Self-Initiated Co-op
Choose Your Own Co-op Path
Advantages of doing a Self-Initiated Co-op
- Maintain full time student status while on Co-op Work Terms
- Expand your horizons for the type of work experience you are looking for based on your professional goals
- Build your professional network
- Get support from the Co-op Office once you have applied
- Work towards your Co-operative Education Designation on your degree
- Some organizations require you to be a Co-op student to receive funding for the role
- Put into practice your gained knowledge through university classroom study
Requirements of Self-Initiated Co-op
- A Self-Initiated Co-op is registered as a work term and as such, fees and work term requirements apply
- You must obtain Co-op Office Approval
- You must be enrolled in the Co-op program
- Co-op work terms can be arranged for 4, 8, 12 or 16 months in length.
- Work term semesters are a minimum of 12 weeks in length and/or 420 hours, and usually follow the academic semesters (Jan – April; May – Aug; Sept – Dec).
- Full-time paid employment- a minimum 35 hours per week
Have a Position
If you have secured a potential Co-op placement, you will need to reach out to the Co-op Office to start the process.
Obtain Co-op Office Approval
In order to have your Self-Initated Co-op formally approved, please provide the following information:
- The job description
- Employer's contact information
The Co-op office will contact you to confirm that the position has been approved as a Co-op and you will be contacted about your next steps.
Looking for a position
Research companies and/or employment sector associations that you are interested in working for. The Co-op Office is available to help once you have applied to the Co-op program.