Co-op

Experience is everything.

Step into your dream career faster with co-op. Over the course of four co-op terms, you’ll connect your classroom learning with full-time paid work. Apply your theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills to the professional world and graduate with a resume and industry connections you need to launch your future.

Co-op Matching Process

As a student at the University of Waterloo, you have access to our globally ranked experiential education system WaterlooWorks, which helps connects students to employers.

How does it all work?

The co-op search begins in the term preceeding your work term; this is when you will have access to WaterlooWorks, a job-matching system facilitated by the Unversity of Waterloo to connect students to our global employer network. In addition to employers looking to hire University of Waterloo students, there is mentorship available through dedicated support staff to help you with the application process.

It starts with applying to positions on WaterlooWorks. After taking part in any interviews for the position, both the student and the employer can "rank" each other, resulting in students finding positions they are excited about and employers finding valuable GBDA students. This is referred to as a "cycle".

Job postings are available in "cycles"; if students are unable to find a position in the first round, they can apply for more positions in the proceeding 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th (continuous) cycles. Some positions will be filled after each cycle, but more are added throughout the matching process as they become available.

Alternative Options

In addition to the WaterlooWorks co-op matching process, students are also welcome to find positions outside of WaterlooWorks and arrange their own position. Students can also consider alternative co-op options.

Read more on the Co-Operative Education site →

Unlimited Potential

As a GBDA grad, you’ll gain highly relevant experience with the latest technologies and business practices – and have count countless career opportunities at your fingertips. Career paths include:

  • User experience (UX) design and research
  • Interaction design
  • Digital marketing
  • Project management
  • Product development
  • Business technology analysis
  • Entrepreneurship

Work for companies like

  • Rogers
  • LCBO
  • Scotiabank
  • Thomson Reuters
  • IBM
  • Startups

"For me, living a life that matches my core values and doing what I love is important."

Seul Lee, GBDA Class of 2018

If you're like Seul Lee, you carve your own path. After graduation, she chose to work as an independent UX designer. The flexibility has allowed her to work in diverse industries and focus on Design.local, a not-for-profit social innovation platform for designers that she co-founded.

Co-op and Study Sequence

YEAR TERM EXAMPLE
1 Fall Study - main campus
  Winter Study - main campus
  Spring Off
2 Fall Study - Stratford School
  Winter Study Stratford School
  Spring Study Stratford School
3 Fall Work
  Winter Study - Stratford School
  Spring Work
4 Fall Study - Abroad
  Winter Work
  Spring Work
5 Fall Study - Stratford School


Fall term: September to December
Winter term: January to April
Spring term: May to August

This information is reflective of the 2023-24 academic year, and subject to change.