Graduate application FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about applying economics graduate programs.
If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact our Graduate Program Assistant.
Admission Requirements
Admission into the graduate program is highly competitive, and places are limited.
Normally, a student should have completed a BA in Economics before entering the MA Program and an MA in Economics before entering the PhD program. Yet Bachelors or Master's students who have undertaken a significant amount of work in Economics, but have graduated with another degree are highly considered. In order to be competitive in the admission process for a spot in the program generally requires the following:
Being competitive in the admission process for a spot in the program generally requires the following:
Competitive MA requirements
- An undergraduate degree in economics, with a first-class A- (7.0) average in the last 2 years leading to the degree
- A solid background in upper-level economic theory and econometrics
- Training in mathematics and statistics
- Excellent written and verbal communication in the English language
Competitive PhD requirements
- A master’s degree in economics, with a first-class A- (7.0) average in the last 2 years leading to the degree
- A solid background in upper-level economic theory and econometrics
- Training in mathematics and statistics
- Excellent written and verbal communication in the English language
- A strong statement of research interests
- An available supervisor matching your research interests
There are no minimum scores for the GRE, but most students admitted to our program have scores at or above the 80th-90th percentile in all 3 parts of the GRE (verbal, quantitative and analytical).
Selection of applicants is based upon undergraduate performance, nature of academic training, cumulative GPA and, if need be, GRE results. All parts of the GRE are important and considered when applicants are closely matched in all other aspects.
The GMAT cannot be substituted for the GRE.
If you want to take some ECON courses at UVic but not an entire degree, you need to apply to as a non-degree (unclassified) student.
You may need permission from our department to register for courses if your previous academic history is not linked to our registration system.
No, we do not have the resources to do pre-evaluations. You must apply and go through the formal admissions process. Please be advised that it will not give you an advantage to email your education history and other credentials to the department, as it will not be taken into consideration unless you apply for admission.
Application process
We aim to admit 2-3 new PhD students and 15-20 new MA students each year.
January 31st for September entry.
Learn everything about how to apply to UVic graduate programs.
We do our best to notify applicants throughout February and March.
A file will be considered complete and ready for evaluation once Graduate Admissions and Records has received unofficial copies of the following (if applicable):
- Transcripts
- Two Assessment Reports
- GRE scores
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Resume/CV (PhD and MA applicants)
- Statement of research interests (PhD applicants only)
- Sample of writing (PhD applicants only)
More on submission of documents.
Only PhD applicants need to identify potential supervisors during the admission process. MA students do not select a supervisor until September of their second year in the program.
PhD applicants should:
- Review the PhD supervisor list and review the faculty profiles and areas of specialization that closely match your research interests.
- Review faculty websites, reading their CVs or bios and perhaps some of their papers and publications.
- Identify 2 or 3 faculty members you wish to have as your supervisor.
- Write in your statement of research interests who those individuals are and why you think they would be good choices. This should be motivated by your research interests and ideas.
We do not recommend contacting faculty members at this stage. They are not allowed to agree to supervise anyone without assessing application packages.
Please do not send test results or other pertinent documents to faculty members. They will not be reviewed before the admissions process.
You can view the checklist on your My UVic application profile for a list of received and outstanding documents.
You will be able to upload new documents to your applications even after the application has been submitted. Please keep in mind that it could take a few days before all documents received will appear on your checklist. If documents are received during holiday closure or at an extremely busy time of year it could take longer.
Once your file has sufficient information for evaluation, a graduate admissions and records officer will review it to determine if you meet the minimum requirements for the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Once this is confirmed, your file will be forwarded to our department for assessment.
If you are exempt from taking the GRE or providing proof of English language proficiency, your status will show as "incomplete" until your file/transcripts have been processed by Graduate Admissions and Records (GARO).
If you meet the conditions that exempt you from either of these requirements based on the evaluation of your file, your status will change from "incomplete" to "complete" and will be forwarded to our department for review.
Shortly after completing your application online, UVic will email your student number (starting with "V0". Please include this number in all further correspondence with the university.
After preliminary processing, you will be sent instructions on how to track your application status using My UVic application. You’ll use the applicant ID (A-number) that was generated at the start of the UVic online application, along with the PIN you created.
