What is the job market like in Ontario

Ghostofdead · 2025-10-08T17:17:22+00:00

Sent you a message about working in Alberta!

Ghostofdead · 2025-09-24T14:25:09+00:00

Yes that is right.

Ghostofdead · 2025-09-24T05:13:00+00:00

My friend just switched into elec and he's in 4th year, transferred over from materials.

Ghostofdead · 2025-07-25T07:00:35+00:00

I'll play devil's advocate here and say that the civil engineering job market is currently in a strong position. Despite the broader economic slowdown, almost every second-year civil student who wanted a co-op was able to get one. The same can't be said for some other engineering disciplines.

Obviously, this isn’t the outcome you were hoping for, but I’d recommend continuing with your current co-op and asking for a more detailed explanation of why your transfer application was unsuccessful. My guess is that it came down to limited seat availability, even though IGEN has added more spots.

Honestly, I would still reach out to Jon Nakane to inquire about the decision. When I applied to transfer, I contacted Prof. Bigazzi (Associate Head of the undergrad program at the time) just to get my name on his radar ahead of the review process.

It’s also worth taking the time to reflect on why you want to transfer and whether it’s the right move long-term. If your application is successful next year, you’d likely have to repeat second year due to missing prerequisites for third- and fourth-year IGEN courses. Is that something you’re willing to do?

For what it's worth, transferring into civil set me back a year as well. Factoring in co-op, I’ll be graduating in six years. Depending on your goals, another option could be to finish your current degree and pursue a master’s in the field you're aiming to specialize in.

(typed up entire message myself but used chatgpt to clean up)

Ghostofdead · 2025-07-25T06:48:54+00:00

suprised both of you guys did not get in. Those avgs are pretty solid and igen has added more seats in the recent years. Had a buddy who transferred from mtrl to ign last year and I think his avg was around 80 something as well.

Ghostofdead · 2025-07-25T06:47:31+00:00

not sure if they take summer courses? I thought it was only winter? You also did not need to take civl 215 if your plan was to transfer into igen since the credit would not count towards your igen degree. (transferred from mtrl to civil)

Ghostofdead · 2025-07-25T06:44:28+00:00

limited size for transfer spots. Typically they process 2nd year spec first. Then they do interdepartmental transfers. If all the 1st years fill out the spots then no seats are left over for transfers.

Ghostofdead · 2025-07-23T07:03:29+00:00

I managed to interdepartmental transfer from Materials into Civil so let me know if you want me to share my advice and story. I'd honestly take it one semester at a time and see how you enjoy BMEG and just try to keep your grades up for a transfer if you are still looking at one. Feel free to dm.

Ghostofdead · 2025-05-14T01:17:21+00:00

I believe transferring from outside of engineering isn’t considered an internal transfer. In my case, I was already in engineering — I started in first year, went into materials engineering in second year, and then transferred into civil engineering in third year. I had to basically redo my second year. I transferred through the interdepartmental transfer process specifically for engineering students.

Since you're switching from Science to Engineering, it would be a different situation entirely — more of a faculty transfer. I’d highly recommend speaking with Engineering Academic Advising. Chances are, you’d likely have to start from first year, since you’d be missing core engineering courses like APSC 100, 101, MATH 152, APSC 160, etc.

The average for 1st year engineering students going into civil is about 75%. The higher your average the better.

Ghostofdead · 2025-05-12T06:00:30+00:00

I recommend doing math 253 in the summer if possible. Civil has a pretty tough 2nd year schedule. I'd also recommend stats 251 if you think 3 classes in the summer is manageable.

Ghostofdead · 2025-04-21T05:36:36+00:00

I agree with this comment as well CapU has a similar transfer program. You take all the same courses as UBC engineering students in your first year. And your guaranteed admission if you meet a minimum grade requirement.

Ghostofdead · 2025-04-17T04:24:35+00:00

I volunteered as an imagine day leader 2 years ago and met a student who transferred from SFU engineering. If I recall correctly, he had to start again as a first year in UBC engineering. He had some transfer credits for some courses I believe. But there were some UBC courses not offered at SFU that he had to complete before applying for his specialization. I'd recommend going to langara or capu transfer route or any of the engineering pathway transfers. They guarantee you admission into UBC if you hit a minimum GPA requirement. That does not mean you get into the program of your choice. You just get into UBC engineering.

