For UBC Engineering students in co-op, the job market is a place of opportunity. Across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, employer interest is at an all‑time high, with local, national and international companies posting record numbers of positions. More UBC engineering students than ever before are gaining relevant paid work experience in their field long before graduation.
“We’re seeing strong industry and employer engagement with our program,” says Amir Hariri, Senior Manager of Business Development and Industry Engagement at the Faculty of Applied Science.
“Last year – 2025 – was a record year for UBC co-op in terms of total job postings and the number of work terms our students were part of.”
Even in a global economy marked by caution, demand for skilled talent remans solid. While many young people across Canada struggled to find work, UBC Engineering co-op students continued to be hired across a wide range of industries.
SEE OUR 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW PAGE FOR CO-OP STATS
UBC Applied Science Co‑op by the numbers (2025)
- 3,258 work terms completed, the highest in program history
- 79% overall placement rate
- Winter: 90%
- Summer: 70%
- Fall: 87%
- 10,805 job postings, a 22.5% increase from 2024
- 1,100+ unique employers
- 1,392 new students admitted to co‑op
- 527 graduates completed four co-op work terms before graduating
- Median monthly earnings ranged from $3,800–$5,200, depending on program
- 5 new companies entered the top‑employer list
- New international markets added: Singapore and New Zealand
- Record employer turnout at both Vancouver and Okanagan industry events
Why employers hire UBC Engineering co-op students
“Our employers always speak very highly of our students’ technical knowledge and the meaningful contributions they make in the workplace,” says Hariri. “Supervisors tell us our students contribute right away and they’re impressed by their strong technical skills and how quickly they take on new projects.”
LEARN HOW HANDS-ON PROJECTS HELP YOU BUILD IN-DEMAND KNOWLEDGE
UBC’s engineering education – which blends rigorous technical training with the all-important professional skills – is a major reason employers return year after year. Many companies first connect with UBC through alumni, research partnerships or word of mouth. Others discover the program through global rankings. As Hariri notes, many start with a single job posting and then become long‑term partners once they see the value co‑op students bring.
How UBC prepares students to succeed
Students join co-op in second year and spend that year building job-readiness skills. They complete an online course, attend workshops and meet one-on-one with advisors who help them develop a job search strategy, refine their resumes and gain confidence in interviews.
Before major events – like the Vancouver networking reception, which drew more than 430 students in January – the co-op team runs targeted workshops on basic networking fundamentals so students make a strong first impression.
“Students get a lot of support,” says Hariri. “Our advisors are always available, and we offer workshops before big events so students feel ready.”
The program is also flexible. Work terms can be extended, adjusted or shifted to meet student and employer needs. Mechanical engineering student Alice Xie, for example, discovered her ideal role just as she was finishing up a co-op term and preparing to return to campus. Instead, she was able to extend her work term, and her eight-month position with the National Research Council Canada was everything she hoped it would be.
“Being involved in hands-on work and doing everything from design to testing made me truly feel like a “real” engineer during this co-op term, which is why this has been my favourite co-op term yet,” she says.
What this means for future UBC Engineering students
If you’re a high school student considering engineering, co‑op is often a deciding factor. At UBC, it means:
- Access to thousands of interesting, relevant positions across Canada and around the world
- Support from advisors who understand the engineering job market
- Opportunities to explore different options within your program
- A chance to build your professional network while still a student
- The ability to have real responsibility on a project and make a real impact
What our alumni say
When you read through our alumni profiles, you’ll quickly see that co-op was a defining element of their undergraduate experience (and that many ended up getting their first jobs out of school through a contact made in a co-op position).
“Co-op gave me an understanding of how what I was learning in school applied in the real world, and it enabled me to integrate knowledge from my work experience into my classes,” says alumni Denny Tian. “It made the whole learning process much more interesting and engaging.”
It also helped him understand the broader scope of engineering.
“Although I might have originally understood engineering to be focused on applying math, science and physics to real-world problems, as I gained more work experience, I realized that engineering is as much about communication, change management and conflict resolution. This helped me approach my studies more intentionally, in terms of the electives I took and the mentors I sought out.”
Your first real jobs matter
Your early work experiences help you build your skills, discover your interests, earn money and grow your professional network. When you choose UBC Engineering – and choose co-op – you are setting yourself up to be career ready at graduation.
“I know the job market might seem daunting, particularly if you haven’t completed a work term, but things get a lot easier once you get that first foot in the door,” says Alice Xie. “Talk to your co-op advisor often! A huge shout-out to my co-op advisor, Hayden Soboleski, who has been amazing.”
As Alice says, once you get your foot in the door, you are on your way to building a rewarding career in engineering. National labour‑market data consistently shows that engineering graduates have some of the highest employment rates and starting salaries in Canada, and co‑op accelerates that trajectory by giving you real experience before graduation.
Check out our article on engineering careers in action to learn more about the many directions you can pursue with a degree in engineering from UBC.