Once your application is complete and an admission decision made, you will be notified by email. Please note that your file must be complete, including all official documents, to receive a full offer of admission.
You need to get the correct immigration documents to study in Canada from Immigration and Refugee, Citizenship Canada. Once you're admitted, a UVic immigration specialist can help you with this process.
Study permit procedures can take up to 6 months or more in some countries. You must apply for admission well before the posted deadlines.
Step 1: Read department offer letter carefully
Step 2: Accept or decline offer
Please respond to the Graduate Program Assistant by email stating your decision (accept or decline) before the deadline stated in your provisional offer letter. If you do not send a response by the deadline, your offer will be withdrawn and cancelled.
Step 3: Pay deposit
If you have accepted our provisional offer of admission, you must pay a non-refundable $250 deposit to confirm your spot in the program. Please follow the necessary instructions in your provisional offer of admission to make payment.
Step 4: International students only: apply for study permit
Contact the Government of Canada to initiate the application process for a study permit. Study permit application procedures may take up to 6 months or more in some countries. Apply well before the posted deadlines for your entry point.
Info for international Applicants
Step 5: Read graduate admissions offer letter carefully and follow instructions
Accepted students will receive an offer letter from our department along with an offer letter from the Graduate Admissions and Records Office (GARO). It is imperative that you follow the instructions outlined in both letters to confirm your spot in the program.
Step 6: Submit official documents
If offered provisional admission, mail all official documents to GARO. Please include your full legal name with your document package.
Do not send official documents until all course work is completed and your degree is conferred.
Official documents are not returned and become property of the University of Victoria. If your originals are irreplaceable, you should submit copies for evaluation purposes and be able to provide the originals for comparison.
STEP 7: Set up accounts
New graduate students - set up accounts
Step 8: Update contact information
Please email the graduate program assistant any time your contact information changes. They will be contacting you with important information throughout the summer.
Step 9: Housing
It is your responsibility to find housing. If you are considering living on campus, apply for housing early.
Step 10: Employment/funding
Apply for a teaching assistantship (TA) position before the deadline. LINK TO TA PAGE
Step 11: Register for courses
The graduate program assistant will send you an information package in June with information on registering for courses. Registration for the winter session (September - April) opens at the end of June.
Step 12: Pay tuition fees
Consult the Graduate Academic Calendar for the breakdown of tuition and fees.
Tuition fee deadlines:
Fall term: September 30
Spring term: January 31
Summer term: May 31
Selection is highly competitive. We look at academic performance and training in previous degrees, written and verbal communication in the English language, research statements (for PhD applicants) and (if relevant) GRE results.
We receive a large volume of applications, of which the majority meet these basic requirements. However, our department generally only admits 15-20 MA students and 1-3 PhD students each year.
When the admissions committee selects applications, they consider equality and diversity. Should you be intent on attending UVic, you are most welcome to apply again next year.
Please note that due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot provide detailed explanations of our admissions decisions.
Admission documents
The Graduate Admissions & Records Office (GARO) can begin an initial evaluation with uploaded unofficial transcripts.
Unofficial transcripts are:
- Non-official photocopies
- Transcripts which have been opened or arrive without a sealed envelope
- Transcripts not endorsed by the issuing institution (signature, seal or chop over the closure)
- Transcripts received electronically
- Transcripts which arrive without the official seal of the university
If you have incomplete courses not listed on your official transcript, please provide a list of courses in progress and their credit weight in your application.
Official transcripts and degree certificates are:
- Sealed in envelopes endorsed by the granting university, and include
- Signature, seal or chop over the envelop closure
Students that have previously attended UVic are required to submit unofficial transcripts. They DO NOT require official transcripts to be submitted.
Unless the documents are only available in English, the official original language document accompanied by a certified literal English translation is required.
Certified photocopies endorsed by the issuing university and sent in a sealed, endorsed envelope are acceptable.
Documents not received in this manner, are unofficial and if accepted to the program, GARO will require official documents to confirm your information.
Graduate Admissions and Records Office mailing information:
Mailing address:
Graduate Admissions and Records
University of Victoria
PO Box 3025 STN CSC
Victoria BC V8W 3P2
Canada
Courier address:
Graduate Admissions and Records
University of Victoria
University Centre A206
3800 Finnerty Road (Ring Road)
Victoria, BC V8P 5C2
All applicants must have assessment reports submitted from two professors or other academic authorities familiar with their work. The names and professional email addresses (not personal email addresses) of your chosen assessors/referees are required when you submit your application.
