Best Co-op Programs in Canada: Earn While You Learn

What Makes Canadian Co-op Programs World-Class

Canada pioneered co-operative education, and today Canadian universities offer some of the world's most robust work-integrated learning programs. Co-op isn't just about earning money while studying—it's about gaining real professional experience, building networks, and often graduating with a job offer in hand.

What is Co-operative Education?

Co-op programs alternate between academic terms and paid work terms. Unlike unpaid internships common elsewhere, Canadian co-op positions are almost always paid, often at competitive rates. A typical co-op structure might look like:

4-Month Work Terms:

• •4-5 work terms spread throughout your degree
• •Each term with a different employer (or the same if you excel)
• •Full-time, paid work experience

Academic Structure:

• •Study → Work → Study → Work (alternating)
• •Graduates in 5 years instead of 4 (for most programs)
• •Same academic requirements as non-co-op peers

Top Co-op Programs in Canada

University of Waterloo

The Gold Standard: Waterloo operates the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, with over 7,100 employer partners and 24,000+ work terms annually.

Programs with Mandatory Co-op:

• •Computer Science
• •All Engineering disciplines
• •Mathematics
• •Accounting & Financial Management
• •Health Sciences

Co-op Stats:

• •Average earnings: $77,000+ across all co-op work terms
• •Employment rate: 97% of graduates employed within 2 years
• •Top employers: Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, Meta, Shopify
• •International placements: Available in 60+ countries

What Sets Waterloo Apart:

• •WaterlooWorks: Canada's most comprehensive co-op job portal
• •6 work terms (24 months of experience)
• •Silicon Valley pipeline—more Waterloo grads work at top tech companies than from any other Canadian school
• •Strong engineering and tech employer relationships
• •CECA (Co-operative Education & Career Action) provides extensive support

Typical Co-op Salaries:

• •First work term: $20-25/hour
• •Senior work terms: $35-60/hour (tech roles often higher)
• •US placements: Often $8,000-12,000 USD/month

University of British Columbia (UBC)

Program Strength: UBC's co-op program is voluntary but extensive, with strong industry connections in mining, forestry, tech, and business.

Top Co-op Programs:

• •Engineering (all disciplines)
• •Sauder School of Business
• •Computer Science
• •Science

Co-op Stats:

• •7,000+ students participate annually
• •4,000+ employer partners
• •Average hourly wage: $23 for undergraduates

UBC Advantages:

• •Access to Vancouver's tech hub and Asia-Pacific business connections
• •Mining and natural resources industry relationships
• •Strong environmental science and sustainability placements
• •Arts co-op program (unique and growing)

Simon Fraser University (SFU)

The Pioneer: SFU was co-founded with co-op education as a core mission and remains among Canada's leaders.

Notable Programs:

• •Beedie School of Business (100% co-op placement rate)
• •Computing Science
• •Engineering Science
• •Mechatronic Systems Engineering

Co-op Stats:

• •9,000+ co-op students
• •7,000+ employers
• •$23+ average hourly wage

SFU Strengths:

• •One of the only Canadian universities requiring co-op for business degrees
• •Strong local employer network in Vancouver and Burnaby
• •Emphasis on preparing students for work term success

University of Toronto (U of T)

Program Scale: While not traditionally known for co-op, U of T's Professional Experience Year (PEY) program in engineering and computer science offers exceptional opportunities.

PEY Program:

• •12-16 month single work term
• •Placed between 3rd and 4th year
• •Average salary: $50,000+ for the year

Emerging Co-op Options:

• •Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP)
• •Rotman Commerce summer internships
• •Various faculty-specific programs

U of T Advantages:

• •Toronto's financial and tech sectors provide abundant opportunities
• •Company headquarters prefer U of T due to location
• •Prestige of U of T opens doors

Queen's University

Experiential Learning Focus: Queen's offers co-op through the Smith School of Business and various faculties.

Notable Programs:

• •Commerce Internship Program (16 months)
• •Engineering Summer Internship Program
• •Arts and Science Internship

Queen's Strengths:

• •Finance and consulting placements are exceptionally strong
• •Alumni network is fiercely loyal and helpful
• •Smaller school = more personalized support

University of Alberta

Western Canada Power: UAlberta's co-op program is particularly strong in engineering and energy sectors.

