International exchange

At UVic and interested in studying abroad?

UVic has established relationships with a number of partner universities, including two in Canada. These offer an exciting opportunity for an international experience while working towards your degree requirements at UVic. The basic idea is to pay UVic tuition for 7.5 units and do one term of course work abroad. (An exchange for two terms may also be possible.)

The Economics Department currently promotes four of the UVic exchange programs. For these universities we have established how their economics courses transfer to UVic for credit.

Bocconi University (Italy) - course transfers
City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) - course transfers
Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) - course transfers
University of Exeter (UK) - course transfers

Bocconi and City U are exclusively available to economics students, and City U may offer co-op opportunities. There are other partner universities with good economics departments; however, students may have to face the uncertainty of whether the courses they take at these universities will ultimately transfer to UVic for credit.

The courses offered at Bocconi, City U, and NTU include several that count towards the Finance Option at UVic. Bocconi is like the "Harvard" of Italy and courses there are quite challenging; you should have at least an A- average.

Are you ready?

You meet the GPA threshold
You will declare your Major before you leave on exchange. (How to Declare Your Major)
You will have completed ECON 203, 204, 225, 245 and 246 (or equivalents). This means the exchange would normally take place during year 3 or year 4 (i.e. apply in your 2nd or 3rd year).

Attend an information session

The International Exchange & Student Services (IESS) office organizes an exchange information session, usually in November. Often the Department also organizes one somewhat later on. Attending one or both sessions is important.

How to apply

The IESS office administers the UVic exchange programs and you apply through them. There is currently one application deadline every year for the exchange to take place in the subsequent academic year (currently the deadline is mid-January, but check for possible changes).

Exchange students coming to UVic

Welcome to UVic Economics! We are really delighted that you chose us for some of your studies.

While we are lucky to have quite a few international students in our department, you are among a select group of about 10 international exchange students who take economics classes with us each term. You have already been in touch with the International and Exchange Student Services (IESS) office. We highly recommend their events and their buddy program.

Do you need help with course selection or registration? The Department’s Exchange Coordinator is Dr. Paul Schure. You can meet with him when you arrive if you have any questions or if you find during the first or second week of classes that the courses you chose are not working for you. Are they too easy, too difficult, or uninteresting? Please let him know! If you contact him (or come to the Economics Office, BEC 360) early enough in the term you may still be able to change classes.

You may want to drop by the Economics Course Union (ECU) office in BEC 339. The undergraduate students there organize social events, free tutoring sessions, and more.

International & Exchange Student Services (IESS)
Department of Economics Exchange Coordinator: Dr. Paul Schure