Master of Engineering Biomedical

All MEng BMEG students starting their program in September and studying full-time are eligible to participate in the Co-op Program.

Applications for the 2024/2025 intake year will open in November. The application includes a short survey and resume submission. Applications for admission to the co-op program are accepted only once per year.

You will be admitted into the Co-op Program if you:

• Meet the eligibility criteria, and 
• Submit a complete application by the deadline
• Agree to the Graduate Terms and Conditions of the Program

• Full-time: 35 to 40 hours per week 
• Length: 4, 8 or 12 months (minimum 12 weeks) 
• Paid: Salary must at least the minimum wage of the region of your employment
• Supervised: Supervised by an engineer, EIT, or other technical staff who provides regular supervision, feedback, and completes the end of term performance evaluation
• Relevant:  Technical and relevant to your academic program
• Location: If the position is based outside of Canada, the country where you will be working must be a low-risk destination as per Global Affairs Canada’s travel advisories.

International students are required to apply for a co-op work permit (in addition to holding a valid study permit) to legally work in Canada on a UBC-approved internship. After you are admitted into the Co-op Program, we will provide you with a letter for your co-op work permit application that confirms the internship is a requirement for your degree. 

All students accepted into the co-op program will participate in a series of workshops designed to introduce you to essential career resources available within the program. These workshops will include interactive job search activities, discussions, and opportunities to engage with industry professionals who are also active co-op employers through industry-specific panels.

The MEng BMEG internship option is designed for you to start your internship in September, when the job market is less competitive, and after you have completed your academic degree requirements. The internship can be 4, 8 or 12 months in length, depending on the needs of the employer, and can only be with one organization (see Graduate Work Term Sequences). As your internship is at the end of your degree, employers may offer you a permanent, full-time position upon completion, if both parties agree.

The Co-op Program mimics the real-world job search process. It’s competitive and a job is not guaranteed. Here’s how it works: 

1. Job Search: You review job descriptions on the co-op job board and apply for the positions that interest you. You are encouraged to also search for internship positions outside the co-op job board. Using multiple sources and job boards for job postings will increase your chances of securing an internship position.
2. Application Review: Employers review the applications and identify candidates who best match their job requirements.
3. Interviews: Candidates selected by employers will be invited to interviews.
4. Job Offer: After the interview, the employer decides which candidate to hire (if any) and extends an offer of employment to the successful candidate. 
5. Decision: The successful candidate must decide whether to accept or decline the offer within 2 business days.

Most jobs are open to international co-op/internship students; however, some positions, particularly those with the federal government, may be restricted to Canadian citizens due to security clearance or funding requirements. 

All internship positions must be paid and meet the minimum wage requirements for the jurisdiction where the position is based. In British Columbia, the minimum wage is $17.40 (as of June 1, 2024). Unpaid work or work not meeting minimum wage requirements will not be eligible for the internship.

Most internship students earn more than minimum wage. Please refer to our salary page for details on the typical salaries co-op students earn while on a work term.

After successfully completing the pre-employment training workshops, you will receive a resume and cover letter review. You will have access to the Co-op Program’s exclusive job portal with hundreds of internship opportunities posted and you can access all resources provided by the Co-op team. When you receive interview requests, you can then book mock interview appointments to prepare for your interview.

All graduate co-op students are encouraged to attend the scheduled one-hour job search advising and FAQ sessions led by a Co-op Career Advisor, who can answer your questions and provide guidance on the job search.

There are two types of fees associated with participation in the internship stream: 

• Co-op administration and workshop fee - The co-op administration and workshop fee is a one-time, non-refundable payment of $277.25 that is paid upon entry into the internship program and just prior to the pre-employment training workshops. Payment is made directly to the UBC Applied Science Co-op Office. Instructions on how to pay this fee will be provided by the Co-op Office. 

• Co-op course fee - After securing an internship position, you will be registered in the appropriate co-op course for each term of the internship employment period (ex. If you secure an 8-month internship, you will be registered in two co-op courses and assessed the related co-op course fee and regular UBC student fees (ex. Health & dental, athletics and recreation fee, etc). The current co-op course fee is $854.75. The fees are due by the due dates specified in the Academic Calendar, whether the internship position is secured through the Co-op Program or through your own self-directed job search. The co-op course fee is paid directly via Workday like any other tuition fee payment.

  As you will be completing the internship terms after having completed and paid the three term installments of your M.Eng. degree program, you will not be assessed further M.Eng. academic tuition installments.

During your internship you will be registered in a co-op work term course and are required to: 

• Work Full Time:  Fulfil the terms of your employment contract and learn as much as you can.
• Act Professionally: Respect the policies, procedures, confidentiality and proprietary information of your employer. 
• Establish Learning Objectives: Identify the skills, knowledge and insights you want to gain during the work term and strive to achieve them.
• Stay in Contact: Participate in a work term check-in midway through your work term with your Co-op Career Advisor and keep in touch with your Co-op Career Advisor for guidance and support. 
• Complete Assignment: Finish your internship assignment and submit it to the co-op work term Canvas course for grading. 
• Reflect on Experience: Reflect on the skills and knowledge you have developed during the work term and how they relate to your academic program and career goals. Complete the student evaluation of the work term. Review your supervisor’s assessment of your performance and areas of improvement identified in the employer evaluation of the work term. 
• Adhere to Terms and Conditions: Abide by the Graduate Terms and Conditions of the Co-op Program for the duration of your internship.