Co-op is a major benefit for SFU School of Engineering Science students. It’s also one of the key reasons prospective students choose our school. You’ll gain invaluable real-world experience, explore career options first-hand, build great contacts and earn credits – all while getting paid. Over 85 per cent of our students find employment after graduation through the industry network they built during their co-op.   

Our mandatory co-op education program integrates academic study with relevant, paid work. You’ll experience what it’s like to be part of a team within a large company such as BlackBerry, Intel, Broadcom, or PMC-Sierra or a smaller cutting edge enterprise such as Lungpacer Medical, Avigilon, or Tantalus.

You’ll also be expected to participate fully and apply your classroom knowledge in a multitude of challenging real-world situations. Our co-op program is the best way to bring your studies to life.  

Talk to students who have taken the co-op program and they’ll give you a host of reasons why it worked for them. The main benefits can include:

• Gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace
• Applying classroom learning in practical situations
• Building a strong application for graduate studies
• Exploring different career options
• Working locally, nationally or internationally
• Gaining job interview practice
• Expanding your professional network
• Experiencing different work environments
• Developing “soft” skills, including communication and time management
• Building your resume
• Gaining relevant work experience
• Helping to finance your studies

Our co-op program has hundreds of active employers looking for Engineering Science students. Previously, our students have completed work terms in Vancouver and across Canada, as well as internationally in countries such as the USA, Japan, Germany, the UK, China, Taiwan, Korea and South America.

Yes, after completing the necessary steps to obtain a work permit. A co-op coordinator will assist you with this when you are beginning the application process

Here's a list of prospective jobs that SFU co-op employers have posted:

To start exploring our co-op program and learn about one of the future highlights of your Engineering Science degree, click here.