Degree and Arts Credit Minimum
In order to earn their degree, students must complete at least 120 B.I.E.-eligible credits. Of these 120, at least 72 must be taken within the Faculty of Arts, except in cases where the program requires more than 48 credits outside of Arts.
A minimum of 50% of total BIE degree credits, 50% of upper-level BIE degree credits, and 50% of upper-level BIE Core or Minor credits must be completed while registered as a student in the Faculty of Arts.
Granting of Credit
Credit is granted for all courses completed with at least the minimum passing grade (normally 50%).
B.I.E-eligible Credit
Credit may be applied toward completion of the Bachelor of International Economics degree program as follows:
- Credit from any course in the Faculty of Arts, with the exception of certain MUSC courses, may be applied to the degree.
- Note that while all courses in music history, music theory, music technology, ethnomusicology, and music composition are acceptable, a maximum of 12 credits from the ensemble courses in musical performance may be applied. Credit from individual lessons, aural skills, conducting and repertoire courses is not applicable to the B.I.E.
- Credit earned in Co-op Search Term or Work Term courses is not applicable towards the Bachelor of International Economics. See Arts Co-operative Education Programs and consult the Vancouver School of Economics Career Centre.
- No more than 60 credits of Distance Learning courses can be applied towards the Bachelor of International Economics, and no more than 42 such credits may be taken in the final 60 credits of the BIE program.
- A maximum of 48 credits from outside the Faculty of Arts may be applied towards the BIE degree. Students in Minor programs that require more than 48 credits outside of Arts will be granted a relaxation of this requirement. For example, students completing BIE Minor in Computer Science or some Science subjects may take more than 48 credits outside of Arts, to a maximum that will allow completion of program requirements.
- Note that students granted a relaxation of this requirement must complete the maximum number of Arts credits possible within the BIE degree’s 120 credit total and no non-Arts elective credit will be permitted.
In the 120 credits required and acceptable for the BIE degree, there may be:
- a maximum of 60 credits transferred into the Faculty of Arts; see Transfer and Exchange Credit; and
- A minimum of 48 of these credits must be completed through courses numbered 300 and above; and
- a maximum of three courses, or 9 credits, at the 500-level. See Registration.
Course Equivalency and Credit Exclusion
Students may not earn credit for two courses with significant and pre-defined content overlap. Students are fully responsible for their registration, and are advised to check the Course Schedule for course equivalencies and to review the Science Credit Exclusion Lists to avoid unnecessary registration. Note that credit exclusion does not imply that courses are interchangeable, and meeting specialization requirements may necessitate the completion of a specific course. Students registering in courses dealing with probability and statistics should exercise particular caution.
Credit/D/Fail
Bachelor of International Economics students are permitted to take a limited number of eligible elective credits under the Credit/D/Fail grading scheme. The purpose of allowing this grading scheme is to encourage exploration of subject matter outside the student’s program of study, to emphasize learning and academic exploration of the new and unfamiliar, and to expose students to a broader-based curriculum. See Credit/D/Fail.
Students should further be aware that there are strict rules about how credit earned with Credit/D/Fail grading may be applied to a degree. Choosing the wrong grading scheme may result in the need to take extra courses to complete degree requirements. Students considering this grading scheme are strongly encouraged to speak with an Academic Advisor for course planning and to check Degree Navigator after registration.
Credit earned with Credit/D/Fail grading may not be applied toward any of the following Degree Requirements:
- Bachelor of International Economics degree requirements;
- Bachelor of Arts Breadth Requirements for students entering 2023/24 or earlier, and
- Requirements for a Minor, if applicable.
Students considering transferring to a new degree, or those contemplating a future application to Education, Law, Graduate Studies, Medicine, Dentistry, or other professional programs, should check those programs' websites.
Auditing Courses
Prior to the drop deadline, students may seek permission from the course instructor to audit a course. If permission is granted, and the course is completed to the satisfaction of the instructor, the course will appear on the transcript without credit. If the course is not satisfactorily completed, Fail (F) standing will appear on the transcript. Note that not all courses permit auditing and, as no credit is earned, audited courses may not be used to satisfy program or degree requirements.
Double-counting
Double-counting is defined as applying credit from the same upper-level course towards requirements in two different specializations. Students are allowed to double-count a maximum of 9 credits numbered 300 and higher between a minor and the B.I.E.
Transfer Credit
Students entering a degree program within the Faculty of Arts from a college or another university will receive credit for appropriate courses completed there, subject to the provisions in Applicants from a College or University and Admission Requirements .
Once accepted into the B.I.E. program, students are expected to complete all of their coursework at the UBC Vancouver Campus, with the exception of credit completed through a UBC Go Global student exchange experience. Students in a degree program within the Faculty of Arts who wish to interrupt their UBC studies and take courses in other institutions for credit toward a UBC degree must obtain, in advance, a Letter of Permission from Arts Academic Advising. See also Letter of Permission to Study at Another Institution.
Students currently registered in UBC courses may not concurrently take courses for credit toward the Bachelor of International Economics at other institutions without specific written permission from Arts Academic Advising. See also Letter of Permission to Study at Another Institution.
The Faculty has no obligation to grant transfer credit unless a Letter of Permission has been obtained.