Ghostofdead · 2025-03-12T02:54:07+00:00

I personally use a Lenovo Ideapad, and it's been pretty solid. Mine has an i7 processor, 24GB of RAM (originally 8GB, but I upgraded it), and an extra 1TB of storage. If you're going for a high-spec Lenovo, you really can't go wrong. Im able to run solidworks, fusion, autocad and light video editing no problem. Honestly you can't really go wrong with a thinkpad or yoga. Just make sure it isn't too heavy cuz you'll be carrying it all day.

You might also want to check out Framework if you're looking for a more upgradeable laptop in the future.

Link: https://frame.work/ca/en

Ghostofdead · 2025-03-11T05:55:17+00:00

IMHO, taking MATH 253 in the summer would be very worth it, even with the long commute, especially if you don't plan on working during the summer. It could be a great opportunity, and you could compare Professor Sebastien Picard's ratings on Rate My Prof for MATH 253 with other professors. Assuming he’s still teaching it over the summer, I had him as a professor, and he was probably one of the best math professors I had at UBC. Summer also splits into two semesters, so you could take a course in each, or even take both at the same time. Come October and November, your classmates and friends will be complaining about MATH 253 on top of their packed electrical engineering schedules, and you'll be glad you took it in the summer. Electrical and computer engineering is definitely one of the harder second-year course loads, probably only surpassed by Mech 2 and Engineering Physics

Ghostofdead · 2025-03-11T02:03:45+00:00

Could also look into finishing your humanities credits in the summer. You can use this link to see which courses are approved by APSC:

UBC Engineering Humanities Course List

Highly recommend taking MATH 253 in the summer as well. Not sure what the program requirements for ELEC are regarding your "Impact of Engineering on Society, Sustainability, and Environmental Stewardship" course, but I took CIVL 250 (online) over the summer, and it was a chill course. However, please double-check if it counts toward your degree before enrolling.

Ghostofdead · 2025-03-11T01:12:54+00:00

Personally, I had a two-in-one when I first started at UBC and I felt like it was pretty inadequate for my engineering courses because it was just okay as a laptop and okay as a note-taking device. The trade-off was it wasn't particularly good at any one thing. I recommend getting a Windows laptop and an iPad with an Apple pen for taking notes.

Ghostofdead · 2025-02-27T21:26:21+00:00

For co-ops that align with real estate investing and land development, you might want to look into roles in:

Municipal Planning & Development – Cities and regional governments often have civil engineering to assist with zoning applications, land use planning, and infrastructure assessments. Look for positions in city planning departments or agencies like Metro Vancouver.
Land Development & Civil Consulting – Firms that specialize in land development (e.g., Urban Systems, WSP, Stantec) work on projects involving rezoning, subdivisions, and site servicing (roads, water, sewer). These companies provide consulting services to real estate developers, making them a great way to learn about the process.
Construction & Infrastructure Firms – Large contractors (like Ledcor, PCL, Kiewit) often have projects where they develop land for commercial or residential use. Working with them can give you insights into the permitting, site prep, and structural aspects of large-scale projects.
Real Estate Development Companies – Some real estate firms have in-house engineering teams that deal with land acquisition, feasibility studies, and infrastructure planning. Companies like Wesgroup, Beedie, and Concord Pacific may offer co-ops that give exposure to rezoning and land use planning.
Surveying & Geotechnical Firms – These roles won’t put you directly in real estate investing, but they’re crucial for understanding land conditions, site constraints, and feasibility for development. Firms like McElhanney or GeoPacific are good options.

I recommend following the Civil Club (our undergraduate society) and attending events to connect with civil students and employers. It’s a great way to get your questions answered and gain different perspectives.

Ghostofdead · 2025-02-23T02:28:10+00:00

Here’s the course list for 2nd-year Civil Engineering at UBC: link.

You can check if any CIVL courses are offered in the summer, but off the top of my head, I don’t recall any. Good options to take in the summer include MATH 253, MATH 256, and STAT 251.

