Fine Arts

Fine Arts Co-op is optional for students studying:

Art History and Visual Studies
Cultural Resource Management
Music
Professional Writing
Theatre
Visual Arts
Writing

How co-op works

Co-op gives you hands-on paid work experience related to what you're studying. It's the perfect way to develop your skills and find a career you love.

Learn more about what co-op is, how it works with your degree, and what to expect as a co-op student.

How to join

You'll join co-op beginning in your second year. To join, you must:

be registered in at least one of the following:
- degree program (BA, BFA, BSc, BMus) in the Faculty of Fine Arts
- Cultural Resource Management Program
have completed your first year of study
have a minimum B average
be a full-time UVic student
enrol in FA 201 either in the Fall or Spring term (Fine Arts graduate students are also eligible for co-op and will register for FA 501). Registration is open for the Spring intake. Register by January 10. Please note: If you have completed IS 310D: LE,NONET Preparation Seminar or another course equivalent to Introduction to Professional Practice, please contact us directly for admission.

International students: we recommend registering for the Fall HUMA 201/501 course to allow time to apply for your co-op work permit before your first work term.

After registering for FA 201 or FA 501, you'll be invited to complete the Humanities and Fine Arts Co-op Program Application. You'll receive confirmation of your acceptance into the program from the Humanities and Fine Arts co-op coordinator.

Once you're accepted

You will begin your co-op education through FA 201: Introduction to Professional Practice classes, which you'll take once before your first work term. Graduate students will complete FA 501: Introduction to Professional Practice classes.

Your course will include 8 in-person, synchronous sessions, along with readings and assignments.

The goal of the course is to give you baseline tools and skills to help you in your co-op (and later, full-time) job hunt. You'll learn about the hiring process, passive and active search options, résumé and cover letter writing, professionalism and ethics, interview skills, networking skills and how to be successful on your work term.

Workshop times:

Fall 2024: Fridays 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. (October 4 – November 22)
Spring 2025: Friday 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 .p.m. (January 17 – March 7)

Program formats

The following program formats are available:

co-op (traditional format)
work experience program
parallel co-op (part-time)
post-study internship
entrepreneurial co-op

Learn more about these types of co-op.

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 and the responsibilities of your co-op job.

Here is an average monthly salary for a Fine Arts work term:

undergraduate: $3,068.32
graduate: $3,934.88

View salary estimates for all programs.

Work terms

Co-op work terms begin in January, May and September and are typically 4 months long.

undergraduate co-op: 3 work terms (4 or 5 optional)
work experience program: 1 or 2 work terms
master's students: 2 work terms
PhD students: 3 work terms
continuing studies diploma: 1 work term

Learn more about:

Sample employers & jobs

During your co-op terms, you could work for:

government (municipal, provincial or federal)
theatres
galleries
libraries
arts groups
non-profit organizations
newspapers and publishers
private companies (all sizes)

Job examples:

3D animation and digital media intern—Western Digital
box office coordinator—Victoria Jazz Society
curatorial assistant—Legacy Art Gallery
junior analyst—Government of Canada
marketing and development assistant—Open Space Gallery
multimedia coordinator—Pacific Peoples’ Partnership
production and editorial assistant—Harbour Publishing
programming assistant—Maritime Museum of BC
technical writer—SAP

A student smiles while standing in front of a colourful background.

Kylee Hyde (music)

My name is Kylee, and I’m studying for a Bachelor Of Music at Macquarie University in NSW, Australia. I studied at UVic from September to December of 2022, and worked at Legacy Art...

Office & contacts

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

Office: Clearihue D128

Co-op coordinator:
Marc Christensen
hufaco@uvic.ca
250-721-7629

Co-op assistant:
Annette Bailey-Smith
hufacoop@uvic.ca
250-721-8841

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.