Studying Economics in Ontario
You can’t always apply to economics directly. Some universities admit you straight into it; others admit you into a broad first-year category and you choose economics later. That difference is why searching for a major by name can make it look like a university doesn’t offer it.
Apply broad, choose economics later
Western University
Apply to Social Science (EO)
You choose economics at the end of first year, during Intent to Register in March.
The trap: Social Science admission only requires ENG4U, but Western states 'Advanced Functions MHF4U and Calculus and Vectors MCV4U are required for all Economics modules.' Get admitted without them and you cannot take the first-year sequence the modules depend on. Economics is in Social Science (EO), not in DAN MOS (ED) — those are two different codes.
https://welcome.uwo.ca/what-can-i-study/undergraduate-programs/social-science.htmlUniversity of Toronto — St. George
Apply to Social Sciences
You choose economics at the end of first year.
Economics is an HBA under Social Sciences but still requires MCV4U despite being an arts category. The Major is limited enrolment: ECO101H1 and ECO102H1 at 63% each (or ECO105Y1 at 80%) plus a qualifying first-year math credit at its own minimum. Completely separate from Rotman Commerce.
https://future.utoronto.ca/program/economics/University of Toronto — Mississauga
Apply to Social Sciences
You choose economics after first year (4.0 credits).
Economics HBA comes through Social Sciences (TMS), and so do Financial Economics and Economics & Political Science. There is also an Economics BCom, which is reached through UTM's business admission category instead — see the commerce/business entry, where the OUAC code is currently changing.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/programs/economics-hbaUniversity of Toronto — Scarborough
Apply to Management
You choose economics end of first year, on ACORN.
There is no standalone economics degree at UTSC — the programs are Economics for Management Studies (HBA, BA or BBA), run by the Department of Management, so you apply under Management (TSM). That means Advanced Functions AND Calculus & Vectors, mid 80s, and a supplementary application (SAF, possible interview) even for the Arts version.
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/programs/economics-management-studies-hbaUniversity of Waterloo
Apply to Honours Arts
You choose economics at the end of first year.
No Economics admission code. "Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Economics as your major at the end of first year." Honours Arts asks only for any 4U English at 70%, but Waterloo strongly recommends Advanced Functions and Calculus and Vectors because economics is mathematically intensive — you can make them up in first year if you did not take them. If you want the quantitative version, Mathematical Economics is a different route entirely: a major inside the Mathematics code (wm), with calculus required for admission rather than merely recommended.
https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/economics
Apply straight to economics
Queen's
Economics is a NEW direct-entry code in Arts and Science, which is why older guides and blogs still tell you to enter through Arts. Both routes work — QA plus Plan Selection still reaches the ECON plans — but QAE gets you in from day one. CAVEAT: OUInfo lists QAE as a new direct-entry program, but Queen's own Ontario admission-requirements table does not yet list Economics separately; verify the code on OUAC. Either route, the ECON plans need first-year university calculus, so take a 4U calculus course in Grade 12.
McMaster
McMaster is unusual here — Economics has its own Level 1 program you apply to straight from Grade 12, and McMaster states you are automatically placed in the Economics Honours BA at the end of first year (you can instead apply to co-op, the specialist option, combined honours, or Economics & Mathematics). You can also reach Economics through Social Sciences I, but then it is a ranked Level 2 choice instead of automatic.
Read off each university’s own admissions pages, and covering the seven campuses Ontario students apply to most. Entry structures change — confirm with the university before you build a timetable around one. Search all programs.