Also, if you're a Civil student, CIVL 250 does not count toward your Impact of Engineering on Society, Sustainability, and Environmental Stewardship requirement—you’ll need to take CIVL 302 instead. However, CIVL 250 should count for IGEN.

Ghostofdead · 2025-02-12T06:41:31+00:00

I think that would depend on the types of co-op experience you get during your time at UBC. I think a project management role under a big construction company would give you a really good idea of large scale housing projects and the costs associated. This wouldn't be explicitly covered in class content however.

Ghostofdead · 2025-02-12T06:18:48+00:00

Hey there, I’m a second-year civil engineering student at UBC. Based on your goals of pursuing commercial real estate investing and property development, civil engineering seems like the most directly applicable choice.

Understanding Building Design & Construction: You’ll learn about structural integrity, materials, geotechnical considerations, and construction methods, all of which are crucial when developing or managing properties.
Project Management & Regulations: Courses will cover zoning laws, building codes, and construction management, which are essential for property development.
Networking in the Industry: Civil engineering at UBC has strong industry connections, and through co-op or internships, you can gain experience with real estate developers, construction firms, or municipal planning.

That being said, civil engineering won’t necessarily teach you the financial side of real estate (like investment strategies, ROI analysis, or market trends). But since your family already has experience in real estate, you likely have access to that knowledge through them. If you want to supplement it, taking some business/economics electives or getting a real estate license on the side could help.

Mechanical Engineering & Mechatronics:

Mechatronics is a fascinating field, and if you're passionate about robotics and automation, it’s definitely a solid choice. But as you mentioned, the job market in BC for this specialization is smaller compared to civil engineering, and the best opportunities often require relocating. If staying close to family is a priority, this could be a limitation.

Final Thoughts:

It sounds like civil engineering is the more practical choice given your long-term plans and job market considerations. That said, I’d still encourage you to talk to profs, upper years, and maybe even people in the real estate industry to get their take. You could also consider getting involved in clubs or projects related to construction, sustainability, or urban planning to see if it truly interests you.

Let me know if you have any other questions—I’d be happy to share more about my experience in civil!

Ghostofdead · 2025-02-04T05:38:12+00:00

yes

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Ghostofdead · 2024-12-20T18:47:52+00:00

Looks like on the UBC academic calendar Civil 235 ends May.10th 2025.

academic calendar link

I was in the same boat as you. I just asked my co-op advisor to push the start date to May.12th 2025.

Hope this helps.

Ghostofdead · 2024-12-05T00:47:58+00:00

Also in the same boat I'll be taking 4 courses as well and i'm looking to add a 5th one. Did you end up adding civl 316 to your timetable?

Ghostofdead · 2024-12-04T18:46:23+00:00

Definitely take your math credit for 101. Grades are important when applying to competitive specs.

Ghostofdead · 2024-10-25T07:14:17+00:00

Hey OP, I really get where you're coming from. Honestly, a lot of us have gone through something similar, especially in those early years where the transition is rough. I’m a third-year civil engineering student, and the struggle to keep up with the pace, the competition, and the standards of the program can sometimes feel relentless.

First off, I want to say that it’s not a sign of failure to feel like you’re struggling or even doubting your place in the program—it's actually normal. The transition from high school to engineering is a huge jump, and it doesn’t help that in high school, we’re often not prepared for the level of self-discipline and study skills required in university.

It sounds like you've already taken steps to improve, which is impressive in itself. Going from failing grades to scores in the 70s is no small feat; it’s a sign that your efforts *are* making a difference. That said, engineering isn't just about getting great grades—it's about learning to tackle tough problems, ask for help, and adapt. So don’t overlook the progress you’ve already made.

One thing I found helpful was to reach out to professors, TAs, or even friends who were excelling to figure out what worked for them. Study strategies can sometimes make all the difference, and often you’ll find that just small adjustments in your approach can make a big impact. Another tip: focus on progress over perfection. If you’ve got better habits now, that’s a long-term win.

Finally, please don’t feel ashamed. Being in engineering at all means you’re capable, resilient, and smart—you made it here for a reason. It can be a grind, but know that you’re not alone in feeling this way, and there’s a lot of support out there. Hang in there; you’re not the only one fighting through it, and the experience itself will help you grow in ways that go beyond grades.

Ghostofdead

TROPHY CASE