International Co-op

Monday, April 15, 2019
by Kyrie H., Grade 11 HS student blogger

How far I will go

Kyrie at the Tatham Centre standing beside the Tatham Centre sign
Co-op opens up many doors, like the opportunity to travel and pursue international experiences. Co-op gives me the opportunity to become a globe-trotter. However, one concern I had, was if I do work internationally for a co-op term, would I be spending all my time working? So there would be no point working in another country if I do not even get to explore it. After talking to a current student at UW, who has done an international co-op work term before, I now believe that international co-op work terms are great to gain work experience and explore new countries. A university student could do some travelling and exploring as you would have the evenings and weekends free. Along with the fact that you get to travel, each student has a Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) advisor, who is there to provide support for you throughout your co-op work term. If you are like me and worried about trying to find a place to live in another country, do not worry. Many employers help you with finding places to stay. University of Waterloo students who have previously worked abroad may also be able to offer you helpful suggestions. Keep in mind that they are only suggestions and you are still responsible to arrange your own travel, like work/study permits, passport, employment contract, plane tickets, etc. You also need to find housing and pay for your own moving costs. I would recommend looking into international co-op opportunities if you are like me and want to travel. Just make sure you do your research and look into these opportunities early because it can take up to 8 months to make all your arrangements and have the right paperwork (i.e. work/study permits).