Engineering and Computer Science Co-op

Engineering and Computer Science Co-op and Career 

• Office: ECS 204, engrcoop@uvic.ca, 250-472-5800
• Twitter: @UVicEngCareers
• Full Co-op and Career staff directory

Our coordinators are assigned to specific disciplines - find yours below to connect with your co-op coordinator.

Mandatory co-op programs 

Co-op is mandatory for the following programs:

• Biomedical Engineering (undergraduate)
• Civil Engineering (undergraduate)
• Computer Engineering (undergraduate)
• Electrical Engineering (undergraduate)
• Mechanical Engineering (undergraduate)
• Software Engineering (undergraduate)

Program facts:

• Mandatory co-op—part of your degree program
• Automatically enrolled; no application required
• Four work terms required
• Must complete ENGR 130 (Introduction to Professional Practice)

Optional programs

Co-op is optional for the following programs:

• Computer Science – Co-op or Work Experience Program
• Engineering graduate programs

Program facts:

• Not automatically enrolled; application required
• Must complete Introduction to Professional Practice before your first work term

The following co-op program formats are available:

• Parallel co-op (part-time)
• Entrepreneurial co-op
• Work term transfer
• Work term challenge
• Other formats possible - Volunteer work term: In special circumstances, you can take on a "volunteer" work term if the work provides productive and paid, full-time work experience that is related to your program of study. This allows you to volunteer with approved not-for-profit organizations. It must include four months of work and you must receive payment in-kind, for example, an employer contribution to travel, food or housing expenses. Your employer must provide supervision and you must secure proper insurance.

Sample co-op jobs

We've listed a few sample jobs here - 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

TIP: See our What can you do with your degree? sheets for more!

About the Co-op Program

Application requirements

If you're an undergraduate student, you can apply to the Computer Science Co-op Program after you have completed CSC 110, MATH 100 (or MATH 109), and the following:

• 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 on your last academic term
• no F, E or N in courses taken on your last academic term

How to apply

• Apply by January 15 and September 15 each year
• Download and complete the undergraduate co-op application form and drop it off at the Computer Science Co-op office in ECS 204
• If admitted to the program, you will need to sign a copy of the Terms and Conditions form at the start of your program (NOTE: this PDF is provided as a reference only - completed forms must be submitted through the Co-op and Career portal)

About the Work Experience Program

What is it?

The Work Experience Program provides all the same benefits and support as the co-op program, but you'll complete two work terms instead of three or four.

Requirements

• You can apply after you have enrolled in, or completed, at least 3.0 units of 300- or 400-level courses in the Department of Computer Science

How to apply

• Apply by January 15 and September 15 each year
• Download and complete the undergraduate co-op application form and drop it off at the Computer Science Co-op office in ECS 204—make sure to indicate on the form that you are interested in the Work Experience program
• If admitted to the program, you will need to sign a copy of the Terms and Conditions form at the start of your program (NOTE: this PDF is provided as a reference only - completed forms must be submitted through the Co-op and Career portal).

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

Program facts

• Master's students will complete two work terms (8 months of work) to receive a Co-op designation, or one work term to receive a "work experience" endorsement on your degree.
  
• Doctoral students will complete three work terms (12 months of work) to receive a Co-op designation, or one work term to receive a "work experience" endorsement on your degree.
  
• Work terms do not have to be continuous—can work for different employers on different work terms

Application requirements

• You must have your grad supervisor's permission to participate in co-op (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 work term report)

How to apply

• Apply for co-op two terms before you want to go on your first work term (eg., apply in October to go on a work term in May).
• Due dates each term: November 1, July 1, March 1 (or next business day)
• Complete and drop off the following forms to your co-op office. (You can also pick up a hard copy forms package from outside the office.)
  1. Admission Form
  2. Work Term Registration Form – Will also fill out again before each work term

Find a co-op work term

In addition to the general process for securing a co-op job, you need to complete the Terms & Conditions form in the Co-op and Career portal AND one of the following forms before you can be made eligible to apply to co-op job postings:

• work term registration form for undergraduate students
• work experience work term registration form
• work term registration form for graduate students

You can also find a job on your own (outside the Co-op and Career portal) and apply to have it count as co-op. For more information on how to register, refer to the approval process.

During your work term

As part of the work term requirements for all co-op students, you'll need to write a work term report for every work term you complete, even if you stay with the same employer for more than four months. This is mandatory for all students, including those in optional or graduate co-op programs.

When you start a work term, you will be added to a CourseSpaces course for the work term that contains details of all the co-op assignments including the requirements for the work term report.

Changing your schedule

Are you an excellent ambassador for Engineering and Computer Science Co-op and Career 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 selected as co-op student of the year.

Co-op students of the year receive a framed certificate, a cheque for $500 and a profile on the Co-op and Career website. The runner-up receives a cheque for $250. The winning student may also be invited 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.

Each term, the VIES (Vancouver Island Engineer Society) Awards Committee recognizes 2 undergraduate students for their outstanding co-op work term reports (for reports completed the previous term). Award recipients receive $300, an award certificate and a congratulatory letter from VIES.

What is the nomination process?

1) Work term report markers (including faculty, co-op coordinators and teaching assistants) nominate outstanding reports based on:

• the feasibility of the project described
• the clarity of the problem and the solutions described
• the potential execution of the project (including actionable plans and recommendations)

2) Representatives from VIES review the nominated reports and select the 2 winners based on the following criteria defined by IEEE Victoria and Iron Ring Camp 23:

• IEEE criteria (Communications): Communication skills are critical for success in engineering. The student must have clearly identified the problem to be solved, the plan of work, conclusions and recommendations.
• Iron Ring Camp 23 criteria (Client Impact): The student must have applied a methodical approach to solving a client's technical problem, taking into account the costs/benefits of the solution and the impact on the client's business.
• Vancouver Island Engineering Society (VIES): This award recognizes a student who has 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.

Who sponsors the awards?

VIES awards are sponsored by:

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Victoria Section (IEEE)
• Iron Ring Camp 23
• Vancouver Island Engineer Society (VIES) 

Who has received the awards?