Skip to main content
People Departments Maps Buildings Rooms A-Z
University
of Victoria
Apply Library
Sign in Online tools Sign out
Co-operative Education

Computer Science

Computer Science Co-op is optional for students. This program is housed within the Engineering and Computer Science Co-op Program.

Office & contacts

Our regular business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Office: ECS 204
engrcoop@uvic.ca
250-472-5800

Co-op coordinator for undergraduate students (student # ending in 0-4)     
Sheryl Thompson (ECS 216)
sthompson@uvic.ca

Co-op coordinator for undergraduate students (student # ending in 5-9)     
Mostafa Rahimpour (ECS 212)
mrahim@uvic.ca

Co-op coordinator for graduate students
Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226)
wbeairsto@uvic.ca 

Career educator
Karae White (CSB 110)
karaewhite@uvic.ca

Full Co-op and Career staff directory

Undergraduate students

Co-op is available to students majoring in computer science and students with combined majors in computer science. The program is optional and interested students must apply. 

Undergraduate formats available:

  • regular full-time co-op work terms
  • entrepreneurial co-op
  • parallel co-op (part-time)

Program facts:

What is required?

Undergraduate co-op requirements:

  • completed CSC 110, MATH 100 (or MATH 109)
  • at least 4.5 units on your last academic term
  • a minimum grade of C+ in any computer science courses and a minimum grade of C in any mathematics or statistics courses taken in your last academic term
  • no F, E or N in courses taken on your last academic term

Undergraduate work experience program requirements: 

  • completed or enrolled in at least 3.0 credits of 300- or 400-level CSC or SENG courses

Transfer students must complete at least one academic term at UVic.

How to join

There are two admission periods per year:

  • September 1 to 22 (fall intake)
  • January 1 to 22 (spring intake)

Apply for the regular Co-op Program or work experience program by logging into the co-op portal.

  • use your UVic NetLink ID and password
  • once logged in, select “Co-op” on the navigation menu 
  • follow the prompts to complete your application

Note: You will be unable to apply using the above method if:

  • you've previously been or are currently in another co-op program at UVic
  • you're NOT in the Faculty of Engineering
  • you're trying to apply outside of the admission periods

If you are unable to apply through the portal, please contact us.

If admitted to the program, you'll need to sign a copy of the Terms & Conditions at the start of your program.

Fees

Co-op students pay a co-op tuition fee for each work term. It's free to join co-op and attend the preparation course—you'll pay your tuition fee after you secure a co-op work term.

You'll pay your fees according to the same tuition fee deadlines as regular course fees.

Fees per work term for undergraduate students:

  • domestic students: $807.56
  • international students: $1,696.74

Fees per work term for graduate students:

  • domestic students: $807.56
  • international students: $1,015.71

Note that the graduate co-op tuition fee is different than the graduate installment fee. If you are a grad student and register for a co-op work term, during that term, you'll pay:

  • the grad co-op program fee  
  • the grad ancillary fees

If you register for a course (e.g. thesis 596 or 598) and a co-op work term in the same term, during that term, you'll pay:

  • the grad co-op program tuition fee
  • the course tuition fee
  • the grad ancillary fees

Questions about co-op tuition fees? Email us or call 250-721-7032 for assistance.

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

Here is an average monthly salary for a full-time computer science work term:

  • undergraduate: $3,437.78
  • graduate: $4,747.09

View salary estimates for all programs.

Work terms

Co-op work terms occur in the fall, spring or summer terms and are typically 4 months long, but can also be 8 or 12 months long.

  • undergraduate co-op: 4 work terms
  • undergraduate work experience: 2 work terms

The work experience program provides all the same benefits and support as the co-op program, but you'll complete 2 work terms instead of 4. The program is a great option for students who are in the late stages of their degree.

If you are already part of the computer science co-op program and you would like access to search for co-op jobs, please complete our co-op jobs access form.

Learn more about:

Sample jobs

  • software developer
  • security analyst
  • systems administrator
  • systems auditor
  • data administration
  • technical writer   
  • operations manager
  • web technician
  • strategic analyst
  • researcher
  • networks architect or engineer
  • intelligence developer
  • systems designer
  • web developer
  • programmer
A student smiles at the employer while sitting at a desk in front of a window overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Tanvir Kahlon (software engineering)

As someone who is passionate about problem solving and design, Tanvir Kahlon (he/him) knew he wanted to study at a university where he could be challenged. The international student from India was...

A photo of Aislinn Dressler. She is wearing a black sweatshirt and is holding the camera in front of her. The background is blurred.

Aislinn Dressler (civil engineering)

As a civil engineering student, Aislinn Dressler is incredibly driven. The fourth-year student has leveraged each of her co-op experiences to learn about herself and develop the perfect career...

Two students smile at the camera.

Alex McKay and Nick Saar (engineering)

Engineering students Alex McKay and Nick Saar designed a pre-incident plan for a navy base fire department.

