Science Co-op works closely with local and international employers to develop challenging, career-related positions for our students.

What is the Co-op Hiring Process like?

During each placement period, Science Co-op posts jobs online in our job database on behalf of employers. Students from a range of science disciplines actively apply. Employers select applicants suitable for interviews and schedule them through the Co-op office. Once interviews have been completed, the employer indicates the candidates they wish to hire, and students are contacted by their Co-op Coordinator. The student will need to make a decision within a given time frame and let their coordinator know if they will accept the position. Once employment has been confirmed by a Letter of Offer from the employer, Science Co-op registers the student in the appropriate co-op course, and the student pays the course fee as per the UBC Calendar.

Student Commitment

Students are required to commit to completing a number of work terms, depending on the program. Each term is four months long and a report is a requirement for every term.

During a placement the student will be supervised, evaluated, and paid by an employer. Salary is at the discretion of the employer and will vary depending on the level and type of work performed. A Co-op coordinator will visit the student at the job site, advise the student, and evaluate the Work Term Report plan. Successful completion of a Co-op Work Term depends on the evaluation of both the work performance and the work term report.

Academics

Along with the course curriculum outlined in the UBC Calendar for the Faculty of Science, Co-op students also participate in work terms as scheduled for their program.

A co-op work term does not replace or add academic course credits for that term and the credits are not counted towards graduation. For most programs, being a co-op student will extend the student's degree program by one year. Consult an academic advisor in the respective department to determine graduation eligibility.