Apply to the co-op program in the first semester of your first year. Once you’ve met the academic requirements (following your first semester) and attended a mandatory orientation session, you can compete for jobs in your second semester.

The application process for each work term begins three months prior to the start date of the work term. For example, students apply for jobs in February for a May start.

It is also possible to join the program in September or January, following first year.

Co-op handbook   PEP handbook

Co-op staff matches students to employers

Students submit job applications within the co-op information system and subsequently attend interviews with jobs. After the interviews, rankings are used by the co-op staff to match students with jobs.

The undergraduate co-op programs consists of eight study terms and four to six work terms, lasting just under five years. This is one year longer than the traditional degree program, but includes 16-24 months of related work experience.

If you are in the multiple degree programs, it will extend your degree from five to six years.

Most of our co-op placements are in New Brunswick, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, and tend to be in major centres such as Fredericton, Saint John, Halifax, Toronto and Ottawa.

Jobs have included:

• computer operations
• consulting
• marketing support
• programming in a variety of languages
• systems analysis and design

Co-op students do not pay tuition fees while on a work term. A work term fee is levied for each four-month work term. Co-op students are eligible for scholarships, bursaries and student loans based on the same criteria as other students.

Responsibilities are set out in the computer science co-op handbook and include maintaining conscientious work habits and behavior, such as:

• maintaining a minimum set grade point average during study terms
• submitting a written report related to some aspect of the work term