The Vancouver School of Economics is a global centre for research and hands-on learning about pressing economic issues. Our faculty have influenced public policies on issues such as taxes and minimum wage rates through ground-breaking research and participation in debate. Faculty members advise Statistics Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and the Bank of Canada, among numerous other national and international organizations.
The School is one of the world’s best: in a recent ranking based on research publications, the School ranked in the top 20 worldwide, and number one in Canada. We are proud of our established tradition of research excellence, high quality graduate and undergraduate education, and community engagement – especially in the area of economic policy. Our record of excellence is based upon research, teaching and service to the community since 1915. Read more about the School’s history by clicking here.
Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Economics Programs: Honours, Major/Combined Major, Minor, and Second Degree (third year entry into programs)
Bachelor of International Economics Program (direct entry, 4-year, cohort-based degree).
Master of Arts in Economics Program (12-month program)
Faculty**
Our 67 faculty members specialize in a wide range of topics, including banking policy, taxation effects, global macroeconomics, labour market and skills development, gender and environmental economics, developmental economics, economic history, and the emerging field of experimental economics.
Our faculty includes eight researchers affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research, six researchers affiliated with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, one research fellow of the Bank of Canada, two elected fellows of the Econometric Society, four fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, two research fellows of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, and one of the Distinguished Fellows of the American Economics Association.
- Professors Emeritus – 16
- Professorial Faculty (Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors) – 38
- Lecturers, Instructors and Visiting Faculty – 13
- Affiliated Economics Faculty (Strategy and Business Economics Division, Sauder School of Business) – 7
Enrolment*
Since 2002, we have expanded our number of full-time equivalent undergraduate student spaces by 50%, becoming one of the most popular programs at UBC. Admittance to all of our programs is highly competitive. For instance, for the September 2013 intake for the 85 spaces in the BIE program over 2,100 applications were received; and over 480 applications were submitted for the 284 third-year spaces available in the Majors program.
- Undergraduate BA programs (honours, major/combined majors, minors, dual degrees) – 1,042 students. Additionally, several hundred students take undergraduate BA courses in economics each term as general electives.
- Undergraduate BIE program – 84 students for the inaugural year of the program.
- Graduate MA program – 45 students in the 2013/14 academic year
- Graduate PhD program – 67 students in the 2013/14 academic year; admits an entering class of about 15 students annually.
Student Awards**
The list of awards won by UBC Bachelor of Arts in Economics students is numerous, including:
- 7 Governor General Silver Medals in Arts since 2001
- 1 Governor General Silver Medal in APSC in 2012 (dual degree student)
- 7 Wesbrook Scholars since 2003
- 1 Rhodes Scholarship in 2006
- 3 International Leader of Tomorrow Awards since 2010
- 1 Arts Co-Op Student of Year Award in 2011/2012
The Vancouver School of Economics gratefully thanks the donors who made these awards possible. Interested in supporting our economics students? Please click here to donate.
Alumni*
Over 7,000 alumni from 54 countries.
Research Centres
The Vancouver School of Economics manages the British Columbia Inter-University Research Data Centre, and the School is home to the Canadian Labour Market and Skills Research Network (CLSRN).
Additionally, the School operates the Experimental Lab, an active hive for research in the emerging field of experimental economics; and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Economics, a collaborative teaching and research initiative by the Vancouver School of Economics and the Strategy and Business Economics Division, Sauder School of Business.
* As of September 2013 ** As of February 2014