Engineering and Computer Science Co-op

The Engineering and Computer Science Co-op office administers several different programs—learn more about them here.
WHAT IS CO-OP? Learn about co-op including how it works and what's expected of you, plus check out fees and salaries.
READY TO APPLY FOR A CO-OP JOB? Here's what to expect.
Your co-op office
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
Who is your coordinator?
Our coordinators are assigned to specific disciplines - find yours below to connect with your co-op coordinator.
Your discipline |
Your coordinator |
Biomedical engineering | Ash Senini (ECS 230) |
Civil engineering (student #s ending in 0-3) | Kelly Stegman (ECS 232) |
Civil engineering (student #s ending in 4-9) | Leo Spalteholz (ECS 228) |
Computer engineering | Monty Raisinghani (ECS 231) |
Computer science (student #s ending in 0-4) | Sheryl Thompson (ECS 216) |
Computer science (student #s ending in 5-9) | Mostafa Rahimpour (ECS 212) |
Electrical engineering (your student # ends in 0-3) | Kelly Stegman (ECS 232) |
Electrical engineering (your student # ends in 4-9) | Monty Raisinghani (ECS 231) |
Graduate students (except MTIS) | Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226) |
Master of Engineering in Applied Data Science (MADS) | Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226) |
Master of Engineering in Telecommunications and Information Security (MTIS) | Imen Bourguiba (ECS 224) |
Mechanical engineering (your student # ends in 0-4) | Calvin Tripp (ECS 220) |
Mechanical engineering (your student # ends in 5-9) | Susan Fiddler (ECS 222) |
Software engineering: (your student # ends in 0-4): | Ash Senini (ECS 230) |
Software engineering: (your student # ends in 5-9): | Imen Bourguiba (ECS 224) |
Undeclared Engineering: | Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226) |
Program facts
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
Program formats available
The following co-op program formats are available:
- Regular full-time work term
- Entrepreneurial co-op
- Work term transfers - for students who have completed a co-op work term through another post-secondary institution before attending the engineering program at UVic. Students are able to transfer a maximum of two of their four mandatory work terms. The work term transfer application form must be submitted to the Engineering Co-op Office (ECS 204) in the first month of a student’s first term in the Engineering program at UVic (i.e. in September for students beginning in the fall term, or in January for students beginning in the spring term.) If you are planning to transfer two work terms, please submit two forms.
- Work term challenges - for students who have completed relevant engineering work experience outside of a post-secondary institution before attending the engineering program at UVic. Students are able to challenge a maximum of two of their four mandatory work terms. The work term challenge application form must be submitted to the Engineering Co-op Office (ECS 204) in the first month of a student’s first term in the Engineering program at UVic (i.e. in September for students beginning in the fall term, or in January for students beginning in the spring term.) If you are planning to challenge two work terms, please submit two forms. Please note that assignments (including a work term challenge report) are required in order to complete a work term challenge. More information about these assignments will be sent to students after applications have been received.
- Parallel co-op (part-time)
Sample co-op jobs
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
Computer Science - co-op and work experience programs
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
Please note that transfer students must have completed at least one academic term at UVic.
How to apply
- There are two admission periods per year: September 1-22 (fall intake) or January 1-22 (spring intake)
- You can apply by logging into the Co-op & Career Portal during the admission periods. Use your UVic netlink ID and password. Once logged in, click “Co-op” on the navigation menu. Then follow the prompts to complete your application.
- You have previously been or are currently in another co-op program at UVic
- You are NOT in the Faculty of Engineering
- You are trying to apply outside of the admission periods
If you are unable to apply through the portal, please contact us:
- If your V# ends with 0 to 4: Sheryl Thompson sthompson@uvic.ca
- If your V# ends with 5 to 9: Mostafa Rahimpour mrahim@uvic.ca
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. The program is a great option for students who are in the late stages of their degree.
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. Please note that transfer students must have completed at least one academic term at UVic.
How to apply
- There are two admission periods per year: September 1-22 (fall intake) or January 1-22 (spring intake)
- You can apply by logging into the Co-op & Career Portal during the admission periods. Use your UVic netlink ID and password. Once logged in, click “Co-op” on the navigation menu. Then follow the prompts to complete your application.
- You have previously been or are currently in another co-op program at UVic
- You are NOT in the Faculty of Engineering
- You are trying to apply outside of the admission periods
If you are unable to apply through the portal, please contact us:
- If your V# ends with 0 to 4: Sheryl Thompson sthompson@uvic.ca
- If your V# ends with 5 to 9: Mostafa Rahimpour mrahim@uvic.ca
Graduate students - co-op and work experience programs
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
- If you are an international student, you should apply at least two semesters before your intended work term to ensure that you have enough time to apply and receive a co-op work permit due to long processing times for the same (i.e., for a summer 20XX work term, you should submit the intake form and attend the Introduction to Professional Practice workshop in the fall of the previous year, or for a fall 20xx work term, you should submit the intake form and attend the spring intake workshop in the same year).
- Due dates each term:
- January 22 for spring intake
- September 21 for fall intake
- January 22 for spring intake
- To apply, complete and submit the graduate co-op application form.
Co-op work term process
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 the online Co-op Job Access Form before receiving access to co-op job postings.
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 Brightspace 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
BEng and SEng students who need to change their schedule should check these requirements.
While you’re on a work term, you’re considered a full-time student and not usually allowed to take academic courses. If you want to take a course at the same time, you’ll need approval from your employer and the program manager. Contact your co-op coordinator to arrange permission.
Co-op Student of the Year Award
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.
You must be nominated by your co-op coordinator for this award (no need to apply). If you're interested in actively seeking out a nomination, contact your coordinator. You must have completed at least one co-op work term during the year (Jan–Dec)
You name will be added to the list of applicants and you will be contacted with instructions on how to complete the nomination package.
Co-op Work Term Report Award
Each term, the VIES (Vancouver Island Engineer Society) Awards Committee recognizes engineering 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 winners based on the following criteria defined by IEEE Victoria, Iron Ring Camp 23 and VIES:
- 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)