Graduate studies co-op program

The University of Waterloo's celebrated cooperative education program - very popular with undergraduates - is also available for master's graduate students in Management Science and Engineering' coursework (MMSc) or thesis (MASc) programs. In the cooperative education program, students combine traditional academic terms with paying work term jobs in industry or government.

Eligibility for the co-operative program is available only to full time graduate students registered in their first term (1.0) in the Management Science and Engineering Department.

Each applicant must be approved by the the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in the Department of Management Science and Engineering. MASc students also require their supervisor's approval.

Transfer students from other graduate programs in the University of Waterloo are not eligible to apply for the Management Science and Engineering graduate studies co-op program. 

*The GDDA courses do not schedule around the co-op program. Students enrolled in the co-op program may not be able to complete the GDDA courses when they are available.

Fall 2022 MSCI Graduate COOP slides

Fall 2022 Co-Operative Education Slides

Co-op degree requirements

Co-op students are responsible for following the regulations and procedures of Co-operative  and Experiential Education.

The co-operative placements must relate to the program of study.

There must be two (2) work terms completed during the Master's studies.

A co-op student must finish their program on an academic term.

A co-op student must maintain full-time status until degree completion.

Students accepted to the MSCI Graduate COOP program are automatically enrolled in and encouraged to complete COOP 601 Career Success Strategies in the academic term prior to the first work term.

Coop Sequence Change Form & Instruction

Co-op work term reports

Students are required to submit a work term report after completion of each co-op term.

Work term reports are evaluated by the work term report coordinator.

You will be expected to submit one work term report for each work term you complete (total of two full work term reports). The department will not accept duplicate reports. Each report must be separate and complete.

If you are on a double work term at the same company, you may submit your work term reports in two parts, on the same subject.  They must clearly be two separate reports for each work term. The first work report (part 'A') will be due after your first work term. The second work report (part 'B') will be due after your second work term. You cannot submit both at the end of your double work term.

Work term reports are run through Turnitin; make sure you cite your work properly. If you have an issue (confidentiality, etc.) with plagiarism software you will be expected to submit a fully annotated bibliography with your work term report submission (both hard and soft copy).

The department has provided a guideline for all work term reports submitted. It includes detailed information of what is expected from you*. It is expected that you read the guideline thoroughly.

MSCI Coop Work Report Guidelines

Graduate co-op fees

A fee in the amount of $745.00 per four-month work-term will be charged to students using the services of Co-operative Education.

Health coverage while on a work term

Co-op Students are not assessed dental, supplemental health, or GSA fees. Students should remember to enrol through the GSA office. 

International co-op students are charged for UHIP, but must self-enrol for dental and supplemental health coverage. 

Please see the student fee schedules for more detailed information (you will find co-op fees listed under the undergraduate fee schedules).

Work term sequence for graduate students in Management Science and Engineering