Honours

You can apply for the Honours Program in Political Science at the end of your second year in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.


Admission Requirements

Our 2024W admissions process is now closed. Information about our 2025W admissions process will be posted on this page in February 2025.

2024W Admissions FAQ

Students with an average of 80% or higher are encouraged to discuss the Honours Program with our Undergraduate Advisor and consider applying.

Although only a limited number of students can be accepted into the Honours Program, all applicants will be given serious consideration.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide supplementary materials: a brief resumé (no more than 2 pages) and a 250-word description of your special interests in political science, your interests outside the discipline (including your outside reading), and your ultimate career plans.

The required courses in the 54 Credits are the same as the Political Science Major.


Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements for the Honours in Political Science

Graduation from the Honours Program normally requires an 80% grade in at least one Political Science course during the fourth year, a minimum grade of 75% in POLI 492, and a 75% overall average in the final two years.

Honours students must complete at least 60 but no more than 72 credits of Political Science within the 120 credits required by the B.A. degree. At least 48 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, including these required courses: POLI 34*, POLI 380, POLI 390, POLI 492, and at least six additional credits of Political Science seminars at the 400-level.

Entering the fourth year of the Honours Program requires an 80% grade in at least one Political Science course during the third year, a minimum grade of 75% in POLI 390, and a 75% average overall in the third year.

Students not meeting these standards, but nevertheless satisfying all other university requirements for graduation, will be awarded a B.A. in the Major Program.

Seminar Restrictions

Space in our 400-level seminars is extremely limited. Because of this, Honours students are permitted to take POLI_V 492 and a maximum of two additional 400-level POLI seminars during their time at UBC. Members of our Undergraduate Advising Team regularly check seminar enrolments to ensure that students do not exceed this seminar registration limit. If you have exceeded this limit, a member of our advising team will get in touch with you to better understand why you have structured your schedule in this way and confirm which of your extra seminars can be dropped from your schedule. If you are not responsive to our first or follow-up attempts to reach you, we may reduce the number of seminars on your schedule without your input.

Degree Requirements for the Honours in Political Science with International Relations Program

Please note, the graduation requirements for the Honours in Political Science with International Relations are slightly different, both at the lower level and the upper level.

Lower-level requirements

Students take the following courses:

  • POLI 100, POLI 101, POLI 110, and POLI 260, plus one other 200-level Political Science course
  • ECON 101 and 102
  • HIST 102 or 103
  • 12 credits of a language other than English, in addition to the Faculty of Arts language requirement. The language may be the one used to satisfy the Faculty of Arts requirement carried to a higher level, or it may be an additional language. This requirement may be completed in the third and/or fourth year.

Upper-level requirements

Students take the following courses:

  • POLI 34*, 380, 390*, 492*
  • 12 credits from: POLI 360-379, 460-466, of which at least 3 must be from 460-464, 466
  • ECON 355
  • HIST 425 or 432

*POLI 390 is a one-term, six-credit seminar

*POLI 492 is a year-long, 12 credit course in which Honours students develop research skills and write an original thirty-five-page thesis

Requirements for Students Entering the Program From 2024W

The Honours in Political Science with International Relations Program is a 78-credit interdisciplinary program that is made-up of 24 lower-level credits, 6 language credits at any level, and 48-credits of upper-level credits. 

First 60 Credits

Students take the following courses:

  • POLI 100, POLI 110, and POLI 260, plus one other 100/200-level POLI-coded course
  • ECON 101 and 102
  • HIST 102 or 103

60-120 Credits

  • POLI 380, 390, 492 and 6-credits of any 300-level POLI-coded course.
  • 12 credits from: POLI 360-379, 460-469, of which at least 3 must be from 460-464, 466
  • ECON 355
  • HIST 425 or 432

Language requirement

Honours in Political Science with International Relations (PSIR) students are required to complete 6 credits of coursework in one language other than English. The language courses can either be at the upper or lower-level, including any coursework completed prior to admission. These credits must be completed by all PSIR major students and cannot be waived based on prior language study or an existing language competency.

Courses taken to complete the PSIR language requirement can also be used to fulfil the Language as Meaning Breadth Area of the Bachelor of Arts’ Ways of Knowing Breadth Requirements.

If a student has already commenced language studies prior to entering UBC and wishes to continue at a higher level they should consult the administering department to confirm the procedure for placement.

Seminar Restrictions

Space in our 400-level seminars is extremely limited. Because of this, PSIR students are permitted to take POLI_V 492 and a maximum of two additional 400-level POLI seminars during their time at UBC. Members of our Undergraduate Advising Team regularly check seminar enrolments to ensure that students do not exceed this seminar registration limit. If you have exceeded this limit, a member of our advising team will get in touch with you to better understand why you have structured your schedule in this way and confirm which of your extra seminars can be dropped from your schedule. If you are not responsive to our first or follow-up attempts to reach you, we may reduce the number of seminars on your schedule without your input.


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