Master of Engineering students at the NBK Institute of Mining Engineering have a specially tailored orientation program to provide a wide-ranging overview and introduction to Canada’s mining industry, UBC and Vancouver.
In the month of May, prior to arrival, students will have an online information session with staff from UBC’s Applied Science Co-op Office about the Engineering Coop Program. Students will be given the opportunity to apply at that time. Upon arrival in early August, students have an orientation session at the Institute, a tour of the UBC campus, and a welcome lunch.
Over the next few weeks, students also take several short courses with NBK Institute faculty members. Students will tour select attractions in Vancouver and visit the head offices of Vancouver-based mining companies. Students will participate in a day fieldtrip to the Britannia Mine Museum and later an extensive field trip to several major BC mining operations.
In late August, students are required to make a presentation on a mine or mining company to demonstrate a solid understanding of basic mining principles. They will also produce a fieldtrip report about the mines visited during the fieldtrip. Three graduate level credits are given for the academic portion of the orientation.
From September until December MEng students take courses and are also encouraged to participate in academic conferences, industrial lunches and dinners. If they are in the Engineering Coop Program they will seek coop internships starting in January. Most students will go on a coop internship in January for four, eight or twelve months. Depending on timing of the coop they will do a second major field trip to more distant Canadian mines. Some students will do it when they return from coop, others will do the trip before their coop. The trip is usually held during the reading week in February.
Mines visited in past field trips include:
- Albian Sands Oil Sands Mine
- Diavik Diamond Mine
- Elkview Coal
- Fording River Coal
- Gibraltar Copper Mine
- Highland Valley Copper Mine
- McArthur River
- Mount Polley Copper Mine
- New Afton Copper/Gold Project
- PCS Cory
- Suncor Oil Sands Mine
- Trail Operations
- Vanscoy Potash Mine
- Rabbit Lake Uranium Mine
All fees and transportation costs are covered by the MEng Activity Fee. During field trips all accommodation, food and transportation costs are covered.
Activity Fee Rates:
- All Students – $7140
- Students who graduated from a Bachelors Mining Engineering Program in North America- $3640 (Includes August Portion Only)
- Students with UBC B.A.Sc. Mining Engineering Degree- $1640 (fieldtrips not required)
