Co-op work/study schedules

As a co-op student, you'll either be studying full time or working full time in a job related to your program.

In the school term before your first co-op term, you'll take a professional development course to guide you through Waterloo's co-op process and to start developing key skills for your career. You'll gain valuable tips for success and start applying to jobs and going to interviews with employers during your school term.

After that, you'll typically alternate every four months between school and work terms. You may sometimes have two back-to-back school or work terms. However, there are several variations of co-op work/study sequences.

Example 1: Co-op starts in first year

Engineering and some Faculty of Mathematics students will have co-op work terms in January or May of first year.

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -
Notes Study = Four-month school term, Co-op = Four-month co-op work term

Example 2: Co-op starts in second year

Other students will often have their first work term halfway through second year.

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -
Notes Study = Four-month school term, Co-op = Four-month co-op work term
Off = Make your own plans (work, travel, vacation, etc.)

When will your first co-op work term be?

If you're not sure which faculty offers your program of interest, view our programs grouped by faculty. The dates are for students starting first year in September 2024.

Faculty of Arts

- Honours Arts and Business majors
- Honours Arts Co-op (for Economics, English, and Fine Art majors)

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Honours Arts Co-op (majors other than Economics, English, and Fine Arts)

Your first work term will be after second year (May to August 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Co-op Study -

Global Business and Digital Arts

Your first work term will be halfway through third year (September to December 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study - -

Faculty of Engineering, including Architecture

Some programs in the Faculty of Engineering offer more than one work/study sequence. You can request your preference if you receive an offer of admission.

Architecture

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Co-op Study

Architectural Engineering

Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Co-op Study
Second Co-op Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

Biomedical, Mechanical, and Mechatronics Engineering

Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Chemical Engineering

  • Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2026)
Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Co-op Study
Second Co-op Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -
  • or after first year (May to August 2026)
Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Civil, Computer, and Management Engineering

Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

Computer and Electrical Engineering

Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Co-op Study
Second Co-op Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

Environmental, Geological, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Systems Design Engineering

Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Co-op Study
Second Co-op Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Nanotechnology Engineering

Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Co-op Study
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Faculty of Environment

Environment and Business majors; Environment, Resources and Sustainability majors

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Planning

Your first work term will be after you complete second year (May to August 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study Co-op Study

Geography and Environmental Management majors; Geomatics majors

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

Climate and Environmental Change

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Study Co-op
Fifth Co-op Study -

Faculty of Health

Recreation majors

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

Health Sciences and Public Health

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January - April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Kinesiology

Your first term will be after second year (May to 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Co-op
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Faculty of Mathematics

If your major is:

  • Business Administration and Computer Science (Double Degree)

  • Business Administration and Mathematics (Double Degree)

  • Computing and Financial Management

  • Mathematical Physics

Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Study
Fifth Co-op Study Study

If your major is:

  • Mathematics/Teaching

  • Pure Mathematics/Teaching

Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

or halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Co-op Study

There are options where you can have your first work term in the spring term after first year, or in the fall term halfway through your second year.

Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study - -

All other Math majors

  • Computer Science

  • Mathematics/Business Administration

  • Mathematics

  • Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management

Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2026)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Co-op
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Study -

or halfway through second year (which can be January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Study
Fifth Co-op Co-op Study

There are options where you can have your first work term in the spring term after first year and your second work term after second year, or in the fall term halfway through your second year.

Faculty of Science

If your major is:

  • Biochemistry

  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • Earth Sciences

  • Environmental Sciences

  • Medicinal Chemistry

  • Science and Business

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

If your major is:

  • Biological and Medical Physics

  • Life Physics

  • Mathematical Physics

  • Physics

  • Physics and Astronomy

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study - -

Materials and Nanosciences

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (May to August 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Psychology

Your first work term will be after you complete second year (May to August 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Co-op Study -

School of Accounting and Finance

Accounting and Financial Management

This sequence is the default sequence assigned to all Accounting and Financial Management students once they are admitted. In some cases, you can request to change your sequence in your upper-years.

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027).

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study - -

Sustainability and Financial Management

This sequence is the default sequence assigned to all Sustainability and Financial Management students once they are admitted. In some cases, you can request to change your sequence in your upper-years.

Your first work term will be halfway through your second year (January to April 2027)

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study - -

More about co-op