FAQ
Frequently asked questions for prospective students
How do I apply?
See our "How to apply" webpage.
Do I need an undergraduate degree in economics to do a Masters degree?
Strictly speaking, no. All that is required is an undergraduate degree of some type from a recognized institution. Applicants without a degree in economics, however, may not have a sufficient background in economic theory, econometrics and mathematics to be competitive in the admission process.
Should you wish to pursue a Masters without undergraduate training in economics, you may apply for a preliminary program to prepare for the graduate program; details are provided in the "General Admission Requirements" section of the Graduate Calendar. Typically such students have an average GPA of 7 or higher from their undergraduate program, have strong skills in mathematics and statistics and have undertaken some undergraduate courses in economics. Common backgrounds include mathematics and statistics, engineering, physics, geography, commerce and finance. Typically the preliminary year takes one-year but it may take longer should your background not contain sufficient mathematics/statistics and economics courses. Applicants interested in such a program need to contact the Graduate Advisor directly at egrad@uvic.ca.
Is a degree in business administration or business economics sufficient to get into the graduate program?
Generally no, for the reasons discussed above.
Do I have a sufficient background from my undergraduate degree in economics to be competitive in the admissions process?
Admission to the MA program generally requires an undergraduate degree in economics, with a minimum B (5.0) average in the last two years leading to your degree. The Admissions Committee is looking for you to have a solid background in upper level economic theory and econometrics, along with training in mathematics, statistics, and written and verbal communication. If you are uncertain as to whether your undergraduate economics degree is adequate, you may find it helpful to compare your background with our recommended course list for our undergraduate students wishing to proceed to graduate school: Econ 350, 351, 365, 366, 400, and 401. You can find detailed information about these courses from http://web.uvic.ca/econ/undergraduate/courses.php.
We will consider your application if your training includes intermediate microeconomics (comparable with Econ 313), intermediate macroeconomics (comparable with Econ 204) and an applied econometrics course (comparable with Econ 345). Note: in such cases you need to ensure that you have adequate mathematics training (e.g., one or more courses comparable with UVic’s Math 208).
We do not examine whether your transcript meets this recommended background prior to the application process. We suggest that you carefully compare your undergraduate courses with the above and make a case to us that you are adequately prepared.
Can the preliminary program for the MA be used to upgrade my GPA or training from my undergraduate degree in economics?
No. The preliminary program for the MA (details of which are provided under the "General Admission Requirements" section of the Graduate Calendar) is only for students who do not have undergraduate training in economics. We do not admit students into this preliminary program as a way to better your existing economics undergraduate degree. Should your undergraduate degree in economics not meet our minimum requirement of at least a B (5.0) average in the last two years leading to the degree, or should you wish to pursue additional undergraduate courses in economics or mathematics to better prepare you for our MA, you need to do so independently as a non-degree student and then apply for admission to the MA program.
How can I independently upgrade to prepare for the MA program?
If you are planning on taking a number of courses at UVic, but not an entire degree or diploma, you will need to apply to Undergraduate Admissions and Records as a non-degree, unclassified student.
Once you are admitted as a non-degree student, you will likely need permission from the Department of Economics to register for courses as your previous academic history is not linked to the registration system. To obtain permission, please complete a Pre-requisite Waiver Form for each course stating that you are a non-degree student upgrading to apply for the MA program. The Department of Economics will then be able to assess your transcripts to ensure that you have the appropriate background to register in each course. After you receive permission from the Department, you may register for courses on your assigned registration date (ticket time).
Do I need an MA degree in economics to do a PhD in economics?
Strictly speaking, no, but similar to the MA comments above, we expect incoming PhD students to have a strong background in economic theory and econometrics. Applicants without this background are unlikely to be competitive in the admission process.
How many students are admitted each year?
We aim to admit ~3 or 4 new PhD students and ~20-25 MA students each year.
What are the GPA requirements?
All applicants must have earned the equivalent of a "B" average over the last two years of their degree to be considered. To be competitive in the Department of Economics, you need to have a first class average (A-). A particular individual's chance of admission depends upon the entire pool of current applicants.
What are the application deadlines?