Once you have submitted your online application and have paid the application fee, your referees will receive notification by email, stating that they have been identified by you to provide an academic assessment.
In this email, your referees are given your name, the program/degree, the term to which you are applying, and will be asked to submit their assessment using a secure, online reporting system. An encrypted link in the email will allow them to populate the assessment report online and submit it directly to the Graduate Admissions and Records Office (GARO) electronically.
We recommend that you contact each of your referees to confirm their willingness to complete an assessment on your behalf.
We strongly encourage your referees to complete the online assessment report provided in their automated email, however, should your referee not wish to complete the electronic version, letters of reference may be supplied in lieu of assessment reports and should be submitted in ONLY one of the following two ways in order to be considered official:
- Mailed in a sealed envelope signed by the assessor across the back seal.
OR - Sent by the assessor as a PDF by email to gradrefs@uvic.ca
Please note, applicants are not be permitted to see these documents.
MA and PhD applicants are required to supply a current résumé and/or Curriculum Vitae (CV) providing an overview of experiences and other qualifications.
A PhD applicant must provide a personal statement of research interests that
- Explains your motivations for pursuing a doctorate degree in economics
- Provides a detailed description of your research interests
- Identifies up to three faculty members from the Department of Economics with whom you share close research interests that would serve as potential supervisors. Please refer to the list of faculty who are currently willing to supervise PhD students
PhD applicants that do not include all of the above in their statement of research interests WILL NOT be reviewed.
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.
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.
PhD applicants are required to supply a writing sample in the form of one recent research paper.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is REQUIRED for applicants coming from a University outside of Canada or the United States. If you hold a degree from a recognized Canadian or U.S. post-secondary institution, you are NOT required to take the GRE. The department code for GRE is 1801.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) CANNOT substitute for the GRE.
GRE scores entered as part of your online application are unofficial.
If offered admission, you are required to have your official GRE scores sent directly from the testing agency to the University of Victoria, so that GARO can verify the information received for admission purposes.
English is the language of instruction at UVic. You must demonstrate English language proficiency to attend UVic.
You have met this requirement if:
- English is your primary language
- you have a degree from a designated English-speaking country
- you have a degree from a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English
We accept three language tests as proof of English language proficiency: IELTS, MET, or TOEFL.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- We only accept Academic IELTS
- Minimum overall band score: 6.5
- No individual component can have a score lower than 6.0
Michigan English Test (MET)
- A minimum score of 64 will be accepted as proof of English proficiency
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- A minimum score of 90 from the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) (with at least 20 points in each section) is required
- TOEFL iBT test taken at a test centre or the iBT home edition will be accepted
- University of Victoria's TOEFL institution code is 0989
- Department code for TOEFL is 84
Official test score reports must be sent directly to the University of Victoria by the testing agency. Scores older than two years are not acceptable.
Institutional code: 0989
Department code for GRE: 1801
Department code for TOEFL: 84
Learn about submission of documents.
You may submit documents after the application deadline, but your file may not be processed in time for your desired entry point or in time to obtain a student visa. You will also not be considered for fellowships and awards.
Official documentation from applicants will be kept on file for 1 year.
If you attended UVic, your application will be kept on file for 3 years with Graduate Records after your last date of attendance.
Finances
UVic helps fund graduate students through a combination of:
- UVic Fellowships and Awards
- Teaching Assistantships
- Research Assistantships
Most of our students also receive external awards and scholarships and financial aid and bursaries. Consideration for funding is automatic. A funding offer is normally included with an offer of admission.
MA students are usually funded for 1 year and PhD students typically receive 3 years of funding.
Funding and Employment for Graduate Students
Search Graduate Awards and Fellowships
Additional funding
We encourage students to apply for additional funding in the form of provincial, federal and external funding:
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) - award amount is $17,500 for 1 year
- External awards and fellowships
Visit the Student Awards and Financial Aid website for information on
Students in graduate programs pay tuition on a program basis, broken into fee installments. Learn about tuition and costs.