Mount Allison University

Mount Allison is located in picturesque Sackville, New Brunswick. At approximately 2,700 students — equivalent to nearly half the population of the surrounding town — this university is a cozy campus with a strong community feel. Case in point, a small student to faculty ratio (17:1) means that students don’t need to wait to see professors for advice. A reputable fine arts program, which is over 100 years old, is inventive and interdisciplinary: there are over 40 programs to choose from, and students are encouraged to “create their own” degree with combinations such as Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry & International Relations, or a double major in Psychology and Drama. While “Mount A” has a traditional look and feel, it is considerably cutting-edge. The school is also known for its hands-on approach: in aviation, the school partners with local companies in order to secure students their pilot’s licenses. And to date, more than 50 Mount Allison students have become Rhodes Scholars.

City: Sackville

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$18,490

Graduate tuition fees:
$5,010

Signature programs

Biology, Religious Studies, Chemistry, Drama, dual programs

St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University is a small, mainly undergraduate university with a strong focus on the Bachelor of Arts. It also offers study programs in Education and Social Work. St. Thomas’ exclusive focus on the liberal arts, in addition to its explicit social justice mandate, make it unique within Canada. Accessibility is a top priority here: classes are capped at 60 students, and there are more than 40 bursaries and scholarships available. The university offers a number of programs aimed to respond to society’s current needs, such as Criminology, Gerontology, Human Rights and Communications and Public Policy. A wide range of experiential learning opportunities, such as work study, co-op programs, travel study, and lab programs, ensure students are prepared for life after the degree.

City: Fredericton

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$16,389

Signature programs

Criminology, Journalism, Human Rights, Communications and Public Policy

Université de Moncton

Université de Moncton is Canada’s largest French-language university outside of Quebec. Yet this primarily undergraduate school keeps its class sizes small: Moncton has some of the lowest student-faculty ratios in the country. While French is the language of instruction for most of its programs, the university is welcoming to non-Francophone (with experience in French) to become more fully bilingual while completing their post-secondary studies. With more than 160 programs, students can choose from a wide array of arts and sciences, commerce, and engineering programs. The school also hosts the only exclusively common law program taught in French in Canada. Université de Moncton is also a big believer in interdisciplinary combinations. One such combination is the LLB-MBA, a program combining law with business administration. Because of the language requirement, applicants’ French ability is generally assessed before they can be admitted to any program at the university. In Moncton’s undergraduate programs, non-Francophone students take a set of four specifically-tailored French language courses, while earning credit for regular classes.

City: Moncton

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$12,713

Graduate tuition fees:
$5,880 – $17,376

Signature programs

Law, Forestry, Education, Nutrition, Social Work, Business, Applied Computer Science

University of New Brunswick

The University Of New Brunswick (UNB), founded in 1785, has the distinction of being the oldest English language university in Canada. Nowadays UNB is known as a comprehensive university, which means it offers both graduate and undergraduate education across the arts and sciences. It is also well regarded for its research in many innovative fields such as the space sciences, chemistry, and IT. The comparatively small student population of 8,000 students is highly engaged. With many external opportunities and extracurricular activities at UNB, the school spirit rivals that of a much larger university. Meanwhile, it maintains a reputation for being hospitable and welcoming. Two main campuses of the University of New Brunswick — in Fredericton and Saint John — help ensure that students’ needs are met.

City: Fredericton

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$16,783 – $17,023

Graduate tuition fees:
$12,735

Signature programs

Environment and Natural Resources, Law, Health Sciences and Marine Biology