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Co-op program

Earn while you learn

Receive an excellent education that pays for itself with the Faculty of Computer Science's accredited co-op program. As a co-op student, you spend four to six terms earning a salary for doing interesting work at a wide variety of companies across the region and the country. Co-op program graduates typically have job offers before they even graduate!

Our students have completed their co-op program abroad (Google, Microsoft, Bloomberg), nationally (RBC Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Statistics Canada) and locally (Blue Spurs, IBM Canada, Cvent, JD Irving, McCain Foods).

The program consists of work placements (four or eight months) alternating with study semesters. Students in the following programs are eligible to participate:

Co-op benefits

The co-op program’s advantages go beyond your academic life, as it will give you the experience you need to grow as a professional:

  • beneficial combination of theory and practice
  • attractive salaries on work terms
  • higher salaries after graduation
  • work experiences that enhance personal development
  • exposure to a variety of technologies

Salaries paid to co-op students on work terms are very attractive. Our co-op program isn’t an internship; it’s the first step towards a career in computer science. Most co-op students graduate debt-free, or with little debt.

Our program was established in 1981 and is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL).

Co-op essentials

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

Contact us

Leah Bidlake, Director
Patricia Meng, Coordinator
Cathy Clowater, Coordinator

Faculty of Computer Science
Information Technology Centre
550 Windsor St.
Room ITC-314
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5A3