University of New Brunswick

Faculty of Law

New BrunswickAdmissions

Admissions index

60 / 40

GPA and LSAT

Average LSAT

159

Regular category

Average GPA

3.8

On a 4.3 scale

Students admitted

~95

Applications far exceed seats

Domestic tuition

$19,223

In province

Domestic tuition

$19,223

Out of province

International tuition

$33,507

Per year

A published index, but discretion is reserved

UNB states the weighting plainly — GPA 60%, LSAT 40% — and “most offers of admission in the regular category are based solely on the applicant’s admissions index.” But it also states that “admission decisions are wholly within the discretion of the faculty through the Admissions Committee.” Supplementary review considers bilingualism, employment history, community involvement, and writing ability.

GPA Calculation

Recalculated — drops your weakest grades

The drop rule

“UNB Law uses a re-calculated GPA for admissions purposes.”

Three years completedLowest 15% of grades excluded

Four or more years completedLowest 25% excluded

Currently in the final year of a four-year degreeLowest 25% excluded

The 4.3 scale

A+ / A / A−4.3 / 4.0 / 3.7

B+ / B / B−3.3 / 3.0 / 2.7

C+ / C / C−2.3 / 2.0 / 1.5

D / F1.0 / 0

The minimum vs. the reality

“An applicant who has completed three or more years of university study should have a minimum grade point average in university-level academic courses of 3.0 or better on a 0-4.3 scale… Please note 3.0 is a minimum GPA, and is not competitive for admission purposes.”

UNB’s own pages give the competitive average as 3.7 on the requirements page and 3.8 in the at-a-glance table — both are its figures, on different pages.

LSAT Policy

RequiredYes — for all categories, including Discretionary and Indigenous

Multiple scoresHighest score used

Weight40% of the admissions index

MinimumNone — but “students with an LSAT score below 150 are unlikely to be admitted”

Latest sittingFebruary 2027

For the Lord Beaverbrook ScholarshipThe December 2026 sitting is the last accepted

Admission Categories

Regular

Who it's forApplicants with a degree from a recognised Canadian university, a degree from a non-Canadian university acceptable to UNB Law, or — in exceptional circumstances — in their final year of a four-year degree, or with at least three years (90 credit hours) of full-time study.

“Most offers of admission in the regular category are based solely on the applicant’s admissions index.”

Letters of reference are optional here, though useful for supplementary review and general scholarships.

Documents: Personal statement, resumé, official transcripts
Scholarships: Eligible via the Special Scholarships Application

Discretionary

Who it's forApplicants with “limited academic credentials but distinctive and sustained life achievement.”

Three sub-categories:

Diversity — disadvantaged racial, cultural, linguistic, or socio-economic groups. Significant Achievement — non-academic professional or community accomplishments. Disability — physical, sensory, or learning disabilities.

Eligibility follows the regular criteria, or “demonstrated experience, maturity, and outstanding qualities that indicate an ability to undertake the study of law successfully.”

Documents: Resumé, personal statement addressing your circumstances and the category criteria
References: At least two

Indigenous

Who it's forSelf-identified Indigenous applicants, with preference for Canadian residents.

The same alternative eligibility route as Discretionary applies. Files are evaluated on the likelihood of completing the program and alignment with the objectives of the category.

Documents: Resumé; statement addressing connection to an Indigenous community or membership in an Aboriginal organization
References: At least two
Related award: Taylor-Strain Family Scholarship — $3,000, renewable

Arts/Law Early Admission

UNB students only

Who it's forStudents enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts at UNB who meet all three thresholds below.

Evaluated alongside Regular applicants — meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. Conditional offers are possible with fewer than 60 credit hours.

Requires all Regular documents plus a high school transcript.

High school average: 93% or higher
Undergraduate GPA: 3.8+, based on at least 60 credit hours
LSAT: 159 or higher
Deadline: March 1

No mature category

UNB publishes no separate mature-student category. Applicants with substantial life experience but limited academic credentials apply through Discretionary.

Application Documents

Personal statement

Required of all applicants in all categories. “Please note that we do not have a required minimum or maximum… Most personal statements are one-to-two pages in length.”

