MA program

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Gain valuable research experience with one-on-one supervision in our MA program

 Why MA in Economics at UVic?

  • One-on-one supervision in your area of research interest
  • Explore any subfield of economics including: environmental, resource and climate change; labour economics, economics of indigenous people, development economics, finance and applied econometrics  
  • Co-op option offers paid employment experience in government and industry
  • Flexible MA program can be completed in a minimum of 12 months (without co-op)
  • Financial assistance assessed automatically for each applicant
  • Exceptional career placement record
  • Join a strong and connected network of alumni in government and industry

 For information on admission, check out our FAQs.

General program requirements

Registration

Continuous full-time registration in two or more courses (3 units), from the time of admission until degree requirements are met, is required. Register or apply for one of the following each term:

• Course credit
• Personal leave 
• Parental, Compassionate or Medical leave of absence - Graduate Academic Concession form
• Co-op work term
• Formally withdraw from the program

Failure to not register in one of the above options means abandonment of your program. You will be withdrawn from the university and your program terminated. Your academic record will be notated “Withdrawn without Permission”.

Completion of core courses and electives

Successful completion (grade B or above) of the core program (4.5 units):

  • ECON 500 (1.5 units) Microeconomic Analysis
  • ECON 501 (1.5 units) Macroeconomic Analysis
  • ECON 545 (1.5 units) Econometric Analysis

Electives:

  • Thesis-based: additional four courses (6 units) at the ECON 500 level and/or 400 level/other departments (3 units max)
  • Extended essay-based: additional five courses (7.5 units) at the ECON 500 level and/or 400 level/other departments (3 units max)

Final course:

All students are required to defend their thesis or extended essay in a final oral examination. 

  • Thesis-based: ECON 599 (4.5 units)
  • Extended essay-based: ECON 598 (3.0 units)

Declaring your program option

You must declare your program option by September 30 of your second year.

To declare, submit one of the following forms:

NEED HELP?

For further assistance, contact the .

Extended essay-based option

Course requirements

Successful completion (grade B or above) of the following courses:
Core courses Unit value
ECON 500 Microeconomic Analysis 1.5
ECON 501 Macroeconomic Analysis 1.5
ECON 545 Econometric Analysis 1.5
Total 4.5
Elective courses Unit value
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
OR combination of ECON 400-undergraduate level and/or graduate courses from other departments Max 3.0
Total 7.5
Extended essay Unit value
ECON 598 Master's essay  3.0
Total 3.0
Program unit total 15

For more information visit the Graduate Academic Calendar.

ECON 598 Extended essay guidelines

The extended essay is an independent research project, which may consist of an extended version of a course project. You decide the topic in consultation with your supervisory committee, which you will defend in a final oral examination, in accordance of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Depending on the nature and scope of your essay, the expected length will vary from shorter technical essays to longer essays with more literary content.

Check our these links for more information:

NEED HELP?

Contact the .

Supervisory Committee

MA extended essay-based supervisory committees consists of two members: a supervisor and second member, who may be a co-supervisor or a committee member.

Structure of an extended essay-based supervisory committee:

Supervisor Home department
Co-supervisor or Member Home or outside department

WANT MORE?

Extended essay declaration

Once a supervisor is in place and a research topic determined, you are required to declare this information with the department by completing the Extended essay registration form. Deadline to register is September 30 of your second year.

Timeframe for selection of supervisor and registering in extended essay-based option:

Deadline - 1st year Requirement
March 31
  • Students submit the research proposal form to the graduate advisor indicating field and supervisor preferences.
  • Graduate advisor connects faculty members and students to discuss their research interests.
May 31
  • Students are required to have met with potential supervisors
September 30 - 2nd year
  • Student selects a supervisor
  • Student must submit the essay registration form or thesis registration form to graduate program assistant which declares the supervisor and research topic
  • Students who do not submit the form by this date are required to meet with the graduate advisor.

 

Oral examination

The final component of your program is to defend your essay in an oral examination known as a "defense".

Plan ahead! Timely preparation for a defense is crucial. Read our MA Extended Essay Oral Defense Procedures/Checklist for detailed instruction on scheduling and preparing for your defense.

Ready to defend?

Contact the .

Thesis-based option

Course requirements

Successful completion (grade B or above) of the following courses:
Core courses Unit value
ECON 500 Microeconomic Analysis 1.5
ECON 501 Macroeconomic Analysis 1.5
ECON 545 Econometric Analysis 1.5
Total 4.5
Elective courses Unit value
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
ECON 500 level courses  1.5
OR combination of ECON 400-undergraduate level and/or graduate courses from other departments Max 3.0
Total 6.0
Thesis Unit value
ECON 599 Master's thesis  4.5
Total 4.5
Program unit total 15

ECON 599 Thesis guidelines

For research completed at a more advanced level, we encourage you to undertake the thesis option. While completion times vary, you can expect to take up to two terms to complete a thesis. You and your supervisory committee determine your thesis topic based on a major research project. Your committee determines the appropriate nature and length of your thesis, which you will defend in a final oral examination, in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Read the Faculty of Graduate Studies thesis requirements (below) for more information.

