Upon your admission to the SEE program you are automatically enrolled in the co-op program and emailed an invitation to join the Surrey Co-op 100: Orientation course (self-paced on Canvas)

Following the current 4-year academic schedule, you will be emailed an invitation to join the Surrey Co-op 101: Preparation course (7-week course on Canvas) in the Spring term of your 1st year*.

Make sure to check your SFU email regularly and accept the invitations to join these Canvas courses as you receive them.

*Transfer students may operate on a slightly different timeline.

Transfer students should contact their Co-op Coordinator if they are unsure of seeking eligibility.

Within the SEE program you need complete the mandatory three (3) co-op terms to complete the SEE undergraduate degree program and receive the Co-op designation on your degree, which is recognized across Canada. Subject to

eligibility, you may be able to complete up to five (5) co-op work terms, for more information on this please contact your Co-op Coordinator.

Students are assigned a Co-op Coordinator based on their last name. Please refer to the SEE Co-op Contact Us page for the most up-to-date information, as coordinator assignments may change periodically.

Similar to applying into university, there is an application fee for registering into co-op and your account will be auto-charged this fee within the first month of being admitted the program, as you are registered in a mandatory co-op program. This is a one-time cost that is applied to your goSFU account and must be paid within 10 days of receiving your acceptance letter into the co-op program.

Please visit https://www.sfu.ca/coop/costs-and-deadlines.html for more details

Just like tuition for academic courses, your Co-op tuition goes directly to SFU general revenue. It does not go to the Co-op office and it does not cover the cost of operating the Co-op program. There is no correlation between Co-op placement numbers and Co-op's operating budget or staff salaries.

Students begin the seeking process one term prior to their desired co-op work term, but must first have completed the mandatory Surrey Co-op 101: Preparation Course and fulfil all other requirements. If you are a transfer student, or have more than 10 credits that do not count towards your graduation requirements it is advised you reach out to the co-op office as soon as possible to review your situation and requirements.

If you are an international student, you must apply for a Co-op Work Permit. You will receive an email from the Co-op Office with detailed instructions on how to apply. Please act on this email as soon as you receive it as processing times can take many months. Check your goSFU account to confirm your legal name is entered correctly, since it will appear on your Co-op Work

Permit letter. You will not be released to seek for co-op positions unless you hold a valid Co-Work Permit and have completed all required steps. Please direct any questions you have regarding your work permit to International Services for Students.

Contact your Co-op Coordinator

We recommend that new students apply to 30 - 60 positions throughout the term and senior students to be actively applying throughout the term. This can take 7-12 hours a week and can be compared to taking another course.

If you are interested in finding your own co-op job, you can discuss strategies with your Co-op Coordinator. By taking a proactive approach, you can increase your opportunities and find the job that is right for you, or target a specific industry or location. You may use your own connections such as family and friends, current employers, or people you meet through networking. You could also be monitoring other job boards and submitting applications independently. To meet the Co-op requirements, a student must be paid minimum wage or above, work 420 hours minimum, be supervised, and should be in your area of study or related to your career aspirations. Find more details on Student Developed Work Term option.

NOTE: all self-directed co-op placements must be approved by both the Co-op Office.

If an employer contacts you directly, you must notify the Co-op Office right away by emailing hire@sfu.ca. Please email your coordinator with the interview or offer details and they will provide you with instructions for your next steps.

Set up a meeting with your Co-op Coordinator to discuss and action plan. Students are required to complete their degree on an academic term, however if you experienced extenuating circumstances you should work with your Co-op Coordinator on how to proceed.

There are a few things that maybe happening. It could be that it is too late in the semester for you to register, in which case let us know and we can register for you. You may be trying to register for the wrong course; each work term number is sequential. One of the most common issues seems to be fees still owing. If you have any outstanding fees, they need to be paid in full before you can enrol in a Co-op work term.

All students placed on a co-op will receive an email outlining what co-op course number and course section to enrol in and what next steps they will need to undertake.

Before you do anything, contact your Coordinator. They will be able to answer your questions and ask you some relevant questions to problem-solve the situation or give you guidance on what actions you can take, and the consequences incurred as a result.

Students complete the following reports and presentations:

Work Term #1: Written Reflection Work Term #2: Written Reflection Work Term #3: Oral Presentation

If the nature of your work is confidential, you should discuss your work report with your supervisor. They may want to review your report prior to submission to ensure it is sanitized of confidential content As the nature of the Oral presentation is based on presentation skills versus technical skills, you are advised to review the Oral Presentation rubric and canvas module, on how to prepare a non-confidential presentation. 

Very often co-op students will present at their workplace, it is a great learning experience to share what you have been working on or have learned on your co-op. You will however, still need to conduct the Oral Presentation when you return to school for co-op, as the nature of our presentations are based on developing presentation skills versus technical content.