You will gain skills and knowledge through real-world experiences with the BioPharm co-operative education opportunities. Students of the program will complete up to 12 months of paid work placement during their time in the program, usually in academia, government, and pharmaceutical industries.

You will be supported for coop placements by the Faculty of Science Coop Office, who will assist you in designing your resume, practicing interview skills, job posting and checking in throughout their coop placement.

Coop placements have some flexibility, allowing for the best opportunities for the student, including the option of 4- or 8-month coop placements. Due to rigorous lab training and an engaging program content, BioPharm coop students are highly employable, typically with 100% of students finding a coop each term in their desired field.

“Co-op opportunity is what makes this program unique compared to other programs as we get the opportunity for training in the pharmaceutical industry.” Level 4 BioPharm student, 2023.

The Biology and Pharmacology program prides itself on the small-group, problem-based learning model that engages students as active learners in their education. This approach is a foundation of the Faculty of Health Sciences, where students identify issues and then seek, synthesize, and integrate information during discussions with their peers. WHAT you learn is as important as HOW you learn it.

Tutorial groups of up to ten students to one faculty member is most common. The faculty members facilitate the discussions – they do not give lectures. The triad of problem-based learning consists of the problem, the students, and their tutors.

Flexibility, resilience, and a critical outlook on information are encouraged in this program. In this way, the educational experience serves to enhance the students’ professional and personal aspirations.

“PBL format helped me retain info much more effectively than lectures. Casual atmosphere, [I] truly felt like [I was] discussing concepts with coworkers, learned a lot without too much stress or anxiety” Level 3 BioPharm student, 2023.

With Problem Based Learning as a foundational pillar of the BioPharm program, typical class sizes range from 7-20 students. This, unlike many other university programs, allows for individual attention to each student, giving a more customized educational experience and in-time feedback.

Program students often feel the small class sizes is one of the greatest assets of the program, encouraging BioPharm students to work collaboratively and build lifelong friendships. The sense of community extends beyond the classroom, to academic clubs such as the BioPharm Society, that runs social events and provide academic support as needed.

“I’m pretty happy with what this program uniquely provides” Level 5 BioPharm Student, 2023.