Check out these links for more information

NEED HELP?

Contact the

Supervisory Committee

MA thesis-based supervisory committees consists of two members: a supervisor and second member, who may be a co-supervisor or a committee member. The supervisory committee also appoints an external examiner to examine the thesis and the oral defense.

Structure of a thesis-based supervisory committee:

Supervisor Home department
Co-supervisor or Member Home or outside department
External examiner Outside department

WANT MORE?

Thesis registration

Once a supervisor is in place and a research topic determined, you are required to register this information with the department by completing the Thesis registration form. Deadline to register is September 30 of your second year.

Timeframe for selection of supervisor and registering in thesis-based option:

Deadline - 1st year Requirement
March 31
  • Students submit the research proposal form to the graduate advisor indicating field and supervisor preferences.
  • Graduate advisor connects faculty members and students to discuss their research interests
May 31
  • Students are required to have met with potential supervisors
September 30 - 2nd year
  • Student selects a supervisor
  • Student must submit the thesis registration form to graduate program assistant which delcares the supervisor and research topic
  • Students who do not submit the form by this date are required to meet with the graduate advisor

 

Oral examination

The final component of your program is to defend your thesis in an oral examination known as a “defense”.

Plan ahead! Timely preparation for a defense is crucial. Read our MA Thesis Oral Defense Procedures/Checklist for detailed instructions on scheduling and preparing for your defense.

Ready to defend?

Contact the
Read the Faculty of Graduate Studies Guidelines for oral examinations

Completed MA essays and theses

For a listing of completed MA essays and theses, please see the links below.

Co-operative education

Our co-operative (co-op) education is optional and provides you with the opportunity to take term-long paid employment with public and private sector employers. This provides an excellent opportunity to integrate professional experience with your degree program and obtain additional financial support.

Co-op placement is competitive and requires submission of applications and participation in interviews. Flexibility regarding job location and work setting may increase your chance of placement.

Co-op education requirements

  • Must maintain a B (5.0) average to be eligible
  • Successfully completed six courses (9.0 units) prior to first work term
  • ECON 516 must be included early on in your program
  • Co-op designation requires two work terms
  • Work experience designation requires one work term

WANT MORE?

General Regulations: Graduate Co-op
Learn more about our co-op placements
Careers in Economics

International students on co-op

  • Valid study/work permit is required
  • Valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required
  • Not eligible for Canadian Federal Government positions
  • Eligible for most other positions in provincial, private, and public sectors

Co-op office contacts

Office: David Turpin Building A204
Co-op coordinator: Natasha Jamal
Email:  
Phone: 250-721-8969

Co-op assistant: Linda Marley
Email:
Phone: 250-721-8689

Degree completion and graduation

Degrees are granted during the November and June Convocations. To obtain your degree and graduate you must meet the following requirements:

  • Apply to Graduate
  • Completed all course requirements
  • Passed oral defense
  • Submitted final copy of the thesis or extended essay
  • Zero outstanding fees owed to the university

WANT MORE?

Faculty of Graduate Studies graduate requirements and deadlines
Ready for final submission to UVicSpace? (thesis-based option only)
What you need to know about Convocation

MA student FAQs

What are the differences between the essay and thesis options?

In general, the main differences between the essay and thesis options are the number of required electives to complete, the amount of research required, and future career direction.

The extended essay option is an independent research project, generally shorter in length in comparison to the thesis, and requires completion of five elective courses. This option is suitable for those aiming for careers in the public and private sectors.

The thesis option is for those interested in completing research at a more advanced level, generally longer in length in comparison to the essay and requires completion of four elective courses. This option is suitable for those aiming for careers in academia. 

Can I take courses outside my MA program?

As an MA student you are able to take a maximum of two courses outside your program with permission from your supervisor and graduate advisor. Courses may be selected from graduate level courses outside the department or 400-level economics courses. Completion of a Graduate Registration form is required. Please submit the form to the graduate program assistant.

I intend to defend, how far in advance do I need to notify the graduate program assistant?

For MA extended essays, at least 10 working days prior to your tentative defense date.

For MA theses, at least 25 working days prior to your tentative defense date. The defense date must allow at least 20 working days for the graduate program assistant to submit the Request for Oral Examination form to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. 

What are my options for taking a leave of absence from the program? 

There are three types of Leave of Absence with Permission: 

  • Medical: a student is suffering from illness or injury
  • Compassionate: a student is suffering personal or family affliction
  • Parental: a student is expecting a child, and/or has primary responsibility for the care of a child immediately prior to or following birth or an adoption 

Leave of absences with permission require completion of the Graduate Academic Concession form. Please submit the form and supporting documentation to the graduate program assistant. Time taken on a Leave of Absence with Permission is not included in the time limit for completion of the degree and will be adjusted accordingly.  

Personal leave of absence is also available and is normally arranged through the UVic MyPage portal before the course add deadline. If after the add deadline a Graduate Academic Concession form will need to be submitted to the graduate program assistant. Personal leave of absences will be counted towards your time limit for completion. 

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, prospective students are urged to consult the latest University of Victoria Calendar, or contact the in the Department of Economics.