Co Op Programs in Canada 2027: Universities & Fees

Co op programs in Canada combine academic study with paid work terms, but admission does not secure a job. Universities and selected colleges run them, and work terms often last about four months, although schedules vary.

Some programmes build co-op into the degree from the start, while others ask students to apply separately and compete for limited places. Academic tuition and co-op participation fees are charged separately, and employers decide whom to hire.

This guide compares 2027 options at seven universities and one college, with their admission rules, fees and practical learning.

Co Op Programs in Canada: Key Facts

Factor	Information
Meaning	Co-operative education
Study model	Academic learning combined with structured work terms
Institutions	Universities and selected colleges
Academic levels	Undergraduate and selected postgraduate qualifications
Typical work-term length	Around four months
Payment	Usually paid in recognised co-op programmes
Main programme types	Mandatory, optional or competitively selected co-op
Main subjects	Computing, engineering, business and other disciplines
Academic admission	Set by each institution and programme
Co-op fees	May be charged separately from tuition
Employer placement	Not guaranteed
Main entry focus	Fall 2027

What Is a Co Op Program in Canada?

Cooperative education in Canada is a form of work-integrated learning in which students combine coursework with paid work terms related to their field. CEWIL Canada recognises two models: co-op alternating, where academic and paid work terms alternate, and co-op internship, where several work terms run back to back.

Under that definition, work terms must equal at least 30% of academic study time in programmes longer than two years, and 25% in programmes of two years or less. These figures describe the recognised model, not a fixed schedule for every course.

A computing student might study programming and database design, then spend a work term building software for an approved employer. The work term lets the student use classroom methods on real projects and apply what they learn to later study.

How Do Co Op Programs Work in Canada?

Most co-op routes follow a similar path. You enter an eligible academic programme, meet its co-op requirements and complete preparation activities, then apply for jobs and attend employer interviews. Preparation often includes workshops or a short course, such as UVic’s ENGR 130 or Carleton’s COOP 1000.

If an employer selects you, you complete an approved work term and return to study or continue the required sequence of co-op work terms.

Example of a Co-op Study and Work Schedule

Period	Example activity
Year 1, autumn	Academic study
Year 1, winter	Academic study
Year 2, autumn	Academic study
Year 2, winter	Academic study
Following summer	Work term
Next autumn	Academic study

This is an illustration, not a standard schedule. Waterloo’s Computer Engineering students, for instance, can begin their first work term in the winter of first year.

Admission to a degree and admission to an optional co-op stream are not always the same decision. Some programmes include co-op from the start, while others ask students to apply after completing some university coursework.

Best Universities for Co Op Programs in Canada

Co-op is compulsory in some degrees on this list and optional or competitive in others. The universities with co-op programmes below also differ in subjects, selection rules and work-term arrangements, and the list is a selection, not a ranking.

Universities Offering Co-op Programmes in Canada

University	Verified programme example	Co-op structure
University of Waterloo	Computer Science	Regular or co-op
University of Waterloo	Computer Engineering	Co-op only
University of British Columbia	Engineering and Architecture (Applied Science Co-op Program)	Optional co-op
Simon Fraser University	Computing Science	Optional co-op
University of Victoria	Engineering	Mandatory co-op
University of Ottawa	Computer Science	Competitive co-op admission
Carleton University	Computer Science	Programme-specific co-op option
Wilfrid Laurier University	Business Administration	Competitive standard BBA co-op

These are selected, verified programmes. Co-op availability does not automatically extend to every programme at each institution.

1. University of Waterloo

Waterloo offers Computer Science as a regular or co-op programme, while Computer Engineering runs as co-op only. Students alternate four-month study and work terms and can graduate with up to two years of paid experience. Computer Science students can take a first work term in the spring after first year or during second year.

Co-op advisers and preparation support the process, but employers choose whom to hire, so a co-op place does not guarantee a job. Co-op students also pay a separate co-op fee, set out in the fees section.

2. University of British Columbia

UBC’s Applied Science Co-op Program is optional for engineering and architecture students at its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, so joining it is a separate step from degree admission. Engineering co-op students need four paid work terms for the co-op designation and architecture students three, and co-op adds a year to the degree.

