Thousands of students choose Waterloo each year because of our renowned co-operative education program.
Here's your guide to co-operative education at Waterloo.
We've also sent you a link to this guide by email. If you have some questions about the many opportunities for international students, contact our international recruitment team or connect with a Waterloo student.
Here are the top 8 things you should know about the world's largest co-operative education program of its kind
1. Waterloo co-op is different than high school co-op
You’ll have four to six co-op terms and be either in school full time or working in a full-time co-op job. Each study or work term is usually four months long.
Your co-op schedule depends on your program. Here are three common work/study sequences.
Fall term: September to December
Winter term: January to April
Spring term: May to August
| Year | Term | Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall | Study | Study | Study |
| Winter | Study | Work | Study | |
| Spring | Off | Study | Work | |
| 2 | Fall | Study | Work | Study |
| Winter | Work | Study | Work | |
| Spring | Study | Work | Study | |
| 3 | Fall | Work | Study | Work |
| Winter | Study | Work | Study | |
| Spring | Work | Study | Work | |
| 4 | Fall | Study | Work | Study |
| Winter | Work | Study | Work | |
| Spring | Work | Work | Study | |
| 5 | Fall | Study | Study | Work |
| Winter | Study | Study | Study |
2. Earn up to $135,000 CAD while you learn
Waterloo co-op students typically earn between $9,600 and $22,500+ per four-month work term in Canada. Over the course of your education, you could earn up to $135,000 CAD depending on how much you're paid and how many work terms you complete. That money can go a long way toward paying for school!
Co-op earnings can go a long way in making your tuition bill more manageable. Your earnings help with everyday expenses like rent and groceries and can really make a difference in your life.
3. Test out different jobs each work term
If you like variety, you can change the types of jobs, employers, and locations you apply to each work term. Or return to a previous employer for more responsibility and greater learning.
Learn about what past co-op students have done on their work terms →
4. Develop strong work search skills
Before each co-op work term, you’ll research and apply to jobs while taking courses. You’ll search for relevant jobs, submit applications, and complete interviews — and, eventually, receive a job offer! This means when you graduate, not only will you have the skills to land the interview, you'll also have the interview skills to land the job!
There is a lot of competition faced when applying to jobs after graduating from university. That's why I wanted to gain experience beforehand with the co-op program offered by Waterloo.
5. Access the world's largest co-operative education program of its kind
Waterloo gives you direct access to jobs from more than 8,000 employers in over 70 countries — more than any other university in North America. If you have a specific job or employer in mind, you can also arrange your own co-op job.
6. Get the skills you need for a successful career
Most Waterloo co-op students graduate with up to two years of paid work experience. During co-op terms, you’ll develop your skills and increase your employability through online professional development courses, helping you excel in the workplace, no matter your career path.
I've gained a well-rounded skill set and I've been exposed to a variety of tasks that are highly relevant in today's job market. I feel prepared for a successful future.
7. Land a job faster after graduation
Some students are hired by their co-op employers for full-time roles at graduation and jump right into their career — often in higher-paying, more relevant roles than grads without co-op experience.
QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022
8. Get individual support at every step
You'll have access to student advisors, job search support, work term support, and more. You'll graduate in five years instead of the typical four for a bachelor's degree program, but you'll be career ready.
Finding my first job was hard. After I used the resources provided through co-op, I had a much easier time. The résumé critiques and speaking to an advisor really helped me.