Co-op study/work sequences

When will I have my first co-op work term?

Program specific streams have a * beside them.

If you have been admitted to Architecture*,  you will start co-op in the winter term of your second year.

If you have been admitted to:

• Architectural Engineering*
• Environmental Engineering 
• Geological Engineering 
• Systems Design Engineering
  
  You will be in Stream 4, which means your first work term will begin in January of your first year.

If you have been admitted to:

• Biomedical Engineering*
• Civil Engineering 
• Management Engineering 
• Nanotechnology Engineering*
• Software Engineering
  
  You will be in Stream 8, which means your first work term will begin in May of your first year.

If you have been admitted to:

• Chemical Engineering*
• Computer Engineering*
• Electrical Engineering*
• Mechanical Engineering 
• Mechatronics Engineering
  
  You will be in either Stream 4 or Stream 8. You will be assigned to a stream in late June when classes are scheduled. Students who have confirmed their offers can request a specific stream by e-mailing eng.stream@uwaterloo.ca before Thursday, June 1, 2023. If you have special circumstances or a strong preference for a certain stream, we recommend that you send your request as soon as possible. We will make every effort to accommodate your request, but cannot guarantee your placement in a particular stream.

If you have your student ID number: Find your stream here.

Stream Advantages

Students in stream 4 may have a financial advantage in first year since they pay for only 4 months of school and are then on a work term.

Students in stream 8 have more time to settle in at university before applying for their first co-op jobs.

Co-op/Study Sequences

Standard streams

Most of our programs follow either stream 4 or stream 8, with students beginning their first co-op term after one study term (4 months of study) or two study terms (8 months of study). 

Fall term = September to December
Winter term = January to April
Spring term = May to August

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering offers both stream 4 and stream 8. However, in contrast to the standard progression, stream 4 and stream 8 students have formalized 8 month co-op terms, aligning all Chemical students for the final year of study. Stream 4 students have co-op term 5 and 6 back-to-back, while stream 8 students have co-op term 4 and 5 back-to-back.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) offers both stream 4 and stream 8. However, in contrast to the standard progression, stream 4 students complete their 3A and 3B study terms consecutively, aligning all ECE students for the final years of study. There are no changes to stream 8.

Note: Starting in Fall 2023, Electrical Engineering will only offer a stream 4 co-op option.

Mechatronics Engineering

Mechatronics Engineering offers both stream 4 and stream 8. However, in contrast to the standard progression, stream 8 students complete their 5th and 6th co-op terms consecutively, aligning all Mechatronics students for the final year of study. There are no changes to stream 4.

Program-specific streams

Architecture students complete three terms of study prior to their first work term, with the spring of first year away from school. Unlike other Faculty of Engineering programs, the final study term is completed during the spring term of the fifth year.

Architectural Engineering students begin alternating study and co-op terms in first year like regular Stream 4 programs, but will have back-to-back study terms in the fourth year instead of at the end of the academic curriculum in fifth year.

Biomedical students begin with two consecutive study terms in first year (stream 8), but complete two consecutive work terms in the fourth year, followed by their final two study terms.

Nanotechnology students begin with two consecutive study terms in first year (stream 8). After the 2B study term, the progression changes to eight months of co-op and eight months of study.