Co-op

Do I get paid in co-op?

Yes! Nearly all co-op jobs are paid, with Waterloo students earning between $9,600 and $22,800 per four-month work term in Canada. It’s also possible to receive a co-op credit for a volunteer role if the position meets certain criteria.

Do I pay tuition during co-op?

No, you pay tuition only during your school terms. You will pay a co-op fee in installments throughout your time at Waterloo to support the costs of running the co-op program.  

Is co-op worth it?

Choosing a co-op program depends on your personal preferences. A co-op degree will take a year longer to complete, but you’ll graduate with up to two years of full-time work experience. At Waterloo, you can earn up to $137,000 over the course of your degree to help pay for school and gain valuable connections and experience to jumpstart your career. It does mean potentially moving every four months and balancing the job application process with your classes. Learn more about whether co-op or regular is right for you.

Who should choose a co-op program?

If you're not sure what to do for a career, co-op is a great way to explore the possibilities before you graduate and have to choose a career. Have a career in mind? Use your co-op work terms to gain experience and make contacts in your area of interest before you graduate! Co-op will work best if you're flexible about where you'll work and who you'll work for. 

Why are co-op programs longer?

You'll have eight school terms as would any other student completing an honours degree. Most of our co-op programs take five school years to complete because you'll include four to six co-op work terms as part of your degree – and graduate with up to 24 months of paid work experience!

What's different/special about Waterloo's co-op program?

Waterloo is home to the world’s leading co-op program, and we’ve been doing co-op longer than any other Canadian university.

• You'll have access to jobs with 8,000 co-op employers in more than 70 countries.
• Our alternating pattern of four-month school and co-op work terms lets you explore more career areas than in longer internships offered at other universities.
• You'll have access to an incredible range of support, including a dedicated co-op advisor for your entire time at Waterloo.
• Free professional development courses give you the soft skills employers are looking for. 
• Benefit from funding and mentorship if you have an idea for your own business.  
• We have more students than the next two largest co-op programs combined.

When do I apply to co-op?

At many universities, you don't apply to co-op until first or second year. At Waterloo, you apply directly to a co-op program from high school. This means that when you accept an offer of admission, you know you'll be able to include valuable co-op experience as part of your degree.  

Can I apply to co-op once I'm at Waterloo?

Space is very limited for students to switch in to co-op in first year.

Can international students do a co-op program at Waterloo?

Yes! International students can apply to any of our co-op programs. 

Am I assigned a co-op job?

No, you have control over where you might work because you choose which co-op jobs to apply to. Want to live at home during co-op? Apply to jobs close to home. Want to travel? Apply to jobs further away. Want to gain experience with a certain type of employer or develop certain skills? You can do that, too!

Is there support to help me find a job?

You’ll have access to lots of support during your job search, including a dedicated co-op advisor, résumé help, workshops, and mock interviews. You’ll also take a professional development course before your first work term to prepare you for the job search process and your employment.

Do I need to negotiate my own salary?

Your pay will depend on your employer, your program of study, how many work terms you've had, and your overall work experience. Salaries are usually posted with job descriptions or discussed during an interview.

You can also check out the average co-op earnings reported by our co-op students. Multiply the hourly rates by 35 to get a weekly total and then by 15 to get an estimate for an entire co-op term. 

Can I do co-op jobs which are unrelated to my program?

Yes, you can apply to any jobs that interest you regardless of your program. Co-op is an opportunity to study a subject you're interested in while developing transferable skills. Most careers are non-linear, so think of co-op as a way to try out different jobs before you graduate.

Are jobs guaranteed?

Co-op jobs are not guaranteed. Like applying to any job, it's a competitive process, and you need to apply, interview, and be offered the job. When you graduate, you'll have lots of practice and be an expert at applying to and interviewing for jobs!

There's a lot of support for you, including professional development courses and services such as résumé help, practice interviews, and career advice. Our Centre for Career Development offers services to all students to help with your career journey.

Can I arrange my own job?

Yes, as long as your job is eligible for a co-op credit based on our requirements, you can arrange your own job. However, most students find work through Waterloo’s own job board, which is exclusive to Waterloo students and hosts jobs from over 8,000 employers. 

What happens if I don’t secure a co-op job?

Waterloo has a high co-op employment rate and the vast majority of students do secure a co-op job. However, if you don’t have one, that is okay. There are options and support for you.

Your co-op advisor will support you through your co-op journey. They can help you look at other options, such as applying to jobs outside of Waterloo's job boards, developing your skills through workshops, or launching your own business.

In your first work term, you could join WE Accelerate. You'll develop in-demand skills while working with a company on a project to gain experience (all while earning a work term credit). Students who participate in WE Accelerate find employment earlier, earn more, and get more senior jobs in later work terms! 

How many co-op work terms will I do?

Depending on your program, you'll typically complete four to six works term.

Can I choose when I do my co-op work terms?

Your co-op work terms will be scheduled according to your program’s work/study sequence. In some circumstances, you can request a sequence change if there are special circumstances.

Is it difficult to balance co-op and your studies?

During a co-op work term, you're a full-time employee of the organization you're working for and typically don't take any classes. Many students consider work terms to be a welcome break from study terms.

In your school terms, you’ll learn to balance your studies with co-op applications and interviews with employers. It can get busy!

Depending on where you decide to work, you may also need to find somewhere to live during your work term. You’ll continue to have access to support during your work term, including your co-op advisor; mental health resources; health, dental, travel coverage; and the Co-op Connection Discord server.

Will I get any time off if I'm in co-op?

Yes! You’ll have at least one week off between each work term and study term. Depending on your exam schedule and when your co-op term starts, you could have a couple of weeks off.  Many students consider work terms to be a welcome break from school. You might get to explore a new city, live at home during your co-op term, or have time to explore new hobbies since your evenings will be free of school work! 

Are there opportunities to work in jobs that aren’t in offices?

Co-op jobs take place in countless settings, including hospitals, schools, manufacturers, accounting firms, research labs, colleges and universities, startup companies, and more. 

I'm interested in doing research. Can I do that as part of co-op? 

Absolutely! Professors at Waterloo and other universities hire students to assist them in their research. Waterloo co-op students also work in health, technology, and government roles such as

• research assistant at the Odette Cancer Centre focusing on prostate cancer,
• clinical research assistant at Sunnybrook Hospital focusing on quality of life for malignant spinal cord compression patients, and
• research assistant in Doctor Micheal Tam’s lab at the University of Waterloo using nanotechnology to promote health and sustainability. 

You can also receive a Co-op Research Certificate to recognize your strengths in this year if you complete 3 or more research-focused work terms. 

Does my co-op job have to be in Canada? 

Most jobs are in southern Ontario, but you’ll be able to apply for jobs around the world. Waterloo has co-op employers in more than 70 countries. You can see where Waterloo co-op students worked in 2025 on the map below.

Source: Co-operative and Experiential Education, November 2025