Co-op

Students traditionally work in retail and food service jobs during the summer.  In Co-op, students work in lower-level management positions in a wide variety of businesses and industries, and become accustomed to working in the non-summer months when retail and service job workloads are heaviest.

Many organizations designate specific positions for Co-op students and can only hire students from programs accredited by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education, which also accredits SFU's Co-op Program 

Program coordinators work with employers to develop challenging positions for students to ensure a relationship between students' academic and career goals.  Employers are encouraged to develop learning plans with the students they hire, and these are monitored to ensure that students both contribute to and learn from the work environment.

There are three steps:

1. Submit application at: www.sfu.ca/coop/apply
   
2. Pay the application fee
3. If accepted, you will then receive an email of invitation to sign up for a Health Sciences Co-op orientation session.

There is a general CGPA requirement of 2.50 but each student is assessed on an individual basis, so if you have concerns please speak to the Health Sciences Coordinator prior to submitting your application.

No.  Co-op is a competitive program Students must apply to specific job postings. The more flexible a student is with regard to work location and type, and the more positions s/he applies for, the more interviews s/he is likely to get. Students are expected to produce a strong resume and cover letter for each position, and prepare for each interview.  The more flexible students are with regard to the work experience they would like to gain and the locations they can work, the more likely they are to secure a position.

Many students are invited by their Co-op employers to come back and meet with them after they graduate. If a student completes four work terms with four organizations, that student has built a strong network and a proven track record – all before receiving a graduation diploma, placing them a step ahead of other graduates. Of course, there are no guarantees, but Co-op graduates have a well-developed resume, experience writing cover letters, interviewing and work experience.

Students who accept a Co-op work placement in a given semester must contact Financial Aid to arrange for these payments to be deferred during the paid work term, and to resume when the student returns to classes the following semester.

Yes, students who are alternating academic and Co-op work terms have flexibility in their schedules and can incorporate travel, study abroad, and “resting” semesters in their programs.  There is no set plan.

Yes. There are some limitations, as non-Canadian students cannot apply for government-funded positions, NSERC funding or positions in the federal government. International students are required to apply for a free Co-op work permit when they are accepted into Co-op, which allows them to work off-campus for work terms. Like all students, international students are encouraged to work closely with a program coordinator and attend workshops to learn more about the job application process and understand interview procedures. We assist international students with the application for a co-op work permit.

Absolutely! Students doing Co-op work terms are registered in an SFU Co-op course number and receive three course credits, which are reflected on their transcript. This means the students are registered SFU students, continue to be covered under their student health plan, and are not required to make student loan repayments. If they are living in campus residence and their Co-op work term is in the Lower Mainland, they are not required to move.

Students pay course fees each time they do a Co-op work term as it is a recognized course and program.  Subject to change, undergraduate Co-op course fees are approximately $650 for each four-month work term.

There are interesting jobs in the Lower Mainland, throughout BC, across Canada and internationally, and these are all offered to Co-op students.  Part of a student's learning experience can be gained from living away from home in a different city or town, or in a different country and culture.  Many students report that they learned a great deal from having to budget, shop for food and do their own laundry for the first time.

Students demonstrate their flexibility, willingness to learn new things, and enthusiasm for taking on new challenges when they move away from home to take a job.  Simon Fraser University has international Co-op coordinators who provide cultural training and information sessions for students traveling to other countries for their Co-op work terms, and we remain in contact with students who are away from the University.  If any problems develop, there are University staff who can assist.  Each semester, many students work in Ottawa, and there is a whole network of accommodations for Co-op students and many social activities that students organize to stay connected with each other.

One work term or semester provides a student with just four months of work experience.  By completing three work terms on an alternating basis with study terms, students are awarded a Certificate in Co-operative Education, and if they complete four work terms, Co-op is noted on their graduation diploma. These students have at least a year of intensive experience by the time they graduate, which is also reflected on their resume.  By taking  several work terms with a variety of employers, they have diverse experiences that will interest future employers.

Undergraduate students are admitted to the Co-op program with the understanding that they will complete at least three work terms. If for whatever reason a student does not complete three or four work terms, this will not impede graduation. There is no notation on their transcript that they “dropped” Co-op.