At Sciences Po, you'll have one major which you can choose to continue to further specialize at UBC through the Faculty of Arts' many undergraduate research opportunities. You may find that you want to pursue a different major at UBC, one that might complement your Sciences Po major or one that is entirely different! The opportunities are endless, and it's up to you to decide which study paths best suit your future goals and aspirations.
Dual Degree students are expected to successfully complete the first and second year of the Sciences Po undergraduate curriculum in order to come to UBC. To learn more about Sciences Po's undergraduate curriculum, see the Sciences Po: Years 1 and 2 page.
All students follow Sciences Po's academic rules and regulations during their first two years.
At the end of your second year, you will choose a major at UBC. During your third and fourth years, you will further specialize in your chosen area of study and follow program requirements for your chosen specialty.
Areas of Specialization
Your studies at Sciences Po prepare you for one of the five UBC majors below. These are simply the "facilitated majors" that the Program can guarantee you'll be able to complete within two years: while Dual Degree students may pursue any of the BA programs, many of them require extensions to your degree timeline.
During the Spring Advising Tour, you'll sit down with an advisor individually to discuss your selection and whether any preparation at Sciences Po is necessary beforehand. Once declared, your program requirements will be adjusted individually to reflect your previous coursework and the specific arrangements applicable to Dual Degree students.
To pursue a major in International Relations at UBC, you should ensure your coursework at Sciences Po in Years 1 and 2 includes the following:
- Information to follow
Requirements at UBC:
- Majors Program Requirements
- BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
To pursue a major in Political Science at UBC, you should ensure your coursework at Sciences Po in Years 1 and 2 includes the following:
- Information to follow
Requirements at UBC:
- Majors Program Requirements
- BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
To pursue a major in History at UBC, you should ensure your coursework at Sciences Po in Years 1 and 2 includes the following:
- Information to follow
Requirements at UBC:
- Majors Program Requirements
- BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
Students have two options in Geography: you can pursue a BA in Human Geography, or a BA in Environment and Sustainability.
To pursue a major in Geography at UBC, you should ensure your coursework at Sciences Po in Years 1 and 2 includes the following:
- Information to follow
Requirements at UBC:
- Human Geography Program Requirements
- Environment and Sustainability Program Requirements
- BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
To pursue a major in Sociology at UBC, you should ensure your coursework at Sciences Po in Years 1 and 2 includes the following:
- Information to follow
Requirements at UBC:
- Majors Program Requirements
- BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
Other Areas of Specialization
Depending on the major, students may also be able to pursue a major outside of any of the ones listed above. The Faculty of Arts offers a diverse array of specializations. While some of these may require an application, dual degree students who are interested should reach out to their academic advisor as soon as possible to create a study plan and get an idea of how long it may take to complete their studies.
International Relations
Students in the dual degree program can also apply to major in International Relations. Admission to the International Relations major is competitive, and by application only.
To pursue a major in International Relations at UBC, you should ensure your coursework at Sciences Po in Years 1 and 2 includes the following:
- Information to follow
Requirements at UBC:
- Program Admissions Requirements
- Majors Program Requirements
- BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
Common Questions about the UBC BA
Your studies at Sciences Po prepare you to major in the following areas: History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology. You can read more about each specialization at UBC in Years 3 and 4.
Dual Degree students are also eligible to apply for UBC Arts' International Relations program. An application is required and admission is competitive.
Dual Degree students can also pursue a major outside of the five majors or International Relations. You may be interested in majoring in Asian Studies or Philosophy! Depending on the major, Dual Degree students may be able to pursue specializations outside of the ones that they are prepared for at Sciences Po, and are encouraged to get in touch with their academic advisor as soon as possible to start building a study path that meets their research and educational interests. See the full list of specializations in the Faculty of Arts to get an idea of what you may be interested in.
Yes! The Faculty of Arts offers different types of specializations. If you have more than one interest, you might choose to add a minor or another major. Some specializations require you apply for a major, minor, combined major or honours degree. There are several ways to pursue your degree:
- Major — Your major is the focus of your degree.
- Double Major — If you’d like two areas of focus in your degree, you might choose to complete two major specializations. You won’t have much room for courses outside of your two majors.
- Minor — You can opt to include a secondary focus to your degree. You’ll complete 10 courses (30 credits) in your minor, which leaves you some room to take courses in other areas outside of your specialty.
- Combined major — Two complementary fields of study can be combined into one major. Please note that not all specializations can be pursued as a combined major.
- Honours — An honours degree will offer you a more intensive study of your specialization, and includes a thesis, which involves conducting independent research. Many graduate programs recommend completing an honours degree, but an honours program is not required to pursue graduate studies in North America. An honours degree does not leave much room for courses outside of your specialization.
Yes! You can opt to include a secondary focus to your degree. You’ll complete 10 courses (30 credits) in your minor, which leaves you some room to take courses in other areas outside of your specialty. As a student in the Faculty of Arts, you can add a minor in a specialization in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Science, or apply for the minor in commerce.
Yes! The UBC BA encourages students to explore areas outside of your major. Elective courses are useful tools to explore areas that are related to or complement your specialty, keep up with your language skills, and learn something completely new! UBC Arts offers thousands of courses ranging from the humanities, to the social sciences, to the creative and performing arts. All dual degree students are encouraged to take advantage of this wide range of courses to tailor their study path, and also have some fun at the same time.
Specializations such as a double major, combined major, or an honours program will limit your ability to take elective courses due to the highly-focused nature of those specializations.
Please see the Academic Advising page for full details on grade conversion between Sciences Po and UBC.
Yes! The Faculty of Arts at UBC teaches many languages for students of all levels. You can study a language that you already know, have studied at Sciences Po, or a brand new language that you have not learned before. UBC offers classes for absolute beginners, or also heritage classes for students who may already speak a certain language.
UBC Arts offers a wide variety of languages, including but not limited to: Mandarin, French, German, Japanese, Cantonese, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Latin, Russian, and Italian. Students can also study hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓/Musqueam language, the Coast Salish language traditionally spoken in and around Vancouver. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is the language of the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam peoples, on which UBC is located.
See the Faculty of Arts specialization list for a full list of languages offered at UBC.
This depends on the courses that you have taken at Sciences Po. Be sure to keep all copies of your course syllabi, so you can use them when working with your academic advisor at UBC.
You will register for your third year courses in June of your second year. From March to June, you'll be working with the academic advisor to create a study plan. You will register yourself into your third year courses. Detailed information on registration can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Registration Resources
The UBC Sciences Po Dual Degree has dedicated advisors to help you create a study plan during your time at UBC, and support you throughout your studies. Be sure to contact your advisor and stay in touch with them!