Our undergraduate advisors are here to help you. If you have any questions or concerns about your degree and course requirements, please get in contact with us.
Advising for Bachelor of Arts Economics Courses
The Arts Advising office assists UBC Faculty of Arts students throughout their degree: from helping them understand their degree requirements and responsibilities, to connecting them to appropriate support resources, to approving their graduation application.
Additional economics-specific course advising is provided by the Vancouver School of Economics faculty to undergraduate art students, by appointment only.
Bachelor of International Economics Academic Advising Office
The office is open to all Bachelor of International Economics (BIE) students. It is specifically catered to helping students navigate their degree requirements, finding their academic interests, and building an individual learning plan that will improve their undergraduate experience and career outcomes.
The office provides exclusive access to a team of peer advisors and peer tutors offering valuable advice and support for a wide range of academic-related issues for BIE students.
Our office is available via email, Skype, Zoom and other remote measures. Please email us, and we will respond to your request via email and set up an online appointment if necessary.
BIE peer tutors and advisors are available via email and online during regular office hours via virtual platforms such as Zoom.
- Links to their Zoom meetings are available on the exclusive BIE Facebook page and through email.
- You can access Arts Advising through their self-serve online advising services or virtual advising services listed on their webpage.
- Visit the UBC Arts and COVID-19 page for detailed and up-to-date information to support your educational progression.
For COVID-19 and UBC’S response, please refer to information and FAQs available on ubc.ca for UBC’s official policies and updates.
BIE Academic Advisor
Triny Shen
As the BIE academic advisor, I work together with newly admitted and current students to explore university-wide learning opportunities and build their learning plans. Prospective students to determine if BIE is the right program for them.
BIE Academic Assistant
Sarah Gregory
As the BIE academic assistant, I am here to answer your general questions about the BIE program and get you connected with resources to help you succeed. If you have questions about admission, classes, timetables, or resources available to BIE students, send an email, and I’ll help you get the information you need.
BIE Peer Academic Advisors
The BIE peer academic advisors are a team of senior BIE students who can help their peers better understand course requirements and walk them through the course selection process. More than that, they can impart their knowledge of available UBC resources, co-op and exchange opportunities, and general tips to succeed and have an excellent undergraduate experience!
Justin Kim
Office Hours:
Monday 8:00 - 9:00 am
Tuesday 9:30-10:30 am
Wednesday 8:00 - 9:00 am
Thursday 8:00 - 9:00 am
Friday 8:00 - 9:00 am
Olivia Klaassen
Office Hours:
Monday 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
BIE Peer Academic Tutors
The BIE Peer Academic Tutors are available to help BIE peers with their core courses ranging from Mathematics to Economics to Commerce! During office hours, students can have individual drop-ins to review theory and practice questions. The Tutors will also schedule group review sessions for specific subjects to prepare students for midterms and final exams.
Harry Ahn
Office Hours:
Monday 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Wednesday 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Thursday 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Friday 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Shritanjay Bhatia
Office Hours:
Monday 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. IB Econ 1st 6.0 credits are not equivalent to UBCV Econ 101 and Econ 102 and cannot be used to satisfy prerequisites for economic courses.
The honours, majors and combined majors code can only be entered by the Vancouver School of Economics if you are accepted into the programs. The minor code can be entered by you (Faculty of Arts Students only) on the Student Services Centre as long as you have a major. The minor code for economics is 3006.
You can come to the Vancouver School of Economics Office located in the Iona Building (6000 Iona Drive) call Undergraduate Student Support (604) 827-4052 or send an email to: vse.undergrad@ubc.ca and the specialization code will be re-entered.
Yes, students wishing to pursure another honours subject besides Economics should consult the Honours Advisor.
It is essential for students to plan their program of studies over their final two years to ensure that they complete:
- All requirements for the honours program
- All Faculty of Arts/Faculty of Science requirements for graduation
Economics honour students are required to obtain Vancouver School of Economics approval of the economics honour section of their program. The VSE will verify whether the student’s proposed program satisfies all economics honour requirements. The student must independently seek verification from the Faculty of Arts Advising Services Office/Faculty of Science Advising Office as to whether their program satisfies faculty requirements for graduation.
It is recommended that students check their program of study to ensure that they complete:
- All requirements for their economics minor program.
- All requirements for their intended major.
- All Faculty of Arts/Faculty of Sciences/Sauder Business School/Faculty Applied Science requirements for graduation.
The Faculty of Arts has a ruling that to graduate with a major, a student must include in the 120 credits required for the degree at least 42 credits but no more than 60 credits in one subject (discipline) or field of specialization. You may take more than 60 economic credits, but they won't be used in the 120 total credits required to graduate.
The Faculty of Arts has a regulation on promotion requirements: “Students who have completed 27 credits are promoted to second-year. Students who have completed 54 credits are promoted to third-year. Students who have completed 84 credits are promoted to fourth-year.”
To be eligible for a scholarship or award, students should:
- be registered in at least 24 percentage-graded credits
- attain standing in the top 10% of your year and faculty or an average of 75% or higher
- receive a passing grade in all courses
- complete all courses (e.g., no missing grades or standing deferred courses)
Applications are competitive, and there is no guarantee that you will receive a scholarship, award, or prize by meeting the minimum award requirements.
