Economics (PhD)
Research in our department addresses vital issues like poverty, climate change and fluctuating housing markets. Our PhD program will provide you with sound knowledge and an expanded range of theory and tools. Learn how to apply these tools to areas of policy importance.
Common areas of research for dissertations include:
- Econometrics
- Environmental and resource economics
- Labour economics
- Industrial organization
- Development and growth
- Financial economics
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Doctorate
- Study options:
- Full-time study
- Program delivery:
- On-campus
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Outcomes
Graduates with a PhD in Economics will be able to:
- use applied and theoretical models to answer economic and policy questions
- become an expert in one or two chosen fields within economics
- synthesize existing knowledge and critically assess new economic ideas
- communicate economics concepts and research results effectively
- complete a PhD dissertation at a level to be published in top international academic journals
- work in universities, research institutions, government or the private sector
- teach economics at the undergraduate or graduate level
Find a supervisor
PhD students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:
- you must list a potential supervisor on your application
- this faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission
- include an email from your supervisor with your application
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you’ve found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Chris Willmore
Associate teaching professor Engineering economics, economics of health care, economics history, industrial organization, labour economics
Colette Salemi
Assistant professor development economics, environmental and natural resource economics
Daniel Rondeau
Professor Environmental and resource economics, microeconomics, experiential methods
David Scoones
Associate professor Applied microeconomics, microeconomic policy, conflict economics
Donn Feir
Professor Indigenous economics, applied microeconometrics and economic history
Elisabeth Gugl
Associate professor; associate chair Public economics, family economics, applied microeconomic theory
Emma Hutchinson
Assistant professor Environmental economics, law and economics, applied economics
Felix Pretis
Associate professor Econometrics, climate change, environmental economics
Justin Wiltshire
Assistant professor Labour economics, urban/regional economics, applied microeconomics
Ke Xu
Associate professor Financial market microstructure theory and empirics, applied time series analysis, macroeconomics
Kenneth G. Stewart
Professor; acting undergraduate advisor Econometrics, macroeconomics
Lijun Zhang
Associate teaching professor Pedagogical research, research on international trade & multinational firms
Linda A. Welling
Associate professor Economics of the family, applied microeconomic theory, industrial organization
Marco Cozzi
Associate teaching professor Macroeconomics, empirical microeconomics, computational economics
Martin Farnham
Associate professor; graduate advisor Public finance, labour economics, urban economics
Pascal Courty
Professor Industrial organization, personnel economics, behaviour economics
Paul Schure
Professor Financial economics, financial intermediation theory, industrial organization
Vasco Gabriel
Professor; chair Econometrics, applied macroeconomics, empirical finance
Show me program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Your program details
Application deadlines
September – apply by February 1
All applicants should allow additional time for tests such as the GRE or English language proficiency.
September – apply by February 1
All applicants should allow additional time for tests such as the GRE or English language proficiency.
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
As part of your application, you must submit:
- a statement of research interests that explains why you want to pursue a doctorate degree in economics and provides a detailed description of your research interests. You must also identify up to three faculty members from our department who share your research interests and may act as your supervisor
- a writing sample in the form of one recent research paper
- a current résumé
- two reference names and their email addresses
- post-secondary transcripts
If your undergraduate degree is from a university outside of Canada or the US, you’ll need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Submit your unofficial scores with your application.
Program specific requirements
As part of your application, you must submit:
- a statement of research interests that explains why you want to pursue a doctorate degree in economics and provides a detailed description of your research interests. You must also identify up to three faculty members from our department who share your research interests and may act as your supervisor
- a writing sample in the form of one recent research paper
- a current résumé
- two reference names and their email addresses
- post-secondary transcripts
If your undergraduate degree is from a university outside of Canada or the US, you’ll need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Submit your unofficial scores with your application.
Completion requirements
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
Funding & aid
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Related programs
Need help?
Contact Isaac Earl at gradecon@uvic.ca or 250-472-4409.