Dedicated advisers support the job search, which UBC describes as competitive, with no job guaranteed. Its two co-op charges appear in the fees section.

3. Simon Fraser University

SFU’s Computing Science co-op is an optional programme at the Burnaby campus. To apply, you need a declared Computing Science major and a minimum CGPA of 2.4, a rule for this SFU route, not a national standard.

Students who complete three work terms graduate with a co-op designation, with job-search preparation from SFU’s co-op office.

4. University of Victoria

Co-op is mandatory for UVic undergraduates in Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical and Software Engineering, with automatic enrolment and four required work terms. Students also complete ENGR 130, an introduction to professional practice.

UVic publishes its own salary averages and co-op fees, shown later in this guide. Other UVic subjects offer co-op too, with different participation rules.

5. University of Ottawa

Ottawa’s undergraduate Computer Science co-op has limited places. Eligible students study full-time, have completed first-year requirements and hold a minimum CGPA of 6 in Ottawa courses.

Meeting those criteria does not guarantee a place, because the university admits the highest CGPAs first. Admitted students follow a prescribed work-study sequence with employer recruitment support.

6. Carleton University

Carleton reviews co-op eligibility before a programme’s first entry point, and students who are not eligible then may join later. For Computer Science Honours or Major, the calendar requires an overall and a major CGPA of at least 8.00. Students also need at least 5.0 credits and COMP 2404 before the first work term.

Co-op students complete COOP 1000, Carleton’s co-op preparation, and pay administration and work-term fees.

7. Wilfrid Laurier University

Laurier’s standard BBA co-op is competitive. Students apply after first year and are selected on academic performance, an admission interview and their work, volunteer and extracurricular experience. Those admitted complete three work terms of about four months each between second and fourth year.

Some double-degree programmes follow different co-op entry rules. Business students weighing this route can also compare Canadian business education options.

Colleges Offering Co Op Programs in Canada for 2027

Colleges and polytechnics offer co-op through selected advanced diplomas, graduate certificates and bachelor’s degrees, and these qualifications are not interchangeable. Conestoga College’s Waterloo campus shows how the arrangements differ.

Verified College Co-op Programmes for 2027

College	Programme	Intake	Co-op arrangement
Conestoga College	Computer Programming and Analysis, Ontario College Advanced Diploma	September 2027	Optional, four consecutive four-month work terms
Conestoga College	Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)	September 2027	Two paid work terms built in

Computer Programming and Analysis is a three-year advanced diploma whose optional co-op stream has its own academic eligibility rules. The four-year Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) includes two paid work terms and majors such as cybersecurity, big data analysis and cloud computing.

Students who cannot take the first scheduled work term can replace it only with a career-management course. They must still complete at least one work term. Neither programme promises every student two employer positions.

Conestoga’s Computer Applications Development graduate certificate also has an optional co-op stream, open only to in-person students with an 80% Level 1 average and no failed or dropped courses. Its listed 2027 starts were marked suspended when checked in October 2026, so it is not in the table.

Undergraduate vs Postgraduate Co Op Programs in Canada

Feature	Undergraduate co-op	Postgraduate co-op
Academic awards	Bachelor’s degree, diploma or advanced diploma	Master’s or graduate certificate
Work-term structure	Often several terms	Programme-dependent
Admission	Direct, mandatory or optional	Programme-specific
Academic standard	Degree or diploma progression	Graduate-level requirements
Fees	Academic tuition plus co-op charges	Postgraduate tuition plus relevant co-op charges

Master’s Programmes with Co-op

The University of Ottawa’s Master of Computer Science co-op shows how postgraduate co-op works. Students must enrol full-time, start in the fall, hold an admission average of B+ (75%) and keep a CGPA of 7.0, and the programme includes two work terms. The first follows two study terms, in the summer, and the second comes the next fall.

Places are limited and allocated competitively, so eligibility does not guarantee a co-op place. A college graduate certificate is also postgraduate study, but it is not a university master’s degree.

