Earn your degree through the world's largest co-operative education program!
- Graduate with nearly two years of paid work experience
- Earn up to $135,000 through four to six work terms
- Choose from nearly 100 undergraduate programs
- Gain access to our exclusive network of 8,000 employers
- Develop valuable Canadian or international work experience before you graduate
Graduate with paid Canadian 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.
About the University of Waterloo
- Consistently ranked among Canada's top 3 best overall universities (Maclean's national university rankings 2024)
- #1 university in Canada for startup founders and #21 globally (Pitchbook rankings 2023)
- Ranked Canada's most innovative university 30 of the last 32 years (Maclean's national university rankings 2024)
- Ranked 4th in Canada (Times Higher Education World University Reputation Rankings 2024)
Download the Your guide to co-operative education at Waterloo – and learn how we can help you prepare for your career.