Co-op Information for Students

Welcome Students!

Are you curious about how the Co-op program at UNBC can enhance your education and career prospects? Explore our program details and discover how Co-op can set you on the path to success. 

Read more about the program or choose a topic from the list below.  

What is Co-op?

Why enroll in Co-op?

How does the Co-op program work?

Apply to the Co-op program

What is Co-op?

As defined by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada), a co-op program is an educational model that “formally integrates a student's academic studies with work experience. Through alternating academic and work terms, you'll apply what you learn in real-world settings and bring those experiences back to enrich your studies on the UNBC campus.

Why enroll in Co-op?

Students who enroll in co-op ensure they are ready for anything that comes their way – be it a summer job or a career after graduation. Studies show that students who graduate from undergraduate co-op programs experience higher employment rates, better self-reported occupation-to-field-of-study matches, and higher earnings.

Benefits of UNBC Co-op include:

  • Access to exclusive online pre-employment training.
  • Gaining valuable work experience across diverse industries.
  • Earning competitive wages while you learn.
  • Expanding your professional network.

Additionally, UNBC Co-op students specifically benefit from a centralized, one-stop-shop co-op office that works closely with employers, UNBC faculties, and other UNBC departments to ensure its students are given access to the training, and mentorship that will allow them to succeed, and quality co-op work term opportunities for them to succeed in!

Student Photos

How does Co-op work?

Students are required to:

  1. Complete the Career Readiness Course https://moodle.unbc.ca/course/view.php?id=5056 in Moodle. This is an open-enrollment, self-paced course that is free and not for credit. 
  2. Successfully complete a minimum of three co-op work terms (four for Engineering students) prior to graduation (co-op work terms are evaluated on a pass/fail basis and are NOT for academic credit),
  3. End your time at UNBC on an academic semester.

Apply for admission into the Co-op Program

Qualifications

  • Be enroled full time in a UNBC Undergraduate Program (Excluding Nursing, Social Work and Education) 
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
  • Have completed 24 credit hours of study (30 for Engineering) before starting work term one. 

Co-op Application Process

To apply to Co-op students MUST complete the Career Readiness course in moodle, at the end of the course you will find the application and Student Terms and Conditions Forms.

Work Terms

A typical Co-op work term is full-time work for approximately four months, mirroring an academic semester. 

  • May semester: May – August
  • September semester: September – December
  • January semester: January – April

You may also find co-op work term opportunities that are eight months long. Co-op work terms that are eight months long are counted as two co-op work terms. There is also the possibility to complete a parallel co-op work terms, where you work part-time for eight months while enrolled in a part-time course load. 

If you are a transfer student who has previous co-op credit please contact the UNBC Co-op Office.

Co-op Work Term Checklist 

Before First Work Placement

1. Complete Online Pre-Employment Training
  • Job Seeking
  • Resume Writing
  • Cover Letter Writing
  • Interview Skills
  • What to expect on the job
  • Apply to Co-op
  • Internationall Students will be required to apply for a Co-op Work Permit once accepted into Co-op
2. Finding a Work Placement
  • UNBC Co-op job board
  • Source own employment
3. Before the Work Term
  • Once Course Approval Form had been approved, pay Co-op Fee 
  • Email job posting and employer contact information if sourced own placement
  • Complete learning outcomes for co-op role
4. Near the Halfway Mark
  • The UNBC Co-op Coordinator will conduct a mid-site visit in-person or virtual. 
5. At the End of the Work Term
  • Meet with employer supervisor and complete the student evaluation form. 
  • Complete and submit your reflective paper. 

As a UNBC Co-op student, you are registered in a Co-operative Education (COOP) course through the co-op and registrar's office for each four-month co-op work term you participate in. This course will appear on your transcript, is evaluated on a pass/fail basis and is not for academic credit.

Fees

As a UNBC Co-op student, you pay a tuition fee to enrol in a COOP course, just as you would to enrol in an academic course. The tuition fee is equal to a 3 credit course, $575.65 per four-month co-op work term you participate in. You do not pay for enrolling in the program or participating in the online pre-employment training.The co-op work term tuition fee is non-refundable and is subject to change without notice.

Please contact the co-op office for inquiries regarding self-sourced co-op work terms prior to accepting any position.

Connect with us!

Interested in learning more? Have a particular employer you’d like to work for?

co-op@unbc.ca | 250-960-5447 | 7-153