UBC Science Co-op places a high value on international work experience. We want to leave co-op footprints on every continent!

Internationalization is one of the five pillars of the University of British Columbia’s vision, and Science Co-op is committed to engaging international employers. We provide complete hiring assistance to international employers, and work to make it easy and hassle-free to invite talented Canadian students to work abroad.

International workplaces make up about ten per cent of our placements. Employers in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong have relied on Science Co-op to provide first-rate, highly motivated scientific talent.

How to Hire a Student

1. Complete our job posting form.
2. You'll receive applications from our office via email. After reviewing our students' applications, shortlist the candidates that you wish to interview.
3. Contact our office via email at interviews@sciencecoop.ubc.ca to indicate your interview choices and details. Interviews can be conducted via telephone or by webcam (Skype).
4. Make a hiring decision and inform our office.
5. We'll let you know if the student accepts the job offer.
6. Finally, prepare an offer letter when the student confirms his/her acceptance and send the document to our office.

More details are outlined in our Hiring A Student section.

Work Permits and Visa Applications

Once the student is matched with your job offer, we will proceed with the student's work permit application. The work required on the employer's end is minimal as we go through a work permit agency to look after all of the paperwork.

For US Employers

We utilize the services provided by Cultural Vistas. Cultural Vistas facilitates internships in the U.S. for international and Canadian co-op students by sponsoring the J-1 visa and providing ongoing support throughout the internship period.

Web: www.culturalvistas.org/

The fee is paid by the students, and host employers are responsible for:

• Providing internship or training positions.
• Complete training, internship or placement plan outlining the scope and content of the participant's program and providing information for the organization, including a Dun and Bradstreet number, a Tax Identification Number (EIN), and verification of a Workman's Compensation Insurance Policy.
• Monthly compensation (salary) is negotiable between the host company and the intern.

Work permits are available for 4, 8 or 12 months. Please allow approximately 3 to 4 weeks for processing.

For International Employers

We strongly suggest employers post and hire early in the semester to allow sufficient time for the work permit application process. Usually it requires 4 to 8 weeks to process the application successfully.

The length of the work permit varies, depending on the policies of individual countries. Typically, work permits are available from 3 to 8 months in duration.

Relocation Assistance and Accommodation

Relocation assistance and accommodation are not required. Some employers are able to provide partial or full reimbursement of a student's moving costs, affordable housing or coverage on their initial hotel stay and car rental. If your company does not have the financial resources to support a student, the following gestures would also be a great help to our students:

• Resources and contacts for your local rental agency or affordable housing links
• Previous co-op students' housing information
• A point of contact for the student in case of emergencies (i.e. lost in the city)
• Any useful tips that are not obvious to foreigners and would help students with getting settled