School of Engineering Science

An important feature of our school is the industrial internship or co-op program, which combines relevant job experience with classroom studies. Students work with practicing engineers, often designing and building real products. This experience is invaluable, since it offers Canadian, program-related practical experience which enhances a student’s employability after graduation.

A student’s first co-op term usually starts in the Spring of their second year. Throughout the rest of their time at SFU, work and study terms alternate in four-month intervals. Eight and twelve month internships are also available.

Placements are made in BC, throughout Canada and even abroad, with some students finding work as far away as England, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. Internship salaries are competitive and approach those of graduating engineers by the end of the program.

School of Computing Science

Co-operative Education in Computing Science allows students to gain valuable, career-related, paid work experience. Students enrolled in any of our majors, honors, joint majors and second degree, are eligible for our co-op program.

Students apply for co-op generally in second or third year after the completion of 45 units of course work and some additional requirements. Students may choose to take as few as one co-op work semester or as many as five. Each co-op work term is four months of full-time employment, and students are not expected to take course work during this time.

Students have the opportunity to graduate with up to 20 months of work experience and earn $44,000 - $71,000 through our co-operative education program.

Fact: Over 85% of our co-op students find employment with one of their co-op employers right after graduation.