What is co-op?
Pursue 12 to 16 months of full-time, paid on-the-job experience while you're in school. Our co-op team helps you find work terms relevant to your field of study.
Gain a competitive edge by developing the skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary to secure a rewarding career after graduation, or go on to graduate school and professional programs.
During a four-month work term, Arts & Science and Management co-op students can expect to earn an average salary of $12,000 to $16,000. Pay rates vary depending on factors such as industry, job function, and year of study.
How work terms fit in with your studies
Work term sequences are based on a duration of four months each. Your first work term can occur in the fall, winter or summer of your second year.
If you secure a work term that lasts longer than four months, it will count as multiple work terms. For example, an eight-month co-op job would count as two work terms.
The following is an example of a co-op program composed of four-month work terms:
| Fall | Winter | Summer | |
| Year 1 | Study | Study | Study |
| Year 2 | Work | Study | Work |
| Year 3 | Study | Work | Study |
| Year 4 | Study | Study | Graduate |
Why study co-op at U of T Scarborough?
World-class degree
You get an outstanding University of Toronto degree, and an education respected around the world — in four years.
Outstanding employers
U of T Scarborough has longstanding relationships with important leading Canadian and global organizations across an array of industry sectors. Our co-op programs work with more than 700 employers annually
Expertise
U of T Scarborough was the first Canadian campus to develop paid co-ops and we have been making the experiences better for more than 50 years.
I want to pursue a career in management consulting, and that’s a competitive field to break into. That’s why co-op is so important for me.
Ahnaf Rahman, Recipient of the Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada Student of the Year Award
Management & Finance (Co-op)
How do I apply for a co-op program?
Apply for a co-op option when applying for admission to the university. Some students may also be able to apply to participate at the end of first year, if openings become available.
To be sure you have a co-op option, you should:
- Plan to pursue a major or specialist in one of the 50+ programs that have a co-op option.
- Apply to the admission category for that program.
- Have competitive marks when applying, and maintain them during your studies (usually 2.5 GPA). If more people apply for co-op than there are places available, preference is based on marks.
Co-op is available to international students
International students in Canada on a study permit can choose a co-op option — because this work is considered part of your education.
Examples of co-op employers
Finance and accounting
- American Express
- Bank of Montreal (BMO)
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
- Caseware International Inc.
- KPMG
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
- Scotiabank
- Sun Life Canada
- Visa
Technology and communications
- Deloitte
- Intuit
- IBM Canada Limited
- Leonardo Inc
- Microsoft
- Samsung
- Shopify
Healthcare, medical devices and pharma
- Baycrest
- Cancer Care Ontario
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
- Johnson & Johnson
- Northern Biologics
- Sanofi Pasteur
- SickKids
- University Health Network
Government, education and non-profit
- Council of Agencies Service South Asians (CASSA)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Long-Term Care
- Parks Canada
- University of Toronto
Manufacturing and consumer goods
- BMW Canada
- Hershey
- Procter and Gamble
- Toyota
Services, hospitality and utilities
- Hydro One
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
More about specific co-op programs
Arts and Science programs
Did you know you can pursue co-op programs in programs like Linguistics, Public Policy, Biology, Mathematics and Environmental Science?
Management Programs
Our Management co-op programs give students on-the-job learning, connections and experience with industries, organizations, and businesses across Canada and abroad.
International Development Co-op
In our dynamic program, you'll gain the skills and knowledge to address international development issues by exploring a wide range of academic disciplines and cultures. In your fourth year of studies, you will have the opportunity to embark on an 8- to 12-month work term with an organization abroad involved in international development.
More about the International Development Studies Co-op program
