International Economics

at UBC's

Vancouver Campus

Gain a deep understanding of how the global economy works, as well as strong technical training that will allow you to go on to a career in business, government, or academia. This rigorous and challenging curriculum is built around core courses from the Vancouver School of Economics and the UBC Sauder School of Business.

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Program information

  • Campus: Vancouver
  • Faculty: Vancouver School of Economics
  • Degree: Bachelor of International Economics
  • Length 4 yrs
  • Co-op Yes
    You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
  • Honours No
    You can study intense specialization in a single field.

The Bachelor of International Economics (BIE) is a distinct four-year, full-time degree offered by the Vancouver School of Economics at UBC with support from UBC Sauder School of Business. This academically rigorous degree provides strong technical training and a broad curriculum that examines topics such as international trade, international finance, international development, and environmental economics.

Campus features

UBC’s Vancouver School of Economics is consistently ranked number one in Canada and among the best in the world, with an established tradition of research excellence, high-quality graduate and undergraduate education, and community engagement.

Your future

A UBC education will introduce you to people and ideas from around the world, open doors to new opportunities, and take you places you never imagined. You’ll graduate not only with expertise in your chosen field, but with the skills you need to continue growing, learning, and evolving with your career over time. As an International Economics graduate, you’ll be equipped for a career as a professional or academic economist in the public, non-governmental, or private sectors.

Program graduates

  • Business Analyst, Electronic Arts
  • Research Assistant, Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
  • Graduate Student in Computational Finance, Carnegie Mellon
  • Consulting Analyst, Willis Towers Watson
  • Senior Consultant, Deloitte
  • Research Assistant, Bank of Canada

Program requirements

English-language requirements

English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.

General admission requirements

IB Diploma Programme

  • Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.

IB Certificate Courses

  • IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
  • IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.

Degree-specific requirements: International Economics

  • IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL. (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable.)

Related courses

The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.

  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics and Computation (will consider Chemistry and Physics in this category)
  • Social Studies (only Economics, Ethics, First Nations or Contemporary Indigenous Studies, Geography, Law, Psychology, and Social Studies)
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