It should describe “personal strengths, reasons for seeking admission, interest in law, career ambitions and special circumstances as appropriate.”

If you are asking the Committee to consider a disability, the statement “must explain the nature of the disability in detail and provide supporting documentation including a statement of the requested accommodation, if any.”

Only one statement is required, even if you apply under multiple categories.

Resumé

Required of all applicants: education, work experience, and community involvement since high school.

Recommendation letters

Regular categoryNot required — useful for supplementary review and general scholarships

Discretionary and IndigenousAt least two required

DeliverySent directly by the referee to lawadmit@unb.ca

Reference formsNot required

Transcripts

The most current transcript from every institution attended, undergraduate and graduate, sent directly to the Law Admissions Office. Accepted by email from a Registrar’s Office to lawadmit@unb.ca, and via MyCreds.

If currently enrolled, send completed-course transcripts immediately and then updates — “It is particularly important to have marks for fall semester courses forwarded as soon as possible.” The applicant bears responsibility for receipt.

Even after accepting an offer, keep the latest transcript on file, “as this may affect decisions relating to scholarships.”

Who is not eligible

“Those in failing academic status in the most recent year of study in another law program;” “Persons ineligible to continue in their own program due to academic misconduct; and” “Persons who provide false or misleading statements on their applications to UNB Law.”

Dates & Requirements

December 31
Major scholarship deadline
First of two
March 1
Application deadline
“Applications will not be accepted after this date”
March 1
Second scholarship deadline; Arts/Law early admission deadline
June 1
Transfer, visiting, exchange, and NCA deadlines
Mid-July
Waitlist

How offers are made

Rolling — “Applicants are only considered once their file is complete.” Early application is recommended for first offers and scholarships.

“A number of places in the first-year class are kept open until all applications received by the final deadline have been processed,” so a late-but-on-time application is not automatically disadvantaged.

“Each year, the number of applications greatly exceed the 95 seats. The selection process is highly competitive in all admission categories and many qualified applicants are not selected for admission.”

Format

UNB Law is in-person only: “all courses required as part of the curriculum will be offered exclusively in person and attendance will be required in Fredericton to complete the program.”

Programs offered: JD (3 years) and MBA/JD (4 years).

Not published

UNB does not publish its application fee or any fee waiver policy, nor its deferral, re-applicant, or appeal policies. English language proficiency is addressed only for upper-year applicants, where TOEFL may be required at the Committee’s discretion.

Upper-Year Admission

All June 1

“All applications are assessed by the faculty and decisions made are at the sole discretion of the faculty.” Offers “will only be made if there is space available in the classes that the applicant requires,” and “some years there will be no such applicants admitted.” NCA, visiting, and exchange students do not graduate with a UNB JD.

Transfer

Who it's forApplicants who completed a minimum of one year at another Canadian common law institution.

“Individuals who have completed a law degree are not eligible to transfer.” You must complete a minimum of four full-time academic terms — two full years — at UNB.

“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.”

References: Two, from instructors in your current law program
Also required: Online form, official transcripts, statement of reasons
English: TOEFL may be required if your first language is not English

Visiting

Who it's forStudents at a recognised Canadian law faculty with an approved letter of permission.

“Only available to students with an approved letter of permission,” sent directly from the home institution.

Documents: Letter of permission, official transcripts, statement of reasons

NCA Applicants

Who it's forHolders of a law degree from a non-Canadian law faculty or a Canadian civil law faculty.

A significant caveat: “Due to limitations in our first-year courses, it is unlikely we will be able to offer these courses to NCA Students.” Take only courses addressing gaps in the NCA Assessment Report.

You may not register for Foundations of Canadian Law, which is first-year only.

Documents: Transcripts from all law programs, personal statement, resumé, NCA assessment, Course Request Form

Exchange

Who it's forStudents nominated by their home university and currently enrolled in a law program there.

Contact global@unb.ca.

All information on this page is drawn from University of New Brunswick’s official admissions pages. Requirements and deadlines change — always confirm with the school before applying.