Business
Co-op is mandatory for students studying:
- Commerce
- Master of Global Business (MGB)
- Master in Management (MM)
Co-op may be mandatory for students in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
Office & contacts
Our regular business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Office: BEC 112
Co-op and Career assistants
- Alisha Tedder (bizmasterscoop@uvic.ca)
Co-op coordinators
BCom co-op coordinators
- Alissa Wakeman (BEC 122)
bcomcoop5@uvic.ca - Alison Badali (BEC 124)
bcomcoop1@uvic.ca - Sheri Yasue (BEC 128)
bcomcoop2@uvic.ca - Barb Svec (BEC 126)
bcomcoop4@uvic.ca - Kristina Stewart (BEC 130)
bcomcoop3@uvic.ca
MBA co-op coordinator
- Andrée-Anne Leroy (BEC 289B)
mbacareercoop@uvic.ca
MGB co-op coordinator
- Shawn Tripp (BEC 132)
mgbcoop@uvic.ca
Placement coordinators
- Dina Dolovac (BEC 118)
bizcoop.coordination@uvic.ca - Cathy Burrage (BEC 120)
bizcoop.operations@uvic.ca
Career educator
Employment development officer
- Christine Bobyn (BEC 107)
busedo@uvic.ca
Acting Associate Director
Rishi Behari (BEC 116)
buscoopad@uvic.ca
Program facts & formats
UVic offers Canada's only business program with mandatory co-ops for all undergraduate students enrolled in our faculty.
Commerce
- three co-op work terms required
- opportunity to earn credit for first work term by work term challenge or work term transfer
- must complete COM 204 Introduction to Professional Practice before first work term
MBA
- co-op may be mandatory depending on work experience (decided upon application)
- for students with less than three years of work experience, one co-op work term is mandatory
- for those with more than three years of work experience, one optional co-op work term is available
- must complete MBA Introduction to Professional Practice before co-op work term
MGB
- mandatory internship program (automatically enrolled; no application required)
- one co-op work term/internship required
- must complete MGB 502 Personal and Professional Development before work term/internship
MM
- mandatory internship program (automatically enrolled; no application required)
- one co-op work term/internship required
- must complete MM 504 Workplace and Career Preparation before work term/internship
Program formats available
- traditional co-op (many international co-op opportunities available)
- work term challenge (BCom first work term only)
- work term transfer (BCom first work term only)
- entrepreneurial co-op
Fees
Commerce
As a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) student, you must complete three co-op work terms. You'll pay your co-op tuition fee on an installment plan, with one installment per term:
- $388.10 for domestic students
- $755.08 for international students
If you are pre-admitted to the BCom program, you'll start paying the fee at the beginning of second year.
If you're admitted directly into third year, you'll start paying the fee when you begin your third year core courses.
If you challenge a work term, you’ll pay five installments of the co-op program fee instead of six. You can find more info on transfers and challenges in the UVic Calendar.
Because you’ll be charged each term, tell your academic advisor right away if you’re leaving your degree program temporarily or permanently.
MBA
As a Master of Business Administration (MBA) student, you'll pay a graduate co-op tuition fee for each co-op work term:
- $776.20 for domestic students
- $976.27 for international students
MGB
As a Master of Global Business (MGB) student, you'll pay an internship fee for each term you are registered in your MGB internship. Please see Gustavson MGB for details.
Average salaries
You'll receive a salary from your employer during each co-op work term. Co-op salaries vary according to many factors, including:
- your previous work experience
- the industry you're working in
- the responsibilities of your co-op job
Average monthly salaries:
- Commerce: $3,100.34
- MBA: $3,951.94
- MGB: $3,414.61 (only 300 hours per work term)
- MMM: $3,397.00
Work terms
Co-op work terms begin in January, May and September and are typically 4 months long.
Work term transfer
If you've completed a co-op work term at an accredited post-secondary institution (including UVic), you may be able apply for a transfer credit for one work term. You must apply in writing for a work term transfer during your initial academic term of the 3rd year core of the BCom program.
- learn how to apply for a work term transfer
Work term challenge
You may apply for credit for COM 001 (your first work term course) through the work term challenge application process in the fall of your core year, if you are a third-year BCom student enrolled in COM 204 (or you previously completed COM 204 during your second year, but you did not register a pre-core work term).
- learn how to apply for a work term challenge
Finding a work term
In addition to the general process for finding a co-op job you need to complete the terms & conditions form in the co-op portal to receive access to co-op job postings.
Registering a work term
To register your co-op/internship, complete this letter of employment and send it to your co-op coordinator for review.
During your work term
- learn more about what happens during your work term
After your work term
At the end of your co-op work term/internship, you will reflect on your work experience by completing one of the following options:
- work term/internship report
- video report (restrictions apply)
- article
- blog post
- letter to a future student
You may have the opportunity to participate in an online discussion throughout the term instead (restrictions apply).
Final reflective assignment due dates:
- May–August work term: due August 15
- September–December work term: due December 15
- January–April work term: due April 15
If the due date falls on a holiday, or a weekend, the assignment will be due the next business day.
More details can be found in the Co-op Program Manual, located in Brightspace.
Get support
We're here to support you with every step in your co-op journey, from applying to co-op to making sure you're supported at work. Contact your co-op coordinator or office for assistance.
If you identify as having a disability or a mental health condition, if you belong to an equity group, or if you identify as Indigenous, we have additional supports for your co-op experience.
Sample employers & jobs
You could work for co-op employers in the private, public and non-profit sectors—in Victoria, across Canada and abroad. Past examples include:
- AbeBooks—HR assistant
- The Bateman Foundation—marketing and outreach assistant
- BC Ferries—treasury analyst
- BC Ministry of Agriculture—market development business officer
- BC Ministry of Transportation—First Nations project assistant
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong)—events management trainee
- Deloitte—consulting internship, human capital
- Downtown Victoria Business Association—marketing assistant
- KPMG LLP—audit and tax co-op student
- National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces—business analyst
- RE/Max Canada—marketing and social media intern
- RevenueWire Inc.—marketing co-op
- Scotiabank—corporate financial analyst co-op
- Sitka Surf Co.—graphic production agent/online merchandiser
- Whistler Blackcomb—guest services leadership intern
Student of the Year Award
2021 winner - Danielle Lowe
Learn more about Danielle's story.
Award details
Are you an excellent ambassador for Business Co-op? If you’ve contributed to your co-op employer, UVic, Business Co-op and the community, you could be the next Co-op Student of the Year.
Winners receive:
- $500
- a framed certificate
- recognition on the Co-op website
The winning student may also be nominated for the provincial (ACE-WIL) and national (CEWIL) awards.
The runner-up receives $250.
This award is by nomination only by your co-op coordinator.