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Engineering

Engineering Co-op is mandatory for undergraduate students studying:

Office & contacts

Our regular business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Office: ECS 204
engrcoop@uvic.ca
250-472-5800

Co-op coordinators

Biomedical engineering
Ash Senini (ECS 230)
asenini@uvic.ca

Civil engineering (student # ends in 0-3)       
Kelly Stegman (ECS 232)
kellystegman@uvic.ca

Civil engineering (student # ends in 4-9)       
Leo Spalteholz (ECS 228)
leos@uvic.ca

Computer engineering      
Monty Raisinghani (ECS 231)
montyr@uvic.ca

Electrical engineering (student # ends in 0-3)         
Kelly Stegman (ECS 232)
kellystegman@uvic.ca

Electrical engineering (student # ends in 4-9)         
Monty Raisinghani (ECS 231)
montyr@uvic.ca

Graduate students (except MTIS and MADS)          
Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226)
wbeairsto@uvic.ca

Master of Engineering in Applied Data Science (MADS)  
David Woodward (ECS 225)
davidwoodward@uvic.ca

Master of Engineering in Telecommunications and Information Security (MTIS)  
Imen Bourguiba (ECS 224)
imenbour@uvic.ca

Mechanical engineering (student # ends in 0-4)     
Calvin Tripp (ECS 220)
ctripp@uvic.ca

Mechanical engineering (student # ends in 5-9)     
Susan Fiddler (ECS 222)
sfiddler@uvic.ca

Software engineering: (student # ends in 0-4)
Ash Senini (ECS 230)
asenini@uvic.ca

Software engineering: (student # ends in 5-9)
Imen Bourguiba (ECS 224)
imenbour@uvic.ca

Undeclared engineering
Wendy Beairsto (ECS 226)
wbeairsto@uvic.ca

Career educator

Karae White (CSB 110)
karaewhite@uvic.ca 

Undergraduate programs

As an undergraduate student, you can take part in these co-op formats.

Learn more about these types of co-op.

What is required?

For undergraduate students:

Average salaries

You'll receive a salary from your employer during each co-op work term. Co-op salaries vary according to many factors, including:

Here is an average monthly salary for a full-time work term in engineering:

View detailed engineering salaries or salaries for all programs.

Fees

As a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSEng) student, you must:

Tuition fee installment plan:

If you're a bridge student admitted directly into third year, you'll start paying the fee when you begin your third-year courses.

If you challenge a work term, you'll pay one fewer installment per challenge. If you're a transfer student, you may transfer up to 2 work terms and pay two fewer installments.

Work terms

Co-op work terms occur in the fall, spring or summer terms and are typically 4 months in length.

If you would like access to search for co-op jobs, please complete our co-op jobs access form.

Work term transfers

If you have received credit for an engineering work term at a previous post-secondary institution before attending UVic's engineering program, you can receive work term transfer credit that counts toward your engineering co-op requirement. 

First year students and second year transfer students can transfer (or challenge) a maximum of 1 work term. Third year bridge students can transfer (and/or challenge) a maximum of 2 work terms. 

You must apply to transfer a work term during your first term in the engineering program at UVic by submitting the work term transfer form.

Work term challenges 

If you have completed relevant engineering work experience before attending UVic's engineering program, you can receive work term challenge credit that counts toward your engineering co-op requirement.

You are required to submit assignments (including a work term challenge report) to complete a work term challenge.

First year students and second year transfer students can challenge (or transfer) a maximum of 1 work term. Third year bridge students can challenge (and/or transfer) a maximum of 2 work terms.

You must apply to challenge a work term during your first term in the engineering program at UVic.

Learn more about:

Sample jobs & employers

Here are a few sample jobs. For specific examples, contact your co-op coordinator.

Potential career paths

A close-up shot of two men standing in front of a bush. They are both smiling and looking at the camera.

Alex McKay and Nick Saar (engineering)

Engineering students Alex McKay and Nick Saar designed a pre-incident plan for a navy base fire department.

Two people wearing ski goggles and ski jackets smile at the camera. Behind them are snowy mountains.

Blaine Tubungbanua (mechanical engineering)

I had always entertained the idea of an international co-op, but had never considered going to Germany, or even Europe, but I saw the posting for Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth Germany,...

Casey is sitting at a table covered in supplies for the Engineering for Kids camps, including blocks, scissors, and markers. He is smiling and wearing an Engineering for Kids t-shirt.

Casey Woo (mechanical engineering)

As a fourth-year student in mechanical engineering, Casey Woo was excited to share his knowledge and passion for solving problems with camp participants at Engineering for Kids.

Christine Wong Chong, an engineering co-op student, is standing in a vineyard on a sunny day, reaching up to touch one vine. Christine is framed by the vines.