Co Op Programs in Canada Fees and Tuition Costs

Academic Tuition vs Co-op Participation Fees

Academic tuition pays for the course or qualification. Co-op participation fees fund programme administration, career preparation, recruitment and work-term supervision, and their timing and number vary.

Some are charged before any placement exists. UBC collects a one-time fee on admission to co-op, and Ottawa’s mandatory co-op fee applies in each study term even if a student finds no work term. Ottawa’s first optional co-op fee is due in the term before the first work term and is non-refundable.

Verified Co-op Fee Examples

Institution	Published amount	Fee type
Waterloo	CAD $836	2026/27 co-op fee, paid in instalments
UBC Applied Science	CAD $288.25	One-time fee on admission to co-op
UBC Applied Science	CAD $889	Charged for each work term once a job is secured
Ottawa	CAD $1,125	2026-27 optional co-op fee, international
Ottawa	CAD $843.75	2026-27 mandatory co-op fee, international, each study term
Ottawa	CAD $750	2026-27 master’s mandatory co-op (one work term) fee, international, each study term
Carleton	CAD $540.64	Winter 2027 administration fee or work-term fee
Victoria	CAD $882.30	2026/27 international business and engineering co-op instalment, each term

All amounts are in Canadian dollars. Ottawa’s master’s category covers programmes with one work term, so it does not describe the two-work-term Master of Computer Science.

How Much Is Academic Tuition?

Tuition depends on the institution, qualification, subject, term and year. Waterloo’s Winter 2027 fee schedule lists a maximum of CAD $34,942 per term for international undergraduate Engineering, which is neither an annual fee nor the cost of the degree.

Conestoga’s Computer Programming and Analysis page for September 2027 shows CAD $15,476.78 for two terms of non-co-op international tuition. That is a 2026-27 reference figure, as Conestoga will publish Fall 2027 fees in spring 2027. Accommodation, food, transport, books and student charges come on top, and per-term and annual prices cannot be compared directly.

Are Co Op Programs in Canada Paid?

Usually, yes. Recognised co-op work terms are normally paid, but pay varies with the subject, employer, experience and location. The University of Victoria publishes average monthly co-op earnings for 2024-25:

Academic level	Average monthly earnings
Undergraduate	CAD $3,636
Graduate	CAD $4,184

These are past institutional averages, not amounts any student can expect in 2027. A software developer on an advanced work term may earn more than a business student on a first placement, because pay follows the job, not the university. Co-op income should not be counted on to cover tuition or rent.

Co Op vs Internship vs Part-Time Job in Canada

Factor	Co-op	Internship	Ordinary part-time employment
Academic integration	Structured	Varies	Usually not part of the academic programme
Relevant to study	Generally yes	Often	Not necessarily
Scheduling	Approved academic work terms	Varies	Employer-dependent
Assessment	Programme-specific	May apply	Usually not academic
Payment	Usually paid	May be paid or unpaid	Normally paid

Some Canadian institutions use the term “co-op internship” for work terms taken back to back, and internships elsewhere may be paid or unpaid. An unrelated part-time job does not automatically count towards a co-op requirement, because the programme must approve each work term. A summer retail job, for example, would not normally replace an approved software work term for a computing student.

Co Op Programs in Canada Requirements for International Students

Academic Programme Requirements

Academic admission depends on your previous qualifications, relevant subjects, grades, accepted English or French tests and the documents each programme requests. No single IELTS score applies across Canadian co-op programmes, so check each one.

Co-op Entry Requirements

Optional co-op routes may add a minimum CGPA, completed credits, enrolment in a particular degree, preparation courses and a separate competitive selection.

Programme	Published academic co-op criterion
SFU Computing Science	Minimum 2.4 CGPA to apply
Ottawa undergraduate Computer Science	Minimum 6.0 CGPA
Ottawa Master of Computer Science	Minimum 7.0 CGPA
Carleton Computer Science Honours or Major	Minimum 8.00 overall and major CGPA, plus other conditions
Conestoga Computer Applications Development	Minimum 80% Level 1 weighted average

Each institution uses its own grading scale, so 2.4, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.00 cannot be compared directly. Academic admission, admission to an optional co-op stream and selection by an employer are separate decisions.