Top Programs:

• •Engineering (all disciplines)
• •Business
• •Computing Science

Industry Connections:

• •Energy sector (oil & gas, renewables)
• •AI and machine learning (Edmonton's growing AI hub)
• •Agriculture and food science

Average Co-op Salary: $22-28/hour depending on discipline

Other Strong Co-op Programs

University of Ottawa: Bilingual placements in government and public sector

McMaster University: Health sciences and engineering co-op

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU): Business and creative industries

Memorial University: Ocean sciences and engineering

University of Victoria: Strong regional employer network

Understanding Co-op Structures

Alternating Terms

Traditional Model (Waterloo-style):

• •Fall: Work
• •Winter: Study
• •Spring: Work
• •Summer: Study
• •(Continues alternating)

Advantage: Continuous income and experience accumulation

Block Terms

PEY Model (U of T-style):

• •Years 1-3: Study
• •Year 4: 12-16 months work
• •Year 5: Final academic year

Advantage: Deeper project involvement with single employer

Summer-Only Co-op

Traditional Internship Model:

• •Academic year: Study
• •Summer: 4-month work term

Advantage: Doesn't extend degree length

What Employers Pay

By Industry

By Region

US Placements (especially tech):

• •$7,000-15,000 USD/month
• •Housing stipends often included
• •Most competitive positions

Toronto/Vancouver:

• •$20-40/hour typical range
• •Higher end for tech and finance

Smaller Canadian Cities:

• •$18-28/hour typical
• •Lower cost of living can offset

Getting the Best Co-op Placements

Building Your Profile

Before First Work Term:

• •Personal projects (especially for tech)
• •Relevant coursework highlighted
• •Student clubs and leadership
• •Hackathons, competitions, case competitions

Resume Tips:

• •Quantify everything ("Increased efficiency by 30%")
• •Tailor to each application
• •One page maximum for students
• •Include technical skills prominently

Interview Preparation

Common Formats:

• •Behavioral interviews ("Tell me about a time...")
• •Technical interviews (coding problems for tech)
• •Case interviews (for consulting)
• •Group interviews

Resources:

• •"Cracking the Coding Interview" (tech)
• •Case study prep books (consulting)
• •University career services workshops
• •Practice with peers

Standing Out

• •**Apply strategically:** Don't just mass-apply—research companies
• •**Prepare for each interview:** Know the company's recent news
• •**Follow up professionally:** Thank-you emails still matter
• •**Build relationships:** Co-workers become future references
• •**Document achievements:** Keep a "brag document" during each term

Turning Co-op into Full-Time Offers

Many employers use co-op as an extended interview. To maximize your chances:

During Your Work Term:

• •Exceed expectations consistently
• •Take on additional responsibilities
• •Build relationships across teams
• •Express interest in returning

After Your Work Term:

• •Stay in touch with managers and colleagues
• •Connect on LinkedIn (professionally)
• •Apply for return offers when available

Statistics:

• •60-70% of final-term co-op students receive return offers
• •Many Waterloo students have multiple job offers before graduating

International Students and Co-op

Good news: Co-op work is explicitly authorized under your study permit (with a co-op work permit for off-campus placements).

Requirements:

• •Co-op/internship must be required part of your program
• •Apply for co-op work permit alongside study permit
• •No additional work permit fee

Considerations:

• •Some employers hesitate about visa complications
• •Highlight that you're legally authorized to work
• •Focus on employers experienced with international students

Conclusion

Canadian co-op programs offer unparalleled opportunities to:

• •Graduate debt-free (or close to it)
• •Build an impressive resume
• •Network with industry professionals
• •Often secure full-time employment before graduation

The University of Waterloo remains the undisputed leader, but excellent programs exist at UBC, SFU, Queen's, U of T, and beyond. When choosing a program, consider:

• •Mandatory vs. optional co-op
• •Number of work terms
• •Industry connections relevant to your field
• •Geographic opportunities

Whatever you choose, co-op education is one of Canada's greatest educational innovations—and it can transform your career trajectory.