- Manager, RBC Royal Bank
- Manager of Financial Reporting, Goldcorp Inc.
- Senior actuarial analyst, Willis Towers Watson
- Data analyst, Fulcrum Management Solutions Ltd.
- PhD candidate in Finance, University of Toronto
Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time Ģą˝´«Ă˝international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all .
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Science website to learn more about Mathematics and Economics.
Program information
This combined major will give you a solid foundation in mathematics and an understanding of key economics principles. You’ll examine subjects such as microeconomics, empirical economics, differential calculus, mathematical proof, and more.
Program overview
- Campus
- Vancouver
- Program length
- 4 years
- Honours This option has additional requirements compared to those required in a Major specialization. Students must maintain high academic standing and may have to write a graduating thesis.
- Yes
- Co-op Co-op is an optional program where students alternate between academic terms and paid work terms. It’s an opportunity to gain relevant job experience while completing your degree.
- Yes
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- Degree
- Bachelor of Science
What you'll learn
Mathematics is about revealing and explaining patterns – from an electrical impulse in an animal’s nervous system to a fluctuation in stock market prices. Being able to simplify complex situations through abstraction and systematic reasoning is a great asset for any scientist.
Both UBC’s School of Economics and Department of Mathematics are very highly regarded internationally. The combined Major of Mathematics and Economics is available either through the Faculty of Science towards a BSc degree, or the Faculty of Arts towards a BA degree, and each allowing a large selection of courses in various areas of pure and applied mathematics. This is one of a wide range of options in honours, major, combined major, or minor programs for focused mathematics or combined with other subjects.
Experiential learning and research
The Department of Mathematics is associated with many institutes, such as the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS), the Institute of Applied Mathematics, and MITACS. The Mathematics Library, Math Club, Mathematics Undergraduate Computer Lab and Mathematics Learning Centre are resources for available to undergraduate students in their mathematical studies.
Campus features
The Vancouver School of Economics at Ģą˝´«Ă˝is ranked top in Canada, and in the top 20 such departments in the world. Ģą˝´«Ă˝economics alumnus Robert Mundell won the 1999 Nobel Prize for Economics, following his groundbreaking analysis of exchange rates and monetary policy.
Program advantages
As a student in Mathematics and Economics, you will study at one of the top-ranked universities in mathematics and economics in Canada and the world, attending lectures in the beautiful Iona Building, home to the Vancouver School of Economics. You will develop critical statistical reasoning, computational, mathematical, and communication skills.
Courses
There are hundreds of courses you can take within Mathematics and Economics. Here are a few you might like.
Elements of theory and of Canadian policy and institutions concerning the economics of growth and business cycles, national income accounting, interest and exchange rates, money and banking, the balance of trade.
Design, development, and analysis of robust software components. Topics such as software design, computational models, data structures, debugging, and testing.
Consumer behaviour, producer theory, exchange, monopoly, oligopoly, externalities, public goods, general equilibrium and welfare economics.
Probability spaces, random variables, distributions, expectation, conditional probabilities, convergence of random variables, generating and characteristic functions, weak and strong laws of large numbers, central limit theorem.
Outcomes
As a Mathematics and Economics student, you’ll use knowledge of economic data, mathematical models, and statistical techniques to develop skills in problem solving and analysis. Analyzing the relationship between economic, cultural, and political issues in order to forecast and explain economic trends and understand policies, markets, and development are skills that employers from diverse industries value.
Program graduates
Take action & plan
Program requirements
Choose application type:
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 Ģą˝´«Ă˝Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Science
- 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)
- One of IB Biology, IB Chemistry, or IB Physics
- Grade 11 or equivalent Chemistry, and
- Grade 11 or equivalent Physics (may be waived with grades of 5 in IB Chemistry and in your IB Mathematics course)
Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Physics requirements listed are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Chemistry and/or Physics courses.
For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.
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
- Sciences
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you’re unable to visit Ģą˝´«Ă˝in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current Ģą˝´«Ă˝students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Related programs
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Science website to learn more about Mathematics and Economics.
Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time Ģą˝´«Ă˝international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all .
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Science website to learn more about Mathematics and Economics.