as the School of Leadership Studies, it builds on the legacy of Renaissance College.
Search results and third-party guides still use the Renaissance College name. Applications and program pages now use School of Leadership Studies.
University of New Brunswick: School of Leadership Studies: the Renaissance College legacy · Verified August 16, 2026
Current program
The Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership
UNB describes the BPhil as an accelerated three-year, cohort-based bachelor's degree in which students select a minor in a discipline of their choice, with roughly 30 students per cohort and 40+ minors available. Some students remain for a fourth year to expand the minor into a full second degree. A concurrent BA/BPhil runs over four years and admits up to twelve students each year. The school also offers a Bachelor of Integrated Studies for mature students using prior learning assessment, plus a minor and a certificate in Leadership Studies.
University of New Brunswick: School of Leadership Studies programs and degree structure · Verified August 16, 2026
Current program
Two internships are built into the BPhil
UNB states that students complete two full credit, leadership focused internships: a Canadian placement and an international placement. The Canadian internship is a full-time paid placement of at least ten weeks with an organisation in Canada. The international internship involves at least ten weeks of volunteer work with local organisations abroad in areas such as human rights, environment, sustainable community development, arts and culture, social innovation, leadership, gender, education and health. UNB describes them as a defining part of the degree.
The international placement is unpaid volunteer work, so budget for it separately from the paid Canadian term.
University of New Brunswick: Leadership Studies internships: Canadian and international · Verified August 16, 2026
Current programs
Programs that exist only in Saint John
Saint John's SASE undergraduate listing includes Applied Coastal Ecology, Marine Biology, Environmental Biology, Geology, Information Sciences, Radiography and Respiratory Therapy, plus a BSc in Human Nutrition. The Faculty of Business adds Digital Business Design and French Communication and Culture, and the Faculty of Arts adds Comparative Literature, Criminal Justice Studies, Communication Studies, Linguistics and Social Work. The Bachelor of Health, the Bachelor of Health Sciences and the Applied Management bridges are Saint John routes.
If one of these is the target, Fredericton is not an alternative campus for the same degree.
University of New Brunswick: Saint John Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering programs · Verified August 16, 2026
Current programs
Programs that exist only in Fredericton
Forestry and Environment and Natural Resources, Kinesiology and Recreation and Sport Studies, Geomatics, Law, the School of Leadership Studies degrees, the after-degree Bachelor of Education, Software Engineering, Engineering Physics, Geological Engineering and the Bachelor of Applied Arts with the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design all run only on the Fredericton campus.
Saint John is not an alternative campus for any of these degrees. The only shared undergraduate degree names across the two campuses are Arts, Science, Business, Nursing, Computer Science and the common engineering first year.
University of New Brunswick: Undergraduate program finder with per-program campus labels · Verified August 16, 2026
Current positioning
Cybersecurity research and its undergraduate entry point
The Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity describes itself as Canada's research leader in cybersecurity and Canada's cybersecurity research hub, and states that it houses the Cybersecurity Attribution Data Centre, a pioneering national hub dedicated to advancing cyber attribution capabilities. The undergraduate entry point is the Bachelor of Computer Science cybersecurity specialisation in Fredericton.
There is no separate cybersecurity admission route; it is a specialisation chosen inside the BCS, which itself publishes a 75% minimum.
University of New Brunswick: Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity · Verified August 16, 2026
Official UNB program sources
- Faculties and departments by campus
- Undergraduate program finder
- Engineering common first year
- Accredited undergraduate engineering programs
- Computer Science undergraduate degrees
- School of Leadership Studies: about
- School of Leadership Studies: programs
- Leadership Studies internships
- Saint John SASE undergraduate programs
- Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison, but official university pages remain the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology