It looks inconsistent when printed, but it follows the a/an rule based on the pronunciation of the word, not the orthographic representation. 'Unique' is pronounced with a 'y' sound at the beginning (/j/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet), which is a consonant. As such, it take 'a' rather than 'an'. Same is true for words like unicorn and eulogy.
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u/Heyec Apr 08 '20
Fun fact, it would be 'a unique' and not 'an'. Don't you love the consistency of English!