All admissions are for a September entry. Applications are due by December 15th for international students and January 31st for domestic students. All application material should be provided to Graduate Admissions and Records by these deadlines.
Is a written statement of research interests required?
It is mandatory for PhD applicants to submit a detailed statement of research interests. MA applicants are not required to provide a statement; however, it is beneficial to provide one.
A PhD applicant must provide a personal statement that
i) explains your motivations for pursuing a doctorate degree in economics;
ii) provides a detailed description of your research interests; and
iii) identifies up to three faculty members from the Department of Economics with whom you share close research interests.
This personal statement is much more important for admission at UVic than at most other universities. Faculty members that you identify as potential supervisors will review your application and play a central role in its evaluation. In order to be admitted to the PhD program, it is essential that you demonstrate with conviction that you have thought seriously about your chosen field of research and the reasons why you are interested in working with the professors you identify.
Is the GRE necessary and what is the minimum score required?
The GRE is necessary for students coming from a university outside of North America. There is no minimum requirement. GRE scores are considered as one part of the application. All three parts of the GRE are important (analytical writing, verbal, and quantitative) and are considered.
Can the GMAT be substituted for the GRE?
No.
What are the Language Proficiency requirements for the University of Victoria?
Please carefully read the English language proficiency requirements as outlined by UVic's Graduate Studies office. We do not consider applicants who do not meet these requirements.
Note: TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB scores older than two years are not accepted.
Applicants should note that the department puts great emphasis on writing and speaking in English. All aspects of each application are considered in this context and affect the admission decision.
What are the institutional codes for the GRE and TOEFL exams?
- The Institutional Code: 0989
- Department Code for GRE: 1801
- Department Code for TOEFL: 84
How many transcripts need to be submitted?
Please see the Graduate Studies "Submission of documents" webpage and click on "Transcripts".
Note that unofficial transcripts may be scanned and sent as pdf files for the purpose of reviewing your application. If you receive an offer of admission, it will be provisional on you providing final, official transcripts. Please see our "How to apply" webpage for more information on submitting your complete package.
Will I be considered for financial assistance?
All students are considered for financial assistance. Financial assistance consists of teaching assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and Academic Income Supplements (AIS) as described on the UVic Graduate Studies funding webpage. Note: applicants who receive offers of admission are automatically considered for the awards listed in the "graduate awards and bursaries" webpage. Students are encouraged to look for external support as well (e.g. bursaries, SSHRC applications).
How much are the tuition fees?
For a complete list of fees that graduate students pay click here. Click on "Tuition fees" to access the "Tuition fee schedule". You will see a list of fees as well as a link to "Graduate Fee Requirements" which explains the number of fee installments graduate students are required to pay. Note: the minimum regular program fee for a MA in Economics is 5.0 full installments and for a PhD is 7.5 full installments.
Who should provide assessment reports or letters of reference?
Two assessment reports or letters of reference are required from two professors or other academic authorities who are familiar with your work. Please provide this form to your referees.
Where should documents be mailed?
Please refer to our "How to apply" webpage.
How do I check the status of my application?
You may access your student record online at MyStatus; however, note that your record will only be up to date once your documents have been processed and entered into the admissions database by the Graduate Admissions and Records office. It is possible that your records have been received, but not processed. Also note, "MyStatus" may show that you require a GRE or proof of English language proficiency when you've met the exemption requirements. These items cannot be exempted until your transcripts have been reviewed.
Regarding timing, our department usually makes offers of admission from the end of February through the end of April.
What courses are offered in the Economics Department?
Please consult the University Graduate Calendar for a complete list of courses offered by our Department. For a current list of courses being offered please see our Economics web page: http://web.uvic.ca/econ/graduate/courses.php.
Where can I find information on housing?
Please go to http://www.housing.uvic.ca/.
The University offers single and double room accommodation in multiple residence complexes, apartment style cluster housing (4 bedrooms) and family housing. If you are planning on living on campus apply EARLY.
Note that on the left hand side you will find the links for off-campus ads. Most graduate students live off-campus.
Further questions? Please contact the Graduate Secretary.
Upcoming Economics Events
- View all events on the UVic Economics calendar