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At this time, the Co-op program  has no application fee.

The Co-op Work Term and Co-op Preparation Tuition is paid when you register into the courses. *see the website for a current fee schedule.

Yes. Students are not limited to positions from their faculty. We encourage students to apply for any jobs they find interesting and are suited for.

Yes. In addition to applying for positions on through NVIT, we encourage you to search for your own work term placement. Total length of a work term must be a minimum of 12 weeks (or approximately 420 hours). Please meet with NVIT’s Co-op Coordinator for further details.

Co-op is for full-time students. You should be in 9 units (3 courses) or more in your study terms. *students with disabilities who are on a part-time schedule may be accommodated at a later date.

Obtaining employment is a joint effort between the student and the Co-operative Education Department, and learners must meet a *minimum grade in their core courses to be eligible for the work placement.

Students will not gain access to the Co-op job database until they have applied to enter the program and paid the associated fees. Students must also have completed the Co-op essential employment skills training.

Our Co-op Coordinator will assist in developing job opportunities, but ultimately the student is responsible for her/his co-op experience. *min. GPA to be determined when program is adopted

On-the-job performance is monitored and evaluated by the employer in consultation with the coordinator. Additionally, there is a requirement of a reflective work-term assignment to help solidify the learning outcomes. The Co-op Coordinator grades the work term report and the mark (pass/fail) is recorded and submitted to NVIT Student Records for processing on the student’s official NVIT transcript.

Students will require a minimum of two, maximum of four, 12-16 week co-op terms to graduate with a co-op designation on their diploma. These co-op terms generally are done back to back, but could be done in separate terms. All Co-op work terms must be completed before the final term of the program.

Undergraduate students in Co-op can anticipate pay rates of minimum wage up to $28/hour, depending on the employer and your position.

Co-op programs demand more from their students. NVIT has made a commitment to provide employers with knowledgeable, conscientious workers. In turn, this means that classroom time is intensive and challenging.

Employers make a commitment to NVIT to provide students with a relevant and valuable work experience. This can mean an exciting and demanding work environment. The end result is a fully rounded graduate: a person with a strong theoretical grasp of the discipline, backed up with a solid, experience – a highly marketable combination.

Cooperative Education involves the combination of academic study with work terms. Co-op paid work terms provide students with an opportunity for substantial work experience that complements academic study. This experience is invaluable to Co-op students when applying for full-time employment after graduation.

It is important for students to know that the program requires additional time, effort and financial obligation.

Students are required to participate in the job search process by providing leads, making direct contacts and conducting information interviews with potential employers. If a position develops primarily as a result of a particular student’s efforts, this obviously becomes their job on approval.

Students who take responsibility in the job development process gain valuable life skills while in this supportive environment. This certainly helps now and in the future, for the post-graduate job search. Students accepted into Co-op are required to actively participate in the job search process, check the job postings on a regular basis, provide the coordinator with a current, employer-ready copy of their resume, conduct themselves appropriately on the job and complete a work term report at the end of each work term.

The employer will interview and make the final decision on which student(s) they choose to hire, but are not obligated if they feel no candidate is suitable for their needs. It should be noted that NVIT Co-operative Education students might be in competition with students from other post-secondary institutes for a limited number of placements.

Employers will provide students with quality work placements so that they benefit from their work experience. The characteristics of a quality work placement include:

• a stimulating work environment that encourages questioning and is tolerant of errors;
• provision of appropriate supervision and mentorship;
• integration of work and classroom experience; and
• evaluation of the student’s job performance.

One work term provides a student with just 4 months of work experience. It is to your benefit to have at 8 – 12 months of work experience upon graduation, as well as the related contacts and references this provides. Total length of each work term must be a minimum of 12 weeks (or approximately 420 hours). At this time, with the completion of 2 work terms on an alternating basis with study terms, Co-op is noted on the graduation diploma. *If you do only one co-op work term it will not be noted on your credential. This is the model of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), which is used by accredited universities in Canada.

This depends on your program of study. At this time, NVIT diploma courses on campus have limited offerings each semester. The scheduling of additional work-terms into the certificate, diploma or degree could extend the amount of time it takes to complete all required courses. However, because most NVIT programs are only 1 to 2 years, you can do Co-op between year one and year two and then again after the completion of year two. This does not extend your academic terms, but you will not receive credit for your additive co-op work term or the Co-op designation on your transcript until your co-op work term(s) are complete.

The Co-operative Education Department cannot guarantee each student a job during their Co-op work term.  Co-op is a competitive program where students apply and compete for jobs. The more effort you put into the job search and job search preparation process, and the more positions you apply for, the more interviews you are likely to get. Likewise, the more interviews you do, the more likely you are to receive a job offer. Co-op staff are available to assist you in all stages of your Co-op work search, and special preparation for your job search is done through the Co-op essential employment skills training, which helps you tailor your resume, cover letter and improve your interview skills. Aside from preparation, the more flexible students are with regard to the work experience they would like to gain and the locations they can work, the more likely they are to secure a position.