Does a year of Co-op count as an academic year?

[egoo45]

Hey,

I did over a year of co-op work and it's mentioned in my transcript but I'm not sure whether or not to count it as an academic year. When adding the education it asks about how many academic years were taken backed up by a transcript. Should I add it or not?

Thanks!

 

[omarimam]

Hey,

I did over a year of co-op work and it's mentioned in my transcript but I'm not sure whether or not to count it as an academic year. When adding the education it asks about how many academic years were taken backed up by a transcript. Should I add it or not?

Thanks!

Yes it counts as an academic year, as you had your study permit valid for those 5 years of study (4 years + 1 year coop)

Thanks

 

[egoo45]

Well it's actually a little more tricky than that. I did 2 years of an engineering diploma. These two years had the summers off, so it was 4 study semesters in total (2 academic years). So I'm claiming a Diploma of Engineering with 2 full academic years. (I have an official diploma form the university and everything)

After graduating with that diploma I finished my bachelor's degree, which is a continuation of the diploma in terms of studies. In total for this section I did 4 study semesters and 4 co-op semesters with no time off in between. So in total 8 academic terms in 3 years (Sept 2012 - May 2015). For my bachelor's degree should I claim 3 or 4 years? My worst fear is that it only counts as 2 years then I lose a lot of points :/

Any thoughts?

Yes it counts as an academic year, as you had your study permit valid for those 5 years of study (4 years + 1 year coop)

Thanks

 

[omarimam]

Well it's actually a little more tricky than that. I did 2 years of an engineering diploma. These two years had the summers off, so it was 4 study semesters in total (2 academic years). So I'm claiming a Diploma of Engineering with 2 full academic years. (I have an official diploma form the university and everything)

After graduating with that diploma I finished my bachelor's degree, which is a continuation of the diploma in terms of studies. In total for this section I did 4 study semesters and 4 co-op semesters with no time off in between. So in total 8 academic terms in 3 years (Sept 2012 - May 2015). For my bachelor's degree should I claim 3 or 4 years? My worst fear is that it only counts as 2 years then I lose a lot of points :/

Any thoughts?

so I am assuming that you have two separate degrees awarded to you? one is a bachelor and another is diploma?

 

[egoo45]

Yes, two separate degrees. A diploma and a bachelors.

In NS that's the process of getting a Bachelors of Engineering. You first do 2 years of a diploma (you can do these two years at many universities throughout the province and you get a convocation and a diploma out of it), then you can only do the final years at Dalhousie University.

If you don't do Co-op the final years are just 4 study semesters.

so I am assuming that you have two separate degrees awarded to you? one is a bachelor and another is diploma?

 

[omarimam]

Yes, two separate degrees. A diploma and a bachelors.

In NS that's the process of getting a Bachelors of Engineering. You first do 2 years of a diploma (you can do these two years at many universities throughout the province and you get a convocation and a diploma out of it), then you can only do the final years at Dalhousie University.

If you don't do Co-op the final years are just 4 study semesters.

First I would advise you to make sure that you have two certificates, because I think what you have is two degrees, but at the end it might be only a bachelor degree. You have to make sure that your are eligible for two or more degrees first.

Second you score is 488 I am assuming you have an ITA already or did it just increase after Nov 19th because of the changes?

Finally, I am concerned because you have done a bachelor in general (under different rules) and you are claiming points for two degrees because your case is different. I am afraid you might be wrong (but I hope you are right!).

With that being said, I want you to make sure you are eligible for what you claim before ITA.

Thanks, and good luck!

 

[egoo45]

Well, I physically have two degrees both stamped by the Dalhousie University stamp and both signed by the University president and the chair of senate; the first dated Sept 2012 while the latter dated May 2015. One says Diploma in Engineering while the other says Bachelor of Engineering. I had called the CIC call center a few months ago and asked if I could claim two or more degrees and the individual on the phone said yes, but now that I'm closer to getting an ITA I'm feeling hesitant. The only confirmation I have was a phone conversation.

In regards to your second point, I was at 458 since May so I never got an ITA. I only jumped to 488 on Nov 19th.

Realistically, the engineering schooling system in NS is a 2 degree process. Individuals taking the first 2 years in a university other than Dalhousie have to apply to get into the Bachelor's program. My only concern was whether a year of co-op counts as an academic year or not.

I think what I will do is keep my points as is, claiming 3 complete/full academic years. I will submit an inquiry to IRCC asking whether I could do that and explain the situation. If I get an ITA before hearing back I will hold off on submitting my application until I hear from them.

Thanks for your prompt responses omarimam! +1 for you!

First I would advise you to make sure that you have two certificates, because I think what you have is two degrees, but at the end it might be only a bachelor degree. You have to make sure that your are eligible for two or more degrees first.

Second you score is 488 I am assuming you have an ITA already or did it just increase after Nov 19th because of the changes?

Finally, I am concerned because you have done a bachelor in general (under different rules) and you are claiming points for two degrees because your case is different. I am afraid you might be wrong (but I hope you are right!).

With that being said, I want you to make sure you are eligible for what you claim before ITA.

Thanks, and good luck!

 

[omarimam]

Well, I physically have two degrees both stamped by the Dalhousie University stamp and both signed by the University president and the chair of senate; the first dated Sept 2012 while the latter dated May 2015. One says Diploma in Engineering while the other says Bachelor of Engineering. I had called the CIC call center a few months ago and asked if I could claim two or more degrees and the individual on the phone said yes, but now that I'm closer to getting an ITA I'm feeling hesitant. The only confirmation I have was a phone conversation.

