Make the most of your degree by participating in opportunities that apply classroom knowledge to the real world. Get involved at UBC, gain work experience, and/or study abroad in Europe.
Study and learn a language abroad
Test possible career paths
Build your professional network and resume
Participate in local or international programs
Arts Co-op
Graduate with more than a degree and explore your career options with Arts Co-Op.
As an Arts Co-op student, you’ll gain 12 months of paid work experience and a network of professional contacts through a variety of opportunities in the public, private and non-profit sectors. During the course of your degree, you’ll alternate between study terms and three paid, full-time work terms.
Arts Co-op partners with a diverse range of employers to provide transformative workplace learning experiences for your personal, academic, and professional growth while helping you prepare for your future career.
80% of employers consider co-op students as potential future employees
Co-op graduates earn 15% higher starting salaries than non-co-op graduates
Manage your job search
Enhance your job search skills through extensive and specialized pre-employment training, including resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, personalized career coaching, and ongoing workplace support.
Expand your skillset
Diversify your degree and stand out to employers by gaining transferable skills and experiences in a broad range of roles. Some professional skills that you can develop include:
- Critical thinking and creative problem solving
- Research, analysis and project management
- Communications and writing
- Digital media and technology
- Leadership and teamwork
Go Global
Go Global’s international learning programs offer students transformational experiences that promote global awareness, meaningful engagement, and cross-cultural understanding. Programs include academic exchanges, group study programs, and research and service-learning. Application deadlines vary depending on the program.
If you are thinking about studying abroad, it is important to understand your course requirements and which credits are transferable while abroad, in order to complete your Geography degree.
The following exchange destinations are recommended by the UBC Department of Geography.
- Australia: Australian National University, University of Melbourne
- Canada: University of Toronto
- Denmark: University of Copenhagen
- Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong
- Ireland: University of College Dublin
- Netherlands: University of Amsterdam
- New Zealand: University of Auckland
- Singapore: National University of Singapore
- Sweden: Lund University
- United Kingdom: Durham University, University of Bristol, University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham
- USA: University of California Berkeley or Los Angeles
Conduct research abroad at one of our 150 partner universities worldwide. Students may wish to embark on self-directed research abroad programs or structured research abroad programs. Research abroad allows undergraduates to learn new techniques, build your career as well as network and engage with other cultures.
Take a UBC course led by a faculty member alongside a small group of peers to experience hands-on learning. Each course is unique in location, length, and cost. Immerse yourself in another part of the world and bring course content to life. UBC currently has a variety of global seminars that may be of interest to Geography students.
Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE)
The Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE) is a team of students, staff, faculty, and community partners working to bridge the gap between academia and civil society. Through its interdisciplinary, community-based and experiential approach, ORICE offers a wide range of pedagogical programs that focus on what it truly means to build collaborative, trust-based relationships and to address complex community challenges.
UBC’s International Service Learning (ISL) program allows you to contribute towards important projects led by community partners around the world. By taking part in the program, you connect your academic studies with real-world experience. ISL fosters meaningful connections with communities around the world and will help you discover the local impact of global issues. This is an opportunity for students to travel abroad while still earning credits for a UBC course.
Work Learn Program
Geography students can gain practical experience in their field as Research Assistants, Lab Assistants, and Library Assistants through a variety of Work Learn Positions on campus. Build professional skills and grow your professional network, right here on campus.
Centre for Community Engaged Learning
The Centre for Community Engaged Learning hosts programs that provide students with opportunities to learn, participate, and collaborate on projects in the community. You can learn from our amazing community partners at our Changemaking events, participate in a hands-on and intensive community experience, lead a project by writing a grant, and/or joining a Collaboratory project.
Student Directed Seminars
Student Directed Seminars is a student-driven program that puts you in charge of your education. Upper-year undergraduate students are given the opportunity to propose, coordinate, and lead their own three-credit seminar class with a small group of peers. Within a framework designed by the student-initiator, participants will explore a topic not currently offered at UBC. Class participants will define the direction of the course, learning from one another through individual and group objects.
Sustainability Education Resource Centre
At the Sustainability Education Resource Centre students can get one-on-one advice on UBC diverse sustainability education offerings. The Sustainability Education Resource Centre’s goal is to help integrate and enhance sustainability themes into teaching, learning, and student engagement activities. Students have the opportunity to learn more about UBC sustainability initiatives through their courses, leadership, and volunteer opportunities, as well as, events on and off-campus.
Social, Ecological, Economic Development Studies (SEEDS)
Social, Ecological, Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) brings staff, faculty, and students together to work on ground-breaking and progressive sustainability projects at UBC. Through applied research and interdisciplinary partnerships across campus, SEEDS aims to promote sustainability ideas, policies, and practices by using the campus as a living laboratory. Students are given the opportunity to get involved on campus, earn course credit, and develop professionals skills.