Students must be registered in at least 24 credits to keep the scholarship or award funding they have been offered in that academic year. Credits from summer courses are NOT counted towards minimum credit load requirements. Only courses and grades earned during the winter session are considered.
Bachelor of International Economics
BA honours and BIE are rigorous and challenging undergraduate programs, and the admission standards for each will be higher than for BA majors. The BIE curriculum includes a few business courses (e.g., accounting, finance, strategic management) that, in addition to making a student very employable immediately after graduation, leave open a wide avenue of opportunities such as professional degrees (business, law) without precluding the possibility of graduate school in economics. The BIE is also a direct-entry program, with a required career-preparation component built into the curriculum.
As a BIE student, you will take courses offered by the Sauder School of Business; however, the BIE program is an economics degree in the Faculty of Arts, not a business degree. BIE students will learn the tools of economics – theoretical skills and empirical skills – and will learn how to use those tools to analyze the operation of the complex global economy in which we all live and work. Through opportunities as an undergraduate research assistant, or international service-learning, co-op or as an exchange student – and especially in your graduating paper – you will have the opportunity to practice the skills that you have learned to become an economist.
Yes. As the BIE program is within the Faculty of Arts, BIE students need to meet the Faculty of Arts degree requirements.
- Writing and research: WRDS150 fulfills the writing requirement. BIE required course ECON494 fulfills the research requirement.
- Science: BIE required courses, MATH184/104 and 105 will fulfill the science requirement.
Transfer credits will be automatically applied towards your degree requirements. However, transfer credits will not count towards the BIE cohort required courses such as ECON101 and ECON102. COMM credits are not accepted as electives towards the BIE degree.
MATH100/101/104/184/105 transfer credits can be applied towards the MATH104/105 requirement. However, it is recommended that BIE students consider taking MATH104 and 105 at UBC as a solid foundation in MATH is crucial for studying economics.
At least half (50%) of the following must be completed while registered as a Faculty of Arts student at UBC:
- total degree credits
- total upper-level requirement (300 and 400-level courses)
- total upper-level requirement (300 and 400 level courses) for your specialization(s) (major/minor)
No. Elective courses for the Bachelor of International Economics may be taken from the Faculty of Arts or other faculties at UBC (with the exception of the Faculty of Commerce).
BIE students are allowed a maximum of 27 credits of COEC courses towards the completion of their BIE degree but cannot take any other credits in the Sauder School of Business.
Only students who are currently in the BIE+MM program are allowed to use the COMM courses required by the MM curriculum as BIE electives. The maximum of 27 credits of Business (COEC and COMM) courses applies to B+MM students as well.
**Starting 2017W Session, BIE program is no longer participating in the B+MM Dual Degree Program because BIE students will have a commerce background that is comparable to that offered by business undergraduate programs. BIE. students who are currently in the B+MM program are allowed to use the required B+MM courses (i.e. COMM120, 220, 321, and 420) as electives but cannot exceed the maximum of 27 credits of business (COMM and COEC) courses limit.
Students may construct their BIE program to include a minor in a subject (discipline) or field of specialization other than the major. At least 24 of the 120 credits required for the degree must be in subjects or fields other than those of the major and minor. A maximum of 6 university-level credits numbered 300 and higher may be shared between a major and minor. See Double-Counting.
Minor in Arts
To complete a minor, a student must include in the 120 credits required for the degree at least 30 credits and no more than 42 credits in a single subject (discipline) or field of specialization other than that of the major, including any courses specified as required for a minor in the discipline or field of specialization. At least 18 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above. Some interdisciplinary minors are defined as 18-21 credits in specified courses numbered 300 or above, and their prerequisites.
Students may apply to have completion of the requirements for a minor in the Faculty of Arts noted on their transcript. Students are encouraged to consult with the BIE Academic Advisor and also see a departmental advisor in Arts, preferably before taking the necessary courses. The general provisions regarding the definition of subjects and cross-listed courses in the major apply to the minor (see major program).
Minor in Science
BIE students may also complete a minor in Science. An acceptable program must comprise courses recognized for credit in the Faculty of Science and acceptable for a science major in the proposed subject area or field. The minor in Science must consist of at least 18 credits numbered 300 or higher in a single subject or field of specialization, together with any necessary prerequisites. Students should design a coherent and academically sound course of studies for their proposed minor.
Minor in Commerce
The option of completing a minor in commerce is NOT offered.
To graduate with the BIE degree, a student must include in the 120 credits required for the degree at least 60 credits but no more than 72 credits in the fields of economics and Commerce. You may take more than 72 ECON and COMM credits but they will not count towards the 120 total credits required to graduate.
UBC's degree audit system, degree navigator, is designed to help you make informed decisions regarding your academic program. If you have ever wondered, "how many courses do I have left?" or "does that geography course meet the science requirement?" - this is the tool you need!
To get started with the degree navigator, log into the Student Service Centre and locate "Registration." Scroll down the list to "degree navigator - Vancouver."
Graduation
4th Year students registered in their last degree required courses must apply for graduation through the Student Service Centre. Students who are not registered in the Winter Session must contact Enrolment Services for assistance with their graduation applications.
Please call the Vancouver School of Economics (604) 827-4052 to book an advising appointment to see if the economic program requirements for graduation have been satisfied.