From Tehran to Fredericton: How MUC’s ESL Pathway Opens Doors

A New Beginning, One Word at a Time

When Sahar Ahmadi landed in Fredericton from Tehran, she could read English textbooks but found everyday conversation overwhelming. Two years later, she is a thriving Business Administration student who mentors newcomers from her home country. Her story is one of hundreds at Mag University Canada, where the English as a Second Language (ESL) pathway has become a launchpad for international students from Iran and across the Middle East.

"I arrived speaking very little academic English," Sahar recalls. "The ESL pathway built my confidence step by step, and within a year I moved straight into my degree. The instructors treated me like family."

Designed for Real Academic Success

MUC’s English for Academic Purposes courses do more than teach grammar and vocabulary. They prepare students for the specific demands of Canadian university study — writing research essays, participating in seminars, and navigating campus life. Students who complete the highest level of the programme progress directly into undergraduate or graduate study without an additional language test.

"Our goal is not just language proficiency, but belonging," says the Director of the MUC Language Centre. "We want every student to feel ready — academically and personally — to succeed in their chosen programme."

A Community Far From Home

For Reza Mohammadi, who came to MUC from Shiraz to study Computer Science, the international student community made all the difference. "Moving from Iran felt overwhelming, but my ESL classmates from around the world made MUC feel like home. The co-op placement I earned in my third year changed my whole career."

Today, graduates of the pathway work as nurses, software developers, and business analysts across New Brunswick and beyond — proof that the journey from a first English class to a Canadian career is one MUC students make every year.