Co-operative Education
Co-op By The Numbers
" Students are a great resource to our team. They're excited about learning, willing to take risks and ask some amazing questions. They are not just an extra set of eyes or hands but truly are contributing to real work. "
Haley Stuckel
Senior Manager for University Recruiting, Arctic Wolf
FAQ
Co-operative education, known as co-op, is a work experience program that gives students an opportunity to apply academic learning with hands-on experience. Students are matched with employers for 4- or 8-month terms, gaining valuable on-the-job experience. They earn an average of $12,000 per 4-month co-op placement, which take place between academic semesters.
Companies such as Google, Toyota, Tesla, Blackberry, Microsoft and Clearpath Robotics hire co-op students to fuel their talent pipeline.
Co-operative education is an ongoing process, with work terms alternating every four months in between academic semesters. Co-op is a year-round program. An internship only occurs once during a student’s undergraduate degree and often takes place during the summer months.
All three post-secondary institutions in Waterloo – the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College – have excellent co-operative education programs. Co-op is available to students in a wide array of academic programs, including software engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, business administration, mechanical technician, computer science, digital arts and more.
The University of Waterloo has the largest co-op program in the world, with 26,000+ students and 8,000+ employers. The school is #1 in employer-student connections in Canada and is globally recognized as one of the best in helping organizations leverage student talent.