Are they a reputable institution that is worth attending? I have read that they are in the top 20% on the continent for engineering but I haven’t seen any other evidence that they’re a top school.
Where did you read this?
I gave a talk at a conference there once. Fredericton is very nice. I think that UNB is decent and reputable, but it wouldn’t be my top choice.
What criteria are you looking for in a university? Is this for starting in Sept 2018, or have you already applied, or are you running late with applications?
We shouldn’t take rankings too seriously, but I didn’t see UNB on Maclean’s top 20 list for engineering:
http://www.macleans.ca/education/unirankings/best-engineering-universities-in-canada-2017-ranking/
UNB is listed under “comprehensive” (approximately mid-sized universities) in the overall Maclean’s ratings for 2017:
http://www.macleans.ca/education/university-rankings-2017/
It is definitely reputable, but not elite by any means. A good education can be had there. It certainly isn’t the first place that springs to mind when discussing top Canadian engineering schools.