Student Spotlight: From Dakar to Fredericton — Amina's MUC Journey

A Decision That Changed Everything

When Amina Diallo started researching Canadian universities in 2022, Fredericton was not the first city that appeared on her list. "Everyone talked about Toronto or Vancouver," she recalls. "But when I looked at the actual student experience, the campus size, the affordability, the co-op programme — MUC made more sense than any of them."

Now in her third year of the Bachelor of Computer Science, Amina is midway through a co-op placement at a Fredericton-based AI startup developing predictive analytics tools for the healthcare sector. She sits in an open-concept office at the company's Uptown Fredericton space, her laptop open to a Python environment, describing her journey with the kind of directness that you quickly learn is characteristic of her.

The MUC Difference

"At a large university, I would have been one of 300 students in an intro computer science lecture," she says. "Here, my professor knows my name, knows my interests, and recommended me directly for this placement. That relationship matters."

Amina credits MUC's International Student Office with making her transition to Canada significantly smoother than she expected. "They met me at the airport. On a Sunday. That is not something I expected from a university."

She has since become a peer mentor for new international students — a role she describes as one of the most meaningful things she has done at MUC.

Looking Ahead

"My goal after graduation is to stay in Canada and work in AI research, ideally in healthcare applications," she says. "The Post-Graduation Work Permit pathway is part of my plan. But honestly, I have also fallen in love with Fredericton. It is calm, safe, and genuinely welcoming. I feel at home here."

Amina graduates in Spring 2026. She already has a return offer from her co-op employer.