Indigenous Students
The Applied Science Co-op Program is committed to encouraging and supporting Indigenous students to participate in co-op and work-integrated learning opportunities, and to working with students to address any barriers that may be present.
Our commitment is rooted in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2015) Call-to-Action 92(ii). We are determined to ensure that “[Indigenous] peoples [are to] have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities” (p.294). Supporting Indigenous student engagement with co-op is our way of supporting this TRC call-to-action. Further, we commit to Action 38 in the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan (2020), ensuring our policies and operational practices are supporting the equity and inclusion of Indigenous students, faculty, staff and community members. (p. 33).
Common Questions from Indigenous students
- Co-op students are considered full-time students while on work terms. Under federal PSSSP program guidelines, full-time students remain full-time students as long as they are considered so by their institution.
- Any individual nation may set their own policy on co-op. It is important to discuss your desire to participate in co-op with your funding coordinator.
- You may also bring possible options to your funding coordinator for them (and any possible deciding boards) to consider, such as:
- Full funding including living allowance.
- Tuition/co-op fees only, without living allowance.
- Temporarily pausing your funding for co-op work terms, while holding your space in the budget until after the work term.
- You may also bring possible options to your funding coordinator for them (and any possible deciding boards) to consider, such as:
- Yes. Participation in the co-op program adds an additional year of study to complete the Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Design requirements. Students enter the co-op program in September of either their second or third year of study and complete all their co-op work terms before commencing their final year of academic study. Students must complete their degree on an academic term. To earn the co-op designation on their degree parchment, students are required to successfully complete a minimum of four work terms (3 for the Bachelor of Design) including one work term in either Term 1 or Term 2 of a Winter session.
- Some nations may require your degree to be completed during a 4-year period. Refer to your nation's post-secondary funding policy. If this is the case with your nation, connect with your nation's funding coordinator and/or your Co-op Career Advisor to discuss your options.
- If your nation requires you to complete your degree within a 4-year period, we still welcome you to apply and participate in the co-op program during those 4 years.
Jobs found outside of PD Portal, our job board, can be counted as work-terms if they meet co-op program criteria. Please share the information about your job with your Co-op Career Advisor to determine if it could count towards your co-op requirements.
- Many current employers are interested in recruiting Indigenous students and we are working with Indigenous organizations and communities to arrange for culturally relevant, and Indigenous-centred opportunities.
Admissions into the Applied Science Co-op Program for Indigenous Students
All Indigenous students who submit a complete and satisfactory application to Applied Science Co-op, meet the requirements of the program, and perform satisfactorily in the intake process, will be admitted. Additionally, Indigenous applicants will not be assessed the co-op administration and workshop fee.