Co-op rules

Your co-op degree at a glance

Your co-op degree brings together academic learning and paid work experience, with resources to help support you along the way. You’ll follow a program structure based on your faculty requirements to help you build skills, gain confidence and work towards a co-op designation on your degree.

Degree requirements

As an undergraduate student, you work toward a co-op designation on your degree by meeting your program’s requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar and participating fully in each stage of the co‑op experience. As part of co-op, you’ll complete:

• A sequence of academic and work terms, outlined by your program.
• A minimum of three (3) approved co-op work terms that meet standard requirements and receive COOP credit for each work term.
• Additional COOP credits as outlined by your program can meet standard or flexible work term requirements.
• A minimum of three (3) professional development (PD) courses, outlined by your program (excluding PD1).
• A minimum of three (3)  reflective reports (as completed in PD courses, excluding PD1) and/or program-required work-term reports.

For more information on your degree requirements and the study/work sequence for your program, visit the Undergraduate Calendar.

Earning co-op credit

As a co-op student, you must meet certain eligibility requirements to receive COOP credit for a work term:

• Be enrolled as a full-time student (at least 1.5 units) in the academic term prior to your work term(s).
• Be on a scheduled work term.
• Be legally eligible to work in the location of your work term.
• Register a co-op eligible work experience that meets requirements.
• Commit to an accepted job offer from an employer.
• Complete your work term based on the employer agreement and receive a Student Performance Evaluation with a rating of “marginal” or better.

Failure to maintain your program’s academic standards and co-op progression requirements may require you to withdraw from the co-op program. If you require an accommodation, you can seek support through our accessibility supports and resources.

For more information, visit the Undergraduate Calendar.

Work term requirements

Work terms are employment opportunities completed between academic terms according to your work/study sequence. To qualify, your co-op job must:

• Be paid, supervised work completed during a scheduled work term.
• Support skill development and learning.
• Meet standard or flexible work term requirements.
• Meet location eligibility and pay guidelines.

If you’re unsure whether a role meets these expectations, your Co-op Advisor can help you assess it before you accept the job.

University policies, petitions and grievances

The University expects you to follow its policies during all stages of your degree. These include:

• Policy 71 – Student discipline
• Policy 42 – Gender-based and sexual violence alleged against students
• Policy 33 – Ethical behaviour

These policies help ensure fairness, integrity and a positive experience for all members of the Waterloo community. If a situation occurs that negatively impacts your success in co-op, you may submit a petition or grievance under Policy 70.

Finding and accepting a job

Accepting a job

Accepting a co-op job is an exciting step in your co-op journey. Once you accept an offer, you are committed to that role and are considered employed for that term. At this point, stop applying and interviewing for other jobs. Your work term record in WaterlooWorks becomes the official record of your employment.

If you choose to break a commitment to an accepted job offer, the University considers it a renege and it will affect your work term record, transcript and student status. We also expect employers to honour their offers, and if an employer withdraws an offer or significantly changes it, this is considered a rescind.

If your situation changes or you’re unsure about next steps, reach out to your Co-op Advisor as soon as possible to help you understand your options.

Your employment agreement

Your employment agreement, or contract, outlines the terms of your co-op job and helps set clear expectations for both you and your employer.

Here’s what to know:

• Your employment agreement is between you and your employer. The University of Waterloo and Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) are not part of this agreement.
• You maintain full-time student status while you’re employed on a scheduled work term.
• You are expected to follow the terms of your agreement and your employer’s workplace policies, including working the full length of your work term until the end day listed in the agreement.

If you need to leave a work term early or your employment ends unexpectedly, contact your Co-op Advisor right away. You work term status may be affected but your Co-op Advisor can help you understand your next steps and available options.

CEE is here to support both students and employers and can help if unexpected circumstances come up during your work term.

Courses on your work term

Your work term is your chance to focus on learning in the workplace and develop future-ready skills. While we allow you to take courses during your work term, there are limits in place to help you successfully balance both.