Earn your degree and up to $135,000 CAD through the world's largest co-operative education program of its kind!
- Earn up to $135,000 CAD over the course of your co-op degree to help pay for school
- Graduate with nearly two years of paid work experience
- Combine co-operative education with nearly 100 undergraduate programs
- Access our exclusive network of 8,000 employers in 80 countries, more than any other university in North America
- Develop valuable Canadian or international work experience before you graduate
Alternate school terms with paid work experience
- Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience.
- Work for different employers to get a range of experience or return to the same employer to gain greater responsibility.
| Year | September to December | January to April | May to August |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Co-op (working) | Study |
| Third | Co-op (working) | Study | Co-op (working) |
| Fourth | Study | Co-op (working) | Study |
| Fifth | Co-op (working) | Study | - |
A Computer Engineering student from Mumbai, Yuvika worked for the Ford Motor Co., the University of Waterloo, LinkedIn, and a tech startup in San Francisco during her co-operative education terms.
Mechanical Engineering student Aryaman spent four months working with Avani Kuamon, a non-profit in Uttarakhand, India, that aims to improve the livelihood of rural communities.
During a co-op term with Ontario's provincial government, Amrita surprised herself and discovered a passion for auditing. She's now thinking of becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Working internationally helped my personal development because moving to different cities gave me the confidence that I can always figure things out. And I've always tried to do my co-ops in different industries, places and different kinds of roles to give me a better perspective on jobs I might want to pursue once I graduate and widen my skill set.
About the University of Waterloo
- Canada's #1 comprehensive research university (Resource InfoSource 2023)
- Among the top 8% of universities globally (Times Higher Education World University Reputation Rankings 2024)
- #2 in Canada for graduate employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022)
- Ranked Canada's most innovative university 30 of the last 32 years (Maclean's national university rankings 2024)
- #1 university in Canada for startup founders and #21 globally (Pitchbook rankings 2023)
Download the Your guide to co-operative education (co-op) at Waterloo – and discover how more employers and more job opportunities can lead you to the career that's right for you.