Christine Wong Chong (biomedical engineering)

When Christine Wong Chong enrolled as a biomedical engineering student at UVic, she was inspired by the prospect of working in a field that contributes to medical advancements that improve...

A man stands in front of a peacock and gives a thumbs up.

Cornelius Ong (mechanical engineering)

I'm Cornelius, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at UVic, and I recently completed an 8-month co-op as an Actuator Design Intern with the Tesla Optimus team, Tesla's humanoid robot...

A student sits at a table at a restaurant.

Ellie Walters (electrical engineering)

“Have you ever been to a ball?” No, have you?” I replied. “No, I believe it’s an Austrian tradition,” Vic, one of the...

A photo of a shoreline with some buildings and a cliff.

Hailey Gascoigne (computer engineering)

Hailey Gascoigne, a fourth-year computer engineering student, recently completed an international co-op work term as a Research Intern for Smart Home Technologies at Thomas More University College...

A student with long brown hair stands in front of a green bush.

Kirsten Krajnc (civil engineering)

Civil engineering co-op Kristen Krajn learned how to collect historical weather data while working with Indigenous Services Canada.

A student sits on a balcony with a city behind her.

Mahsa Torabi (civil engineering)

My name is Mahsa Torabi and I'm from Iran. I'm a third-year civil engineering co-op student who recently completed a co-op work term as a visiting researcher at the Carbon Leadership Forum in...

A student leans against a signpost in front of a lake and mountain.

Mariana Latta Suazo (mechanical engineering)

My name is Mariana and I grew up in Kitchener, Ontario and am now in my 4th year of Mechanical engineering at UVic. I picked engineering because of my love for math and science, and my desire to...

A student stands overlooking a city.

Matt Lebl (software engineering)

I’m Matt, and I’m a fourth-year student of software engineering at UVic. I decided to take software engineering because I discovered that I love programming, and I’d...

Two people stand on a dock in front of water.

Matt Wilkinson (electrical engineering)

Matthew Wilkinson, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, completed his co-op work term as a manufacturing controls intern at Tesla. Operating at the lithium refinery outside of Corpus...

A student works on an experiment in a lab.

Robin Brooks (civil engineering)

My name is Robin Brooks, and I grew up on the lands of the Ts'uubaa-asatx peoples (commonly known as Lake Cowichan, BC). I am entering my fourth year of Civil Engineering at the University...

Yichun Zhao sits at his desk in his apartment. There is a window behind him looking over a garden.

Yichun Zhao (computer science)

For UVic student Yichun Zhao, helping develop a computer system that ensured people entering BC from outside the country were managing self-isolation was a “wild ride.”

Graduate programs

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

Program facts

Application requirements

How to apply

To apply, complete and submit the graduate co-op application form.

Due dates each term

International students should apply at least 2 semesters before the intended work term to ensure that there is enough time to receive a co-op work permit. For example:

Get support

We're here to support you with every step in your co-op journey, from applying to co-op to making sure you're supported at work. Contact your co-op coordinator or office for assistance.

If you identify as having a disability or a mental health condition, if you belong to an equity group, or if you identify as Indigenous, we have additional supports for your co-op experience. 

Co-op Work Term Report Award

Each term, the Vancouver Island Engineering Society (VIES) Awards Committee recognizes undergraduate engineering students for their outstanding co-op work term reports (completed the previous term). Award recipients receive:

Nomination process

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

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:

VIES awards are sponsored by:

Summer 2022 winners:

Sabrina (biomedical engineering) worked with M3 Mechanical Consultants Inc to report on the proposed design of a supervised, properly ventilated inhalation site in downtown Victoria BC that aimed to reduce user overdose and death. 

The report introduced the types of mechanical ventilation systems and various design options that were cost-effective, met indoor air requirements (IAQ), minimized the amount of demolition or construction, havd a short project timeline, and minimized the frequency of system maintenance.

Sabrina's report was highly helpful to the client and included a solid analysis that clearly recommended the best HVAC solution. 

Bradley's report focused on the improvement of asphalt climate resiliency in response to increased roadway damage due to climate change. ST

Bradley provided a valuable analysis of the best additives to asphalt to accommodate the trend in high road temperatures. He compared recycled rubber tires, recycled drink bottles and produced fibres based on their response to weighted objective charting. Based on his investigation into online research studies, the use of recycled rubber tires was recommended. The recommendation was well presented and should be a value to LaFarge Canada. 

Colm's project included a technical analysis and design of a pan and tilt positioner and its attachment to ONC’s crawler tracks. There were 5 considerations to resolve, including camera stability, camera field of view, rigidity of the mounting plate, cable management and deployment and recovery. Colm's report included a modeling analysis and design.

Colm undertook a challenging assignment of high value to ONC. There was evidence of strong analytic skills leading to important design decisions and his report reflects the values sought for the VIES award.