Work Placement program

The Work Placement program offers full-time, on-campus jobs for students who meet all eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a work placement position, you must:

be enrolled in full-time studies the academic term immediately prior to the work term;
have applied for and have been granted OSAP or other provincial student aid funding during the academic term immediately prior to the work term;
be returning to full-time degree studies at the University of Waterloo in the term immediately following the work placement; and
be in satisfactory academic standing.

This program is open to undergraduate (co-op and regular) and graduate students. Students may not be enrolled in full-time academic studies while employed under this program.

Graduate students should contact their supervisor or program director before applying to confirm that the work placement term will comply with their program requirements.

Apply for a work placement job

Step 1: Complete a Work Placement Eligibility Form, indicating the job identification number(s) you have applied for or will be applying to in WaterlooWorks.

Step 2: Submit an application

Visit Co-operative Education's (CE) website to apply through WaterlooWorks

Step 3: Ensure that your student loan application is complete

OSAP students
- Your OSAP confirmation of enrolment must be completed at the time that SAFA confirms your eligibility with potential employers
Out-of-province students
- You must provide a copy of your Notice of Assessment for the current study term to SAFA within 24 hours of the job posting closing in order to be considered

Step 4: Wait to be contacted for an interview and follow up with CE as required

How much can you earn?

Work placement jobs pay $2,400 per month over four months plus 4% vacation pay. Employers may choose to pay below or above this amount depending on the students' experience and the nature of the position.

A new pay rate of $3,000 per month will begin in spring 2024 term.