Student FAQs

Co-operative Education is not a job placement program; it’s a formalized educational strategy that offers exceptional learning opportunities that must be planned, developed, coordinated, tracked, monitored and graded. To offset a portion of these costs there are two Co-op fees:

• Program Admissions Fee: All students are required to pay the non-refundable admission fees for participation in the program. The admissions fee will be posted to your BU Account upon processing of your Co-operative Education admissions letter.
• Work Term Tuition: Once a job offer is accepted, the student enrolls in the appropriate Co-op Work Term course and pays the posted tuition amount. The tuition for each co-op work term is tax deductible.

These fees do not guarantee a Co-op job, but rather, cover a portion of the actual cost of operating the co-op program. Important things like:

• developing co-op job opportunities and maintaining employer relationships;
• organizing and scheduling job interviews;
• designing and delivering courses to prepare students for success in their job search, including job search training, career advising and work term preparation;
• co-op job search services, including résumé critiques, practice interviews and advising;
• curriculum to prepare students for success on their work term, including co-op student monitoring and worksite visits;
• interacting with faculty and other internal university departments to maintain and develop regulations and processes;
• validating and monitoring student jobs to ensure high quality co-op learning opportunities; and,
• administering and maintaining the co-op information management systems.

For the latest fee and tuition information, please visit Financial & Registration Services.

No, we cannot guarantee jobs as the hiring process is competitive and subject to market conditions. You will be competing against other students to secure employment opportunities through the recruitment and selection process. We will engage with potential employers to develop co-op work term positions, Accordingly, we guide and encourage students to seek out their own employment opportunities as part of their professional development plan.

Your success is based on many factors, including how active you are in the job search process, the number of positions applied to, effectiveness of cover letter and resumé to sell your experience and skills, your past experience, and, most importantly, a positive attitude and realistic expectations.

While ultimately it is the responsibility of the student to secure a position for their work placement, BU is constantly reaching out to businesses in the community to identify and secure co-op opportunities. Students in the program will receive communications on a regular basis regarding any new openings with businesses, and they are also encouraged to meet with the Co-op Coordinator to discuss employment options should they find themselves struggling to find a placement.

Yes! We work closely with you to assist you in locating possible positions, provide resource and guidance and work with a myriad of employers to source work terms. You should apply for as many positions as you feel qualified for – the more applications, the more job prospects. You may know of companies  in your hometown that may hire Co-op students. You need to submit the company and position information to the Brandon University Co-op Office for approval.

Employers set salaries. Typically your salary increases with each work term, but this is not guaranteed. Students are typically paid hourly with average wages falling between $12 to $19 per hour but this depends on many factors, including the industry, the level of the position, and the local economy.

Remember, the primary reason for obtaining a cooperative education position is to gain valuable experience, training and skills directly related to your field of study. Your Co-op Coordinator can give you specific compensation information for your program.

Typical work terms occur over four months (for example, May to August) but can be extended using two consecutive semesters. These eight-month co-op positions (or four-month work terms extended into a second, four-month work term) count as two co-op work terms. Students on eight-month work terms must register for the appropriate course number, pay co-op fees, and complete evaluation requirements for each four-month semester.

Yes! Each work term is recorded as a co-op course on your transcript with a assigned a grade of Pass or Fail on completion. You can earn up to nine (9) credit hours completing up to three work terms; note that these credit hours may count towards your electives, but cannot count towards fullfiling major, minor, or Liveral Education requirements.

Yes! International students can apply to the Co-op program.

Do I need a work permit to work as a co-op student?

Yes, if you are not a Canadian citizen or Landed Immigrant, you must apply for a work permit to work in Canada. Once you have been accepted into the Co-op program, your Co-op Coordinator will provide you with the appropriate application form to apply for a work permit. This should be completed as soon as you are accepted into the program. Once the application is completed, it can take up to 12 weeks or longer to get a work permit and you will not be permitted to accept a job until the work permit is in your possession.

For more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/intern.html

Are there any other documents I need for Co-op?

If you are working in Canada you require a Social Insurance Number (SIN). Your SIN number is a nine-digit number used in the administration of various Canadian government programs. SIN numbers can be obtained through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), a Federal Government department dedicated to helping people secure work in Canada. For more information: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/

Finally, you may be required to complete additional company-specific documentation prior to starting your work term, for example, non-disclosure agreements

Your Co-op Coordinator works with you one-on-one before, during, and after co-op. They help you prepare for co-op, identify and apply for appropriate jobs, and reflect on your experience. Your coordinator also teaches your Professional Development Series course and is available to assist you if questions or concerns arise. You can book an appointment with your coordinator by sending them an email.

We want to ensure you have a solid academic background and are able to contribute in a meaningful way to employer, so most of our students begin their first work term after they have completed their second year of study. Work terms start typically in May and normally follow a pre-determined work/study sequence.

You must maintain pre-determined work/study sequence while participating in the Co-op work terms. If there is an opportunity or circumstances which warrants a change of sequence, students should contact the Co-op Coordinator to seek their recommendation.

If a change of sequence is recommended by their Co-op Coordinator, students are responsible for:

• Preparing (1) a written request, providing details reasoning with proposed action plan and (2) a revised course plan with unofficial transcript;
• Arrange a Study/Work sequence change request review with the respective Academic Chair or his/her designate. Once the academic department has reviewed and endorsed the change of Work/Study sequence, it is the student’s responsibility to submit the documents to the Co-op Office for final approval and administration.

Please note that in some cases it may not be possible to make a change and the request will not be approved. Students who voluntarily change their work/study sequence without permission will be withdrawn from Co-op.

Co-op work terms typically begin in May; many employers begin posting jobs four months in advance of the job start date, but the time required depends on the number of jobs you apply to, whether you are willing to relocate for a work term, and when you decide to apply.

No. You are not required to stay with the same employer for following work terms, unless you have made a verbal or written committed to the employer. Please refer to Co-op Student Terms and Conditions for details. Statistics show that a recurring work assignment increases the chances of being hired full-time when you graduate.

Your co-op coordinator will make every reasonable effort to help you find a position. Because of job-market or other conditions, occasionally even a well-qualified student may not obtain a position. Working closely with your co-op coordinator during the job search will benefit you in your co-op job search and process.

We will work with you to expand your job opportunities by considering a variety of geographical locations and types of positions, including global opportunities. If you are unable to obtain a co-op job, you may be permitted to take courses, do community service, or engage in other appropriate activities. Your options depend upon your college and academic program.

Our goal is to see you placed. If a work term is not secured, you are not required to leave the program. We will continue to assist you and work with you in finding a work term at another date.