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Master of Public Administration (MPA) on-campus students are automatically enrolled in co-op.

MA in Community Development (MACD) and PhD students have the option to complete co-op as part of their programs.

Minor students may apply to join the co-op program through their degree program area and complete a co-op placement related to their minor in Public Administration or Indigenous Community Development and Governance (ICDG).

Program facts

Master of Public Administration (on-campus) Co-op

• this is a mandatory co-op program (you're automatically enrolled as part of your academic program)
• online MPA students are not eligible for co-op placements
• there are 2 mandatory work terms; you may choose to complete 3 work terms
• you can earn a co-op designation after 2 work terms

Fees

Co-op students pay a co-op tuition fee for each work term just like you do for your academic courses and campus services. This is not a job placement fee—it goes towards the cost of running the program.

It's free to join co-op and attend the preparation course—you'll pay your tuition fee after you secure a co-op work term. You'll pay your fees according to the same tuition fee deadlines as regular course fees. 

2026/27 fees

Fees and fee deadlines vary by program (fees listed as effective May 1, 2026).

Undergraduate engineering students pay installments of the co-op tuition fee each term:

• $411.86 for domestic students
• $882.30 for international students

All other undergraduate students pay the co-op tuition fee after they secure a work term:

• $823.72 for domestic students
• $1,764.60 for international students

Graduate students in all programs pay the co-op tuition fee for each co-op term

• $823.72 for domestic students 
• $1,040.71 for international students

• the grad co-op program fee  
• the grad ancillary fees

If you register for a course (e.g. thesis 596 or 598) and a co-op work term in the same term, during that term, you'll pay:

• the grad co-op program tuition fee
• the course tuition fee
• the grad ancillary fees

The fee for a co-op work term challenge is $411.86 for domestic students and $882.30 for international students. 

Questions about co-op tuition fees? Email us or call 250-721-7032 for assistance.

Sample jobs

Many MPA students secure placements in the public sector at the federal, provincial or local government level, including agencies and commissions.

Co-op opportunities are not limited to the Victoria area—you're encouraged to take placements throughout BC, elsewhere in Canada or abroad. 

Juraj Kobzik (public administration)

Juraj is finishing his studies in ������Ƶ’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. During his studies he completed two co-op work terms with the Government of Canada’s...

Stephen Joyce (public administration)

Raised in Hamilton, Ontario, ������Ƶ master’s in public administration student Stephen Joyce witnessed firsthand the ecological impacts of the region’s steel industry, which taught...

Get support

We're here to support you with every step in your co-op journey, from applying to co-op to making sure you're supported at work. Contact your co-op coordinator or office for assistance.

If you identify as having a disability or a mental health condition, if you belong to an equity group, or if you identify as Indigenous, we have additional supports for your co-op experience.