Introducing You to Co-op Program

[shivam30]

Do I need to apply for co-op w/p from my home country or I can apply when I reach there....too much confusion
can anyone explain procedure to obtain co-op w/p and w/p to work off campus.

U of Windsor(Fall 2014)
M.Eng. in M.E.(auto)

 

[lucifer_2510]

Do I need to apply for co-op w/p from my home country or I can apply when I reach there....too much confusion
can anyone explain procedure to obtain co-op w/p and w/p to work off campus.

U of Windsor(Fall 2014)
M.Eng. in M.E.(auto)

u can apply frm ur hme country or aftr reaching there too.... for rules visit CIC website brother

 

[vengaty]

Im proud to do the 50th +1
rating to you

 

[Canadian fan]

I am planning for business analysis from GBC and it has a optional Co-op program for a semister.
I believe I will apply for co-op work permit only after reaching there.

One issue that's confusing, say if I get my Co-op work permit in month of Oct 2015, will my regular study permit be reduced by 3 months and will my one year study permit end by oct 2016??

I hope I was able to explain the scenario. Plz reply.

 

[lucifer_2510]

Im proud to do the 50th +1
rating to you

speaking to me brother

 

[sidhu92]

Thank you for the information.

Do we have to start our co-op during our semester, or during our break between the semesters???

And how many hours can we work during our co-op?

 

[Rossei]

Im proud to do the 50th +1
rating to you

LOL, thanks

 

[Rossei]

I am planning for business analysis from GBC and it has a optional Co-op program for a semister.
I believe I will apply for co-op work permit only after reaching there.

One issue that's confusing, say if I get my Co-op work permit in month of Oct 2015, will my regular study permit be reduced by 3 months and will my one year study permit end by oct 2016??

I hope I was able to explain the scenario. Plz reply.

I went to GBC website for further info on your program. It's not clearly written but I think the last semester is either case study or case study+co-op. It also states in the program description:
"Students can begin working from the beginning of the second semester, for up to 24 hours per week."
You should verify with your college.

 

[Rossei]

Thank you for the information.

Do we have to start our co-op during our semester, or during our break between the semesters???

Normally, co-op terms are independent of study terms. So, you start working almost right after your study semester finishes. For example, you start your 1st semester in Fall, 2014. You would probably have your 2nd semester in Winter, 2015. In that study term, you will apply for co-op jobs and get a placement (if successful) by the time that term finishes (in April, 2015). You start working from May, 2015 up to Aug, 2015 (if the co-op was agreed for 4 months) and then come back to school in Fall, 2015 for your consecutive study terms.

Here is what I had at uWindsor:
1st year: Fall (study), Winter (study), Spring/summer (co-op)
2nd year: Fall (study), Winter (study), Spring/summer (co-op)
3rd year: Fall (study), Winter (co-op), Spring/summer (study)
4th year: Fall (co-op), Winter (study), Spring/summer (study)

And how many hours can we work during our co-op?

Generally, co-ops are full-time jobs. So, you work 40 hours/week unless it's a special position. You pay income taxes, CPP and EI on the salary you get like regular employees.

 

[Mageshwaran]

Can u suggest me 2 year Diploma Architectural technology program with Co-op option? can i earn money during co-op job?

 

[kool.keith]

I've been an engineering co-op student in Ontario, had 4 terms with different companies and finally secured full-time permanent job with one of them during my final year of study. From my story, you can learn the importance of CO-OP if you want to settle in Canada in future. Co-op program is mostly common among undergrad students in either college or university, but very limited for post-graduates.

Definition
Co-operative education program (in short “co-op”) is a structured method of combining classroom teaching with practical work experience. It's a 3-way partnership program among the student, employer and educational institution. In general terms, students, from secondary to post-secondary levels, who are enrolled in co-op program of their respective school, will allow themselves to work (paid) with different employers in their off-term of study.

Regulations:


Thank you this great info
The national standards of co-op program is set and promoted by Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE). Each co-op position, its role, accountability and salary need to be approved by CAFCE. One can know more about co-op, each Canadian university with its co-op options from its website (using Co-op Program Directory search from right column of the web). CAFCE: http://www.cafce.ca/en/home

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat sets terms and conditions applied to any student employment including co-op.
Canadian Treasury Board: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=12583&section=text#appA

How It Works:
Most colleges and universities in Canada would have co-op program. It's available in either optional or mandatory basis depending on your discipline and school. Co-op options are pretty common among engineering, applied science, science & business discipline; but it can also be available in a wide range of programs of study.

Either you enrol into the program from the time of your student application or you can do it later after joining your university. Unless it's a course compulsory, generally, students have to hold certain GPA (i.e. 3 out of 4), pass interview and/or any other requirements in order to enrol into co-op program.

Most universities have their own career office. Normally, different companies would post job openings through your school/career office Web-based application. You would upload your resume, cover letter, transcript etc. as requested by the employer that you choose to apply. If your co-op term starts in Summer, you would apply for jobs in prior Fall/Winter study term and secure a placement by that term. Note that, you would not only compete with your fellow classmates for a job but also with every other co-op student from different universities of Canada (not province specific) where the employer had posted this job. There are few rounds of job posting during a study term in which number of openings start to decrease from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd significantly.

Co-op job competition is just like any other in regular job market. Once you get short-listed by any employer for a specific job, you would be called upon for an interview set either at company location or at your school. If they like you to hire, they will contact you directly or via your school afterwards. Since you're an international student; your school would help you to get your Work Permit before/after securing a co-op job placement.

