Economics (PhD)
Admissions
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a UVic grad student, from finding a supervisor to submitting your application.
PhD program planning
This program is designed to be completed in 3 years. Our department focuses on 5 fields:
- Econometrics
- Environmental and Resource Economics
- Labour Economics
- Industrial Organization
- Development and Growth.
You must complete the following:
- 3 to 6 units of core courses, as determined by your supervisory committee
- Candidacy (ECON 693) within 15 months of enrollment
- Dissertation and oral examination (ECON 699).
Finding a supervisor
When you apply:
- You must list a potential supervisor on your application
- The potential supervisor must be from the provided list below (updated each term)
- This faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission.
Dr. Donn Feir
Indigenous economics; applied microeconometrics; group-based inequality, economic history
Dr. Alok Kumar
Macroeconomics; monetary economics; international development; emerging markets
Dr. Felix Pretis
Econometric methods; climate change; empirical environmental economics
Dr. Daniel Rondeau
Environmental and resource economics; dynamics; experimental methods
Dr. Paul Schure
Microeconomics; finance and industrial organization; European economics
Dr. Graham Voss
Applied macroeconomics; macro-econometrics; monetary policy; exchange rates; monetary history; measurement issues in macroeconomics
Dr. Tao Wang
Econometric theory; nonparametric statistics, machine learning
Dr. Justin Wiltshire
Labour Economics, Urban/Regional Economics, Applied Microeconomics
Dr. Ke Xu
Financial market microstructure; high frequency trading; capital market regulation; price discovery in fragmented markets
Courses
Please refer to the Academic Calendar for a complete listing of Economics Graduate Courses.
Course requirements
| Field courses | Unit value |
|---|---|
| ECON 500 level courses | 3.0 - 6.0 |
| Candidacy | Unit value |
|---|---|
| ECON 693 Candidacy examinations | 3.0 |
| Total | 3.0 |
| Dissertation | Unit value |
|---|---|
| ECON 699 Dissertation | 21.0 - 33.0 |
| Total | 21.0 - 33.0 |
| Program unit total | 37.5 |
Tuition and other costs
There are various costs associated with graduate school. There is the initial application fee as well as tuition & other costs. This does not include textbooks, rent, food or any other personal expenses.
Funding
Every year, UVic awards $12 million to help 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.
Co-op & Career Services
UVic is home to the largest co-op graduate program in Canada. Learn about combining co-op placements with your PhD on the co-op for graduate students website.
Grad students are also eligible for the shorter Work Experience Program.
Visit career services website.
Student facilities
The Reid Elliott Reading Room is a place for Economics undergraduate and graduate students to:
- Study between classes
- Get help from Economics Course Union tutors
- Meet with other Economics students
Professor G. Reid Elliott joined the staff of Victoria College in 1949. Although economics and economic history were his major academic concerns, he was an all-round man, and, in his first decade here, taught math, accounting and political science. He became the first head of our then combined Department of Economics and Political Science.
He retired in 1969 but continued to be involved in the department until his death in 1974. The Reid Elliott Reading Room is named in his honour, to recognize the contribution he made to this institution.