In regards to your second point, I was at 458 since May so I never got an ITA. I only jumped to 488 on Nov 19th.

Realistically, the engineering schooling system in NS is a 2 degree process. Individuals taking the first 2 years in a university other than Dalhousie have to apply to get into the Bachelor's program. My only concern was whether a year of co-op counts as an academic year or not.

I think what I will do is keep my points as is, claiming 3 complete/full academic years. I will submit an inquiry to IRCC asking whether I could do that and explain the situation. If I get an ITA before hearing back I will hold off on submitting my application until I hear from them.

Thanks for your prompt responses omarimam! +1 for you!

Best of luck to you, I am sure you will get an ITA tomorrow if there is a draw!

+1 for you too!

 

[egoo45]

So I submitted this inquiry on their website:

I have an inquiry in regards the number of complete/full academic year when filling up the study and languages form. What constitutes a complete/full academic year? Does a year of Co-op (mentioned on the transcript) count for a year of academic schooling?

I studied my Bachelor's of Engineering in NS. In NS the first 4 semester of Engineering can be done at any number of schools but the final years can only be done at Dalhousie University. The process involves graduating with a 2 year diploma first before getting the bachelors degree, so I have a physical diploma backed by a transcript from Dalhousie University. In order to capture that I split my education into 2. A diploma and a Bachelors degree.

For the diploma I claimed a 2 year diploma with 2 complete academic years. Note that the order of the 4 month semesters was: Study-Study-Summer Break-Study-Study
For the second section of my education (the bachelors degree), I did 4 study semesters and 4 co-op semesters (all mentioned on the transcript) with no breaks in between. Therefore 8 semesters in 32 months. For this section I'm confused whether I should claim 2, 3 or 4 academic years. Could you please clarify? Note that the order of the 4 month semesters was: Study-Work-Study-Work-Work-Work-Study-Study

This is the response I got:

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

There is a new system to manage how people with skilled work experience apply to immigrate to Canada. It is called Express Entry.

Express Entry manages certain applications for permanence residence (PR):

Federal Skilled Worker Program,
Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
Canadian Experience Class.

Provinces* and territories will also be able to recruit candidates from the Express Entry system through their Provincial nominee programs. Under that system, IRCC will invite people to apply for PR based on the information they enter in an online profile. You cannot apply directly for any of these programs unless IRCC sends you an invitation to apply.

Also see:

Ministerial Instructions
Information for employers
Information for potential candidates
Express Entry questions and answers

You may also visit the online Help Centre or our website for further information. You can search by typing keywords.

If, after consulting the information available on our website:

You have further questions:
contact us by filling out the IRCC Web form available on our website.
You are experiencing technical difficulties:
fill out the IRCC Web form available on our website and include:
screen shots showing the full browser window, including the website address field of the:
page where you are experiencing problems/trying to log into your account,
error messages you received, and
specify the date and time when the problem occurred.

I think I'll keep my profile as is (claiming two degrees) and if I do get an ITA I will explain the situation in the LOE. :-\

Man, my LOE is getting pretty huge :'(

 

[thepilot]

So I submitted this inquiry on their website:

This is the response I got:
I think I'll keep my profile as is (claiming two degrees) and if I do get an ITA I will explain the situation in the LOE. :-\

Man, my LOE is getting pretty huge :'(

So what happened? Did it work out?

 

[egoo45]

I received an ITA on Dec 22nd. I'm in the process of reviewing my application prior to submitting it. I'm spending a fair amount of letter drafting my LOE as I have a few items in there that are delicate. (Like being on implied status for 3 months as I was waiting for PGWP). I've gathered all of the other documents, I just need to review them one last time.

I'll hopefully find out in less than 6 months whether it worked out. Their inquiry response gave me no information. :

I'm still claiming 2 degrees where the bachelor degree is 3 full academic years. My transcript shows all 4 co-op terms that I did during my studies, I sure as hell hope it all works out ahaha.

So what happened? Did it work out?

 

[thepilot]

I received an ITA on Dec 22nd. I'm in the process of reviewing my application prior to submitting it. I'm spending a fair amount of letter drafting my LOE as I have a few items in there that are delicate. (Like being on implied status for 3 months as I was waiting for PGWP). I've gathered all of the other documents, I just need to review them one last time.

I'll hopefully find out in less than 6 months whether it worked out. Their inquiry response gave me no information. :

I'm still claiming 2 degrees where the bachelor degree is 3 full academic years. My transcript shows all 4 co-op terms that I did during my studies, I sure as hell hope it all works out ahaha.

Ugh I guess I'm in deep water here, I'll have to go to a lawyer and hope for the best.

Thanks for your reply :-*

 

[egoo45]

Let me know what they say!!

Ugh I guess I'm in deep water here, I'll have to go to a lawyer and hope for the best.

Thanks for your reply :-*

 

[Batman_is_Real]

I have similar Coop related question

I studied for two years and part of that education I did two coop terms each being 4 months. My Course period Jan 2012 - Dec 2013 which I have mentioned in Education history as well as in personal history and transcript says the same.

My coop was Sep 2012 - Dec 2012 and second was May 2013-Aug 2013 both records are included as part of transcript under coop term.

My question do I have to explicitly mentioned coop activity as employment under personal history.? or since those are part of education course I don't need to mention that.

If I mention does coop falls under Employment or Educational activity .?

 

[Batman_is_Real]

anyone?