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 help 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 many variations of co-op work/study sequences.
Example 1: Co-op starts in first year
Engineering and some Math students will have co-op work terms in January or May of first year.
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Work term |
| Second year | Study term | Work term | Study term |
| Third year | Work term | Study term | Work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Work term | Study term |
| Final year | Work term | Study term | - |
|
Study term = Four-month study term, Work term = 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.
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | Work term | Study term |
| Third year | Work term | Study term | Work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Work term | Study term |
| Final year | Work term | Study term | - |
|
Study term = Four-month study term, Work term = Four-month co-op work term |
|||
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
All Honours Arts and Business majors
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
All Honours Arts majors, except English
- Your first work term will be after second year (May to August 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Third year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Fifth work term | Study term | - |
English majors in Honours Arts
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
Global Business and Digital Arts
- Your first work term will be halfway through third year (September to December 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | Study term | Study term |
| Third year | First work term | Study term | Second work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Third work term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | - | - |
Faculty of Engineering, including Architecture
Architecture
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Sixth work term | Study term |
Architectural, Environmental, Geological, Systems Design
- Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Second year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Third year | Study term | Fourth work term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Fifth work term | Study term | Sixth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
Biomedical, Civil, Management, Nanotechnology, Software
- Your first work term will be at the end of first year (May to August 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Second year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Third year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fifth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Sixth work term | Study term | - |
Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics
There are two options for co-op sequences. You can request your preference if you receive an offer of admission.
- Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Second year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Third year | Study term | Fourth work term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Fifth work term | Study term | Sixth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
- or after first year (May to August 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Second year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Third year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fifth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Sixth work term | Study term | - |
Faculty of Environment
Environment programs other than Planning
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
Planning
- Your first work term will be after you complete second year (May to August 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Third year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Fifth work term | Study term |
Faculty of Health
Recreation majors
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Fifth work term | Study term | - |
Health Sciences and Public Health
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January - April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
Kinesiology
- Your first term will be halfway through second year (January - April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
Faculty of Mathematics
-
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 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Second year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Third year | Study term | Third work term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Fourth work term | Study term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Fifth work term | Study term | Study term |
-
Mathematics/Teaching
-
Pure Mathematics/Teaching
Your first work term will be after first year (May to August 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Second year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Third year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fifth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Sixth work term | Study term | - |
or halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Fifth work term | Sixth work term | 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 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | - | - |
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 2025)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Second year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Third year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fifth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Sixth work term | Study term | - |
or halfway through second year (which can be January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Study term |
| Fifth year | Fifth work term | Sixth work term | Study term |
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
Science programs other than Psychology
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Third work term |
| Fourth year | Study term | Fourth work term | Fifth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | Study term | - |
Psychology
- Your first work term will be after you complete second year (May to August 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | Study term | First work term |
| Third year | Study term | Second work term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Fifth work term | Study term | - |
School of Accounting and Finance
Accounting and Financial Management
- Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2026).
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | - | - |
Sustainability and Financial Management
- Your first work term will be halfway through your second year (January to April 2026)
| September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Study term | Study term | Off |
| Second year | Study term | First work term | Study term |
| Third year | Second work term | Study term | Study term |
| Fourth year | Third work term | Study term | Fourth work term |
| Fifth year | Study term | - | - |
