Engineering
Engineering Co-op is mandatory for undergraduate students studying:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Software Engineering
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 coordinators
Biomedical engineering
Ash Senini (ECS 230)
asenini@uvic.ca
Civil engineering (student # ends in 0-3)
Kelly Stegman (ECS 232)
kellystegman@uvic.ca
Civil engineering (student # ends in 4-9)
Leo Spalteholz (ECS 228)
leos@uvic.ca
Computer engineering
Monty Raisinghani (ECS 231)
montyr@uvic.ca
Electrical engineering (student # ends in 0-3)
Kelly Stegman (ECS 232)
kellystegman@uvic.ca
Electrical engineering (student # ends in 4-9)
Monty Raisinghani (ECS 231)
montyr@uvic.ca
Graduate students (except MTIS and MADS)
Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226)
wbeairsto@uvic.ca
Master of Engineering in Applied Data Science (MADS)
David Woodward (ECS 225)
davidwoodward@uvic.ca
Master of Engineering in Telecommunications and Information Security (MTIS)
Imen Bourguiba (ECS 224)
imenbour@uvic.ca
Mechanical engineering (student # ends in 0-4)
Calvin Tripp (ECS 220)
ctripp@uvic.ca
Mechanical engineering (student # ends in 5-9)
Susan Fiddler (ECS 222)
sfiddler@uvic.ca
Software engineering: (student # ends in 0-4)
Ash Senini (ECS 230)
asenini@uvic.ca
Software engineering: (student # ends in 5-9)
Imen Bourguiba (ECS 224)
imenbour@uvic.ca
Undeclared engineering
Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226)
wbeairsto@uvic.ca
Career educator
Karae White (CSB 110)
karaewhite@uvic.ca
Undergraduate programs
As an undergraduate student, you can take part in these co-op formats.
- regular full-time work term
- entrepreneurial co-op
- parallel co-op (part-time)
- work term transfer
- work term challenge
Learn more about these types of co-op.
What is required?
For undergraduate students:- mandatory co-op—part of your degree program
- automatically enrolled; no application required
- 4 work terms required
- must complete ENGR 130 (Introduction to Professional Practice)
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 work term in engineering:
- undergraduate: $3,456.20
- graduate: $4,258.55
View detailed engineering salaries or salaries for all programs.
Fees
As a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSEng) student, you must:
- complete 4 co-op work terms
- pay your co-op tuition fee on an installment plan, with one installment per term
- start paying your co-op tuition fee at the beginning of the first year
Tuition fee installment plan:
- domestic undergraduate students: 8 installments of $380.49
- international undergraduate students: 8 installments of $707.34
- graduate domestic students: $776.20 per work term
- international graduate students: $976.27 per work term
If you're a bridge student admitted directly into third year, you'll start paying the fee when you begin your third-year courses.
If you challenge a work term, you'll pay one fewer installment per challenge. If you're a transfer student, you may transfer up to 2 work terms and pay two fewer installments.
Work terms
Co-op work terms occur in the fall, spring or summer terms and are typically 4 months in length.
If you would like access to search for co-op jobs, please complete our co-op jobs access form.
Work term transfers
If you have received credit for an engineering work term at a previous post-secondary institution before attending UVic's engineering program, you can receive work term transfer credit that counts toward your engineering co-op requirement.
First year students and second year transfer students can transfer (or challenge) a maximum of 1 work term. Third year bridge students can transfer (and/or challenge) a maximum of 2 work terms.
You must apply to transfer a work term during your first term in the engineering program at UVic by submitting the work term transfer form.
Work term challenges
If you have completed relevant engineering work experience before attending UVic's engineering program, you can receive work term challenge credit that counts toward your engineering co-op requirement.
You are required to submit assignments (including a work term challenge report) to complete a work term challenge.
First year students and second year transfer students can challenge (or transfer) a maximum of 1 work term. Third year bridge students can challenge (and/or transfer) a maximum of 2 work terms.
You must apply to challenge a work term during your first term in the engineering program at UVic.
