What to expect from Undergraduate Co-op
Our most ambitious students follow a path through Undergraduate Co-op. Is it right for you?
Benefits
Graduating with work experience through paid work terms is one of the clearest benefits to Co-op, but there are many more!
As a Co-op student, you will acquire 12 months of work experience related to your academic program, through paid work terms. This gives you an advantage over other graduating students in a competitive job market.
As a Co-op student you'll have access to services that help prepare you for working life:
- Receive assistance and support in finding an internship in your field
- Develop effective job search and networking skills
- Test out careers and get on-the-job experience
- Apply your academic learnings and gain work experience in a real-world setting
- Take advantage of networking and mentoring opportunities
- Bring your experience back to the classroom
- Develop the soft skills that can make all the difference in your workplace, such as communication, teamwork, time-management, and interpersonal skills
- Earn income while on work terms
Things to consider
As a member of the Institue, you will always be busy; you'll either be working or studying for the duration of your degree. Keep the following in mind:
- Looking for jobs may add stress to your study terms
- Co-op has fees in addition to your tuition
- You may have to move to another city for your work-term
- You may have less free time
- Co-op may extend your degree
Co-op structure at-a-glance
Your experience as a member of the Institute will look something like this:
- You are accepted as a member of the Institute
- During your study term, you apply for internships for your work term
- You will alternate between full-time study (minimum 12 credits) and work terms until you have completed three work terms and all your course credits
Notes
- Each academic program has its own study/work term sequence
- All three Co-op work terms cannot be scheduled in the summer term.
Co-op sample sequence
Whether you start your studies in the Fall or Winter term, your sequence of study and work terms will look something like this:
Sample fall start sequence
| Year | Fall |
Winter |
Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study term | Study term | Study term (job search term) |
| 2 | Work term | Study term (job search term) | Work term |
| 3 | Study term (job search term) | Work term | Study term |
Sample winter start sequence
| Year | Winter |
Summer |
Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study term | Study term | Study term (job search term) |
| 2 | Work term | Study term (job search term) | Work term |
| 3 | Study term (job search term) | Work term | Study term |
Salaries
All Co-op students on work terms must be paid by their employer, but Co-op puts the emphasis on experience, not salaries. The salary you earn from your work term depends on your field, employer, your work experience (including Co-op work experience) and other factors.
Finding jobs
Prior to each work term, you apply for jobs that are posted on COMPASS, our on-line system. You are encouraged to also find opportunities on your own, as long as they meet our criteria. You can also do your work term outside of Quebec or overseas.
While finding a job is ultimately your responsibility, we give you all the support we can.
After your work term – evaluations
Co-op students receive a grade of Pass or Fail for each work term. The work term evaluation is based on three components.
Employer evaluation
Employers will establish performance objectives with you during the first few weeks of your work term. They will have an opportunity to review your performance during the work site visit and close to the end of the work term, and complete an evaluation form.
Work term report or presentation
After each work term you must complete a written report or give a presentation (PowerPoint), depending on your program and work term level.
Reflective Learning course
You will participate in this course throughout your work terms. You're think about your personal goals and objectives, and examine the relationship between what you learn in the classroom and on the job. The course is worth three complementary credits and is marked on a pass/fail basis.
