Universities / University of Victoria
Economics at UVic, five ways
UVic degrees are 60 units, and a typical one-term course is 1.5 units. 1 UVic unit = 2 SFU units = 2 UBC credits. Every figure below is given in UVic's own units so it matches the calendar, and as a percent of the degree so it can be compared with other schools.
Where the units go
Select a program to load it into the comparison below. Unit counts assume the most common course choice where there are options; categories are The Visible Hand's grouping, not the university's.
Side by side
Pick any two programs. Select a course to see what it covers and which programs require it.
Select any course above to see its title, what it covers, and which programs require it.
The differences in one table
| Attribute | Economics BA | Economics BA, finance option | Economics BSc | Economics BSc, finance option | Financial Mathematics & Economics BSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | BA | BA | BSc | BSc | BSc |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences | Faculty of Social Sciences | Faculty of Social Sciences | Faculty of Social Sciences | Faculty of Science (combined major) |
| Total units | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| How you get in | Admitted to Faculty of Social Sciences; declare at end of first year. | As BA. | As BA; requires BSc math (MATH 100/109, 101) in first year to stay on track. | As BSc. | Enter via Faculty of Science or Social Sciences; declare after first year. |
| GPA to continue | — | — | — | — | — |
| GPA to graduate | 2.0 UVic uses a 9-point scale, on which 2.0 is a C | 2.0 UVic uses a 9-point scale, on which 2.0 is a C | 2.0 UVic uses a 9-point scale, on which 2.0 is a C | 2.0 UVic uses a 9-point scale, on which 2.0 is a C | 2.0 UVic uses a 9-point scale, on which 2.0 is a C |
| Math & computing (units, % of degree) | 1.5 (3%) | 1.5 (3%) | 10.5 (18%) | 10.5 (18%) | 16.5 (28%) |
| Statistics & econometrics (units, % of degree) | 6 (10%) | 6 (10%) | 6 (10%) | 6 (10%) | 10.5 (18%) |
| Economic theory & topics (units, % of degree) | 18 (30%) | 15 (25%) | 15 (25%) | 12 (20%) | 9 (15%) |
| Business & finance (units, % of degree) | — | 6 (10%) | — | 6 (10%) | 9 (15%) |
| Writing, research & breadth (units, % of degree) | 4.5 (8%) | 4.5 (8%) | 4.5 (8%) | 4.5 (8%) | 3 (5%) |
| Open units | 30 (50%) | 27 (45%) | 24 (40%) | 21 (35%) | 12 (20%) |
| Best suited to | Law, MBA, public policy, business careers; room for a minor. | Banking, investment, financial services. | Grad school in economics, research, quantitative roles. | Quantitative finance, finance grad programs. | Risk, actuarial-adjacent, quant finance, banking. |
| Source | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error |
Getting in
Where students are admitted
Faculty of Social Sciences (or Science for Financial Math & Econ)
When the program is declared
End of first year
Worth knowing
US-curriculum estimated minimum 3.30 unweighted GPA (2026 page); tests optional.
Things worth knowing before choosing
Year 1 decides how open the doors stay
Taking MATH 100/109, MATH 101 and a CSC course in Year 1 keeps every BSc route open; the BA's single calculus course does not.
The finance list has hidden prerequisites
COM 425 needs a C+ in COM 202, 270 or 315, and COM 426 a C+ in COM 270, 316 or 317; both need third-year standing. Choosing ECON courses from the list (405B, 406, 413, 435, 454, 468) instead replaces 1.5–3.0 units of the ECON 300/400 requirement with 300/400-level electives.
ECON 350 needs the BSc math first
Math Economics I builds on Calc II, Calc III and linear algebra; BSc majors need a C or better.
Financial Math & Econ is in Science
The Science version requires 3.0 units from three areas of science; Science admission may carry different high-school math expectations.
Sources
- UVic Undergraduate Calendar (September 2026): Economics BA (with Finance Option)
- UVic Calendar: Economics BSc (with Finance Option)
- UVic Calendar: Financial Mathematics and Economics (BSc)
- UVic Program Planning Worksheet: Economics BA (September 2026)
- UVic Program Planning Worksheet: Financial Mathematics and Economics (September 2026)
- UVic Economics: BA and BSc majors
- UVic admissions: Social Sciences (undecided), including US-curriculum averages
- Course titles are from the calendar; course summaries are paraphrased. Unit tallies are planning estimates, and open units also have to cover UVic's breadth and writing requirements.