Admission Requirements

General

Applicants to either program must satisfy the department that they have the necessary skills in mathematics, statistics, as well as written and verbal communication to undertake the program. To this end, the department may require evidence of appropriate writing skills prior to admission.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree from a Canadian or U.S. university are ordinarily not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), although it may be an advantage to do so. All other students must take the GRE. The Faculty of Graduate Studies and/or the Graduate Adviser may require any student to complete this aptitude exam. Applicants for admission whose first language is not English, who are not holding a recognized degree from a country where English is an official language, and who have not resided in Canada or other English speaking countries for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to the session applied for, must meet the “English Language Proficiency”, for admission.

Applicants without undergraduate training in Economics may apply for a one-year program to prepare for the graduate program. This program requires 15 credits of Economics courses, including microeconomic, macroeconomic and econometric theory, as well as electives tailored to the student's needs and interest, chosen in consultation with the department Graduate Adviser. A minimum GPA of 7.0 (A-) in these courses will result in automatic admission to the MA program; students with lower averages may enter after selection in the regular admission process.

Entry into either the MA or PhD program is in September. Availability of courses and faculty varies from year to year. The department web page should be consulted for the most up-to-date information: <web.uvic.ca/econ/graduate/courses.php>.

Admission To Master's Programs

Admission to the MA program requires an undergraduate degree in economics, with at least a B (5.0) average in the last two years leading to the degree. Selection is competitive, based upon undergraduate performance, nature of undergraduate training and (if relevant) GRE results.

Admission to the PhD Program

Admission to the PhD program normally requires a master's degree (or equivalent) from a recognized academic institution. All applicants are required to provide a detailed statement of research interests as part of their application. Selection is competitive, based upon the research statement, performance in previous degrees, nature of training and (if relevant) GRE results.

An outstanding applicant may be admitted with an appropriate baccalaureate degree, or the completion of at least two terms in a master's program at the University of Victoria. Students wishing to transfer from the MA program should normally have achieved an A- (7.0) average in their graduate courses, and may receive up to 12 units of credit towards their PhD program. Students wishing to transfer from another graduate program may also receive credit towards their program. The student's supervisory committee, in consultation with the Graduate Adviser, will determine the transfer of credits.

Deadlines

The entry point to the Department of Economics is September. Complete domestic applications must be received by January 31 in order to be given consideration for entry in September of the same calendar year and for financial assistance. International applications must be received by the Graduate Admissions and Records Office by December 15. Applications received after these deadlines may be accepted; however, there is no guarantee that the application will be processed and evaluated in time for a decision for the desired entry point or to obtain a student visa.

Students should keep in mind that substantial lead time is required to register for and take (if required) the GRE and the TOEFL in time for results to be received within the deadline.