Co-op terms are also evaluated by both your employer (during your co-op term) and your school (when you come back to school in the following study term) though co-op report, presentation, interview, survey etc.

Co-op Fees:
Once you're enrolled into your school's co-op program, you have to pay a certain fees ($400-$700) for each study and co-op term you'll have onward towards your degree.

Length of Co-op Term:
Co-op is normally 4 month long, but it can be extended up to 8, 12 or 16 months. Some companies would only hire co-op/interns for only longer terms. Moreover, some jobs require longer term involvements. If your school doesn't have that many co-op terms (regular is 4 terms); you may choose to go for longer term co-op. But in the case, you would miss a year of study and will have to continue after you come back. Generally, students who are interested in longer terms, choose to do that during their 3rd/4th year of study for increase in chances of getting hired permanently upon graduation and salary.

University of Ottawa have put these together in their FAQ's:
http://www.coop.uottawa.ca/en/en-employer/en-emp-faq.asp

Benefits for a Student:
• Opportunity to work in a real company, apply theoretical knowledge and learn industrial tools-standards-procedures
• Exposure to potential employers, current job market and real-world job competition
• Handsome remuneration which could take lot of pressure out from paying high Int'l Students' tuition fees
• Active participation in various classes, workshops, presentations for resume help, job search, interview tips etc. conducted by University Career Centre.
• Job aids and training from employer
• Chance to see new cities/provinces by relocating with your employer
• Opportunity to make new contacts/links for future endeavor
• Experienced gathered through co-op terms would finally secure a job upon graduation either in same company you worked and dazzled or any other in same business area
• Continuous 12-month long co-op terms may be valued in proving job experience for Permanent Residency in Canada. If it doesn't; it will do eventually by getting you a job after you graduate.

Wages:
Here is the table of minimum student wages set by Canadian Treasury Board:

Effective January 1, 2013

Academic Levels	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
College/CEGEP Pre-University	$12.08	$12.79	$13.56	$14.38	$15.27	$16.17	NA	NA
University Under-graduate	$12.58	$13.48	$14.40	$15.40	$16.47	$17.66	$18.86	$20.21
Master's	$17.66	$19.05	$20.58	$22.21	NA	NA	NA	NA
Doctorate	$20.39	$22.22	$24.23	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA

Source: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/lrco-rtor/collective/lru-mnc/student-etudiants-eng.asp

Benefits for an Employer:
• Co-op students are an ideal source of manpower to fill temporary human resource needs during staff leaves or for short-term projects
• Co-op programs offer year-round access to schools employing co-op students that can reduce future recruiting costs
• When a student works for consecutive terms/longer time for an employer, he/she would most likely to be hired by that same employer upon graduation as he/she had training, learned specific process and accomplished required task/project successfully (compared to a totally new grad who would need to be trained and taught thoroughly)
• Tax refund benefits for employing co-op students in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec

Few Tips for Int'l Students:
• By hook or crook, get into co-op program if you're interested in settling down in Canada permanently
• Co-op isn't a right, it's a privilege. By enrolling yourself into co-op will not fetch you a job, you have to get it
• 1st year co-op placement is usually very hard. You can do international placement (in your own country) by your school's permission if you weren't successful in securing a placement. After the 1st placement, it gets comparatively easier for later years
• General Resume Help: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/resume-format-please-to-apply-job-in-canada-t130658.0.html;msg2007398#msg2007398
• Engineering Student Resume Format: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/student-resume-t95920.0.html;msg1273016#msg1273016
• Interview Tips: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/top-10-interview-tips-for-job-t76984.0.html

Co-op Program - Universities of Ontario (links provided):
University of Toronto
Ryerson University
York University
University of Ottawa
Carleton University
Queen's University
McMaster University
Brock University
University of Guelph
University of Waterloo (Known for the best engineering co-op program)
Wilfrid Laurier University
University of Western Ontario
University of Windsor
Lakehead University
Algoma University
University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Note: For your chosen college/university of a particular province; please visit http://www.cafce.ca/en/home and select accordingly in their directory search. I would also recommend to go to specific university/college website and search "co-op" for more updated info.

 

[kool.keith]

Can you suggest me Uni's offering a decent co-op program in Masters in Computer Science

I have already applied at Ryerson, York, Regina , Dal , Concordia , Bishop's, lakehead, Memorial , Acadia.
My profile is Btech CS 62%
TOEFL 79
Work exp in computer network - 4 years.

Thanks

 

[Rossei]

Can you suggest me Uni's offering a decent co-op program in Masters in Computer Science

I have already applied at Ryerson, York, Regina , Dal , Concordia , Bishop's, lakehead, Memorial , Acadia.
My profile is Btech CS 62%
TOEFL 79
Work exp in computer network - 4 years.

Thanks

Masters program has very limited opportunity for co-op. You may get 4 - 8 months placement. It all depends on the school you applied. I know uWindsor has it, don't know much about the others. You have to find out on your own on the list you've given. I'm sorry I can't be of much help here.

 

[kool.keith]

Masters program has very limited opportunity for co-op. You may get 4 - 8 months placement. It all depends on the school you applied. I know uWindsor has it, don't know much about the others. You have to find out on your own on the list you've given. I'm sorry I can't be of much help here.

Okay Rossei no problem
Thanks
Can you tell me if I get admit in a 16 months programs , will I be eligible to get a 3 years PGWP ?

 

[shahid19091982]

Hello All,

I have applied for my coop permit but still not received after 4 and half months can anybody help me in giving me any suggestions. Please.