Are Co Op Placements Guaranteed in Canada?

No. Co-op jobs are not guaranteed. Universities and colleges provide recruitment platforms, career advisers, job-search workshops, résumé and interview preparation and work-term guidance, but employers make their own hiring decisions.

UBC states that its co-op job search is competitive and that a job is not guaranteed, and Ottawa notes that meeting its co-op criteria does not guarantee a place. Even in mandatory co-op, no employer is obliged to hire every student.

What to Check Before Choosing a Co-op Programme in Canada

Eight questions separate one co-op programme from another:

• Is co-op compulsory or optional?
• Does optional co-op need a separate application?
• What academic average must you maintain?
• How many work terms are required?
• Do work terms count for academic credit or a co-op designation?
• Are there extra participation charges?
• What recruitment support does the institution offer?
• What happens if you cannot secure a scheduled work term?

Compare Waterloo Computer Engineering with SFU Computing Science, for example. Co-op is built into the Waterloo engineering degree, while SFU’s computing co-op is optional, with its own eligibility conditions.

Scholarships and Awards for Co-op Students

Waterloo International Student Entrance Scholarship

Waterloo states that international fee-paying students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies starting in September 2027 receive CAD $10,000 for their first year, with no application required. It is an entrance scholarship, not pay for a work term, and it is not limited to co-op students.

University of Victoria Co-op Awards

UVic’s Co-op Changemaker awards give CAD $500 to co-op students nominated by themselves or an employer, in a cycle running from May 2026 to April 2027. They are competitive, and later cycles may change. Waterloo’s award is automatic for eligible students, while UVic’s depends on a nomination and selection.

How to Apply for Co Op Programs in Canada

Co-op starts with academic admission. Some programmes admit students to co-op from the beginning, while others accept co-op applications after some university study:

1. Choose an appropriate academic subject.
2. Identify programmes with verified co-op options.
3. Check whether co-op is compulsory, direct-entry or optional.
4. Review the academic and language requirements.
5. Prepare the documents the institution requests.
6. Submit the academic programme application.
7. Complete any separate co-op selection process.
8. Maintain the required academic performance.
9. Follow the institution’s career preparation and recruitment procedures.

There is no nationwide co-op deadline: each institution sets its own dates. Laurier’s standard BBA co-op takes applications after first year, for example, while UVic enrols engineering students automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a co op program in Canada?

It is a programme that combines academic study with structured, paid work terms related to your field, often lasting about four months each.

Which universities offer co op programs in Canada?

Waterloo, UBC, SFU, UVic, Ottawa, Carleton and Laurier all offer co-op in specific programmes, such as Computer Engineering at Waterloo or the BBA at Laurier.

Are co op programs in Canada paid?

Usually, yes. Most recognised work terms carry a wage, though the amount depends on the role and no level of pay is guaranteed.

Can international students apply for co op programmes in Canada?

Yes. Selected institutions accept eligible international applicants, who must meet each programme’s academic and co-op criteria.

Are co op placements guaranteed?

No. Institutions help with preparation and recruitment, but employers choose whom to hire.

How much do co op programmes cost?

Costs combine academic tuition, separate co-op fees and other student charges. The co-op fees in this guide run from CAD $288.25 to CAD $1,125 per charge, on different schedules.

Can master’s students study with co-op in Canada?

Yes, in selected programmes. Ottawa’s Master of Computer Science co-op includes two work terms, with competitive entry and limited places.

What is the difference between co-op and internship?

Co-op work terms are built into an academic programme and approved by it, while internships vary in structure, length and pay.

Conclusion

Co op programs in Canada join study terms to structured, career-related work experience, usually in four-month blocks.

Programmes differ in academic level, compulsory or optional co-op, work-term requirements and fees, and neither employer placements nor earnings are guaranteed.

Compare specific programmes against your qualifications, interests and budget. To explore Canadian university and college programmes that match your academic background and study goals, contact an education adviser for help comparing courses and understanding admissions requirements.