Two students stand on a ski hill wearing goggles and ski suits.

Blaine Tubungbanua (mechanical engineering)

I had always entertained the idea of an international co-op, but had never considered going to Germany, or even Europe, but I saw the posting for Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth Germany,...

A student holds a Rubik's cube. There are many colourful engineering toys in front of him.

Casey Woo (mechanical engineering)

As a fourth-year student in mechanical engineering, Casey Woo was excited to share his knowledge and passion for solving problems with camp participants at Engineering for Kids.

A student holds a vine in a vineyard.

Christine Wong Chong (biomedical engineering)

When Christine Wong Chong enrolled as a biomedical engineering student at UVic, she was inspired by the prospect of working in a field that contributes to medical advancements that improve...

A student stands in front a peacock.

Cornelius Ong (mechanical engineering)

I'm Cornelius, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at UVic, and I recently completed an 8-month co-op as an Actuator Design Intern with the Tesla Optimus team, Tesla's humanoid robot...

A student sits at a table in front of a meal.

Ellie Walters (electrical engineering)

“Have you ever been to a ball?” No, have you?” I replied. “No, I believe it’s an Austrian tradition,” Vic, one of the...

A photo of a shoreline with some buildings and a cliff.

Hailey Gascoigne (computer engineering)

Hailey Gascoigne, a fourth-year computer engineering student, recently completed an international co-op work term as a Research Intern for Smart Home Technologies at Thomas More University College...

A student smiles while standing in front of a green tree.

Kirsten Krajnc (civil engineering)

Civil engineering co-op Kristen Krajn learned how to collect historical weather data while working with Indigenous Services Canada.

A student and his employer stand talking at the top of a stairs in a glass hallway.

Liam Shatzel (computer science)

When Liam Shatzel (he/him) was choosing a university, he zeroed in on UVic's co-op program in computer science. The chance to put his skills into action during his degree was a deciding factor, and...

A student smiles while standing on a balcony.

Mahsa Torabi (civil engineering)

My name is Mahsa Torabi and I'm from Iran. I'm a third-year civil engineering co-op student who recently completed a co-op work term as a visiting researcher at the Carbon Leadership Forum in...

A student stands in front of a mountain in Nevada

Mariana Latta Suazo (mechanical engineering)

My name is Mariana and I grew up in Kitchener, Ontario and am now in my 4th year of Mechanical engineering at UVic. I picked engineering because of my love for math and science, and my desire to...

A student stands looking over a city.

Matt Lebl (software engineering)

I’m Matt, and I’m a fourth-year student of software engineering at UVic. I decided to take software engineering because I discovered that I love programming, and I’d...

Two students stand on a dock. One wears a life jacket.

Matt Wilkinson (electrical engineering)

Matthew Wilkinson, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, completed his co-op work term as a manufacturing controls intern at Tesla. Operating at the lithium refinery outside of Corpus...

A students uses pipettes to do an experiment.

Robin Brooks (civil engineering)

My name is Robin Brooks, and I grew up on the lands of the Ts'uubaa-asatx peoples (commonly known as Lake Cowichan, BC). I am entering my fourth year of Civil Engineering at the University...

A student wearing a striped shirt sits at a desk in front of a laptop.

Yichun Zhao (computer science)

For UVic student Yichun Zhao, helping develop a computer system that ensured people entering BC from outside the country were managing self-isolation was a “wild ride.”

Graduate students

As a graduate student, you can take part in the optional co-op or work experience program.

Program facts

  • master's students: complete 2 work terms (8 months of work) to receive a co-op designation, or 1 work term to receive a "work experience" endorsement on your degree
  • doctoral students: complete 3 work terms (12 months of work) to receive a co-op designation, or 1 work term to receive a "work experience" endorsement on your degree
  • work terms do not have to be continuous—you can work for different employers on different work terms

Application requirements

  • you must have your grad supervisor's permission to participate in the co-op program and each specific work term
  • you must complete your first co-op work term before the academic term in which you complete your academic requirements (defend your thesis or equivalent)
  • you must complete regular work term requirements (including Introduction to Professional Practice, competency assessments and a work term report)

How to apply

To apply, complete and submit the graduate co-op application form.

Due dates each term

  • January 22 for spring intake
  • September 21 for fall intake

International students should apply at least 2 semesters before the intended work term to ensure that there is enough time to receive a co-op work permit. For example:

  • summer work term: submit your intake form and attend the Introduction to Professional Practice workshop in the fall of the previous year
  • fall work term: submit your intake form and attend the spring intake workshop in the same year

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. 

Co-op Student of the Year

Are you an excellent ambassador for the Engineering and Computer Science Co-op and Career Program and the Faculty of Engineering? If you’ve contributed to your co-op employer, UVic, ENGR Co-op and Career 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

As a winning student, you may get to represent UVic provincially for the Association for Co-operative Education in BC/Yukon award and nationally for the Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) award.

The runner-up receives $250.

This award is by nomination only by your co-op coordinator.