Learn more about:
Sample jobs & employers
Here are a few sample jobs. For specific examples, contact your co-op coordinator.
- audio software engineer with Electronic Arts Canada
- design and production co-op student with Creo
- engineering co-op student with Ballard Power Systems
Potential career paths
- healthcare engineer
- structural designer
- environmental analyst
- software engineer
- cyber security officer
- big data analyst
- project manager
- application developer
Alex McKay and Nick Saar (engineering)
Engineering students Alex McKay and Nick Saar designed a pre-incident plan for a navy base fire department.
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.
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...
Kirsten Krajnc (civil engineering)
Civil engineering co-op Kristen Krajn learned how to collect historical weather data while working with Indigenous Services Canada.
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 programs
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 21 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 Work Term Report Award
Each term, the Vancouver Island Engineering Society (VIES) Awards Committee recognizes undergraduate engineering students for their outstanding co-op work term reports (completed the previous term). Award recipients receive:
- $300
- an award certificate
- a congratulatory letter from VIES
Nomination process
Work term report markers (including faculty, co-op coordinators and teaching assistants) nominate outstanding reports based on:
- the feasibility of the project
- the clarity of the problem and the solutions
- the potential execution of the project (including actionable plans and recommendations)
Representatives from VIES review the nominated reports and select the winners based on the following criteria defined by IEEE Victoria, Iron Ring Camp 23 and VIES:
- IEEE criteria (Communications): the student clearly identified the problem, the plan of work, conclusions and recommendations.
- Iron Ring Camp 23 criteria (Client impact): the student applied a methodical approach to solving a client's technical problem, considering the costs/benefits of the solution and the impact on the client's business.
- Vancouver Island Engineering Society (VIES): the student demonstrated high-level engineering skills and enterprise, as well as professional expertise. This may include making substantial contributions to a research project or completing an entrepreneurial co-op work term that demonstrated building skills and technical innovation.
VIES awards are sponsored by:
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Victoria Section (IEEE)
- Iron Ring Camp 23
- Vancouver Island Engineering Society (VIES)
Summer 2022 winners:
- For: Excellence in professional communications
- With: M3 Mechanical Consultants Inc.
- Topic: Safe Inhalation Sites: Improving IAQ via Ventilation Upgrades
Sabrina (biomedical engineering) worked with M3 Mechanical Consultants Inc to report on the proposed design of a supervised, properly ventilated inhalation site in downtown Victoria BC that aimed to reduce user overdose and death.
The report introduced the types of mechanical ventilation systems and various design options that were cost-effective, met indoor air requirements (IAQ), minimized the amount of demolition or construction, havd a short project timeline, and minimized the frequency of system maintenance.
Sabrina's report was highly helpful to the client and included a solid analysis that clearly recommended the best HVAC solution.
- For: Demonstration of benefit to the client
- With: LaFarge Canada, Hub City Paving
- Topic: Best additives to asphalt to accommodate the trend in high road temperature due to climate change
Bradley's report focused on the improvement of asphalt climate resiliency in response to increased roadway damage due to climate change. ST
Bradley provided a valuable analysis of the best additives to asphalt to accommodate the trend in high road temperatures. He compared recycled rubber tires, recycled drink bottles and produced fibres based on their response to weighted objective charting. Based on his investigation into online research studies, the use of recycled rubber tires was recommended. The recommendation was well presented and should be a value to LaFarge Canada.
- For: Demonstration of high level engineering skills and enterprise
- With: Ocean Networks Canada
- Topic: Wally Crawler: Pan and Tilt Camera Retrofit for Whale Fall Experiment
Colm's project included a technical analysis and design of a pan and tilt positioner and its attachment to ONC’s crawler tracks. There were 5 considerations to resolve, including camera stability, camera field of view, rigidity of the mounting plate, cable management and deployment and recovery. Colm's report included a modeling analysis and design.
Colm undertook a challenging assignment of high value to ONC. There was evidence of strong analytic skills leading to important design decisions and his report reflects the values sought for the VIES award.