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Co-op & Internship Opportunities

Why do co-op?

Engineering and architecture students can take a break from their class-based studies, make lasting industry connections, and gain on-the-job experience through an 8, 12 and/or 16 month paid, full-time co-op and internship placement.

Earn an income to pay for your studies

Earn an average of $46,000 - $57,000 of co-op income annually. (Income can vary based on program, market rates & demand).

Gain a competitive edge and become career-ready

Develop crucial skills, get hands-on experience with leading employers, and be prepared for work after graduation.

Broaden your professional network

Work for leading Canadian companies like Bombardier Aerospace, Air Canada, Hydro One, IBM Canada, Safran Electronics Canada & more as you build your network and professional brand.

Employer looking to hire?
Visit our employers & industry partners page to learn how to hire our co-op students, get to know our experts and more.

 

Eligibility & Requirements

All 10 of our undergraduate programs offer co-operative education opportunities. The architectural science co-op requirements are slightly different, as are the requirements for the mandatory chemical engineering co-op placement. The requirements for all other engineering programs are the same and are also outlined below.

Aerospace, Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering

The FEAS Co-op & Internship Program is the same for each of these eight programs. View all the necessary information below:

To be eligible for enrollment in the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program, you must be a full-time student starting in 3rd year and meet all the criteria listed below before September 2024

  • Clear academic standing
  • Completion of all courses for semesters 1-4 (excluding liberals)
  • Minimum CGPA of 1.67 (Including Liberals)

To maintain your co-op status, co-op students are required to uphold the following criteria during both semesters of their 3rd academic year:

  • Must have a full-time student status and taking a full course load
  • Clear academic standing
  • Maintain CGPA of 1.67  (Including Liberals)

If you have any questions regarding what is a full-time course load and full-time student status, please connect with your Department Assistant as requirements may vary per program. 

International students need to have a co-op work permit to be able to take a co-op job in Canada. For information about applying for a co-op work permit, please visit Toronto Metropolitan University’s International Student Support website.

Students with late admission, please connect with the FEAS Co-op office to discuss your eligibility to the program.

To apply to co-op job opportunities, you must first enrol in the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program. Enrolment applications are only accepted from July to September, on an annual basis. All eligible students are encouraged to apply.

To apply for co-op job opportunities, you must first enroll in the Co-op & Internship Program. Enrollment applications are only accepted from May to September. The deadline for submitting your enrollment application is June 26, 2024. All eligible students are encouraged to apply.

Before submitting an enrollment application, you need to obtain an unofficial copy of your transcript via MyServiceHub.

  1. Visit Toronto Metropolitan University’s Co-op Portal (opens in new window) .
  2. From the navigation menu at the top of the page, select Students > Apply to Co-op. You will be redirected to a Toronto Metropolitan University login page.
  3. Enter your Toronto Metropolitan University ID and password and select Log In.
  4. After you’re logged in, select My Account and complete the form and upload a profile picture.
  5. After you finish updating your profile, from the left menu, select Co-op and then select your academic program.

Note: If you are presented with a blank gray screen, select “Apply to a Program” in the top right corner of your dashboard. Next, scroll and select your program. Once you select your program, click the “Apply” button.

Follow the on-screen instructions and complete the application form. Once done, click Submit and you’ll receive an email confirmation that your application has been received.

 

After you confirm your eligibility and apply to the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program through the Co-op Portal, your department’s co-op faculty advisor will review your application and you can expect to hear back by September 2024.

What are the differences between co-op and internship?

 

FEAS Co-op

FEAS Internship

Placement duration

12 and 16 months (consecutive)

8 months (consecutive)

Number of work terms

3 and 4

2

Placement start date

Anytime between May and September

Access to student support and resources?

Yes

Access to career education and support?

Yes

Gaining valuable and rewarding engineering experience?

Yes

Getting paid while on placement?

Yes

Academic reporting

Yes

Academic recognition and credit on transcript?

Yes

Co-op designation as part of degree name?

Yes

No

OSAP recognition and interest-free status

Yes

No

(No loan repayment until the end of the six months grace period)

Eligible students can start work terms anytime between May and September. Co-op and internship job placements must be 8, 12, or 16 consecutive months. Job postings will indicate how long the work term will be. The following tables illustrate different examples of academic and work term schedules. In all cases, participating in the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program will extend your years of study from four to five years.

Example One: 8 months of internship experience (May start).

Year of Study

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Year 1

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 2

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 3

Study Term

Study Term

Work Term 1

Year 4

Work Term 2

Study Term

 

Year 5

Study Term

Study Term

 

Example Two: 12 months of co-op experience (May start).

Year of Study

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Year 1

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 2

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 3

Study Term

Study Term

Work Term 1

Year 4

Work Term 2

Work Term 3

 

Year 5

Study Term

Study Term

 

Example Three: 16 months of co-op experience (May start).

Year of Study

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Year 1

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 2

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 3

Study Term

Study Term

Work Term 1

Year 4

Work Term 2

Work Term 3

Work Term 4

Year 5

Study Term

Study Term

 

Example Four: 8 months of internship experience (September start).

Year of Study

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Year 1

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 2

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 3

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 4

Work Term 1

Work Term 2

 

Year 5

Study Term

Study Term

 

Example Five: 12 months of co-op experience (September start).

Year of Study

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Year 1

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 2

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 3

Study Term

Study Term

 

Year 4

Work Term 1

Work Term 2

Work Term 3

Year 5

Study Term

Study Term

 

The salary you will receive is typically discussed with the employer during the hiring process, but on average co-op students earn over $50,000 per year. This salary information is based on the historical salary average reported by students and employers and is intended to be a guide only.

From the time your enrollment application is accepted until the time you complete your work placement, you’ll have ongoing support in several areas, including access to co-op resources, career development workshops and support, work term preparation, and placement check-ins. 

Visit the FEAS Co-op appointment booking webpage (external link)  to schedule book a meeting with a FEAS Co-op team member for more information.

The FEAS Co-op & Internship Program is an academic course equivalent to one credit. Students will be required to complete their full 8, 12 or, 16 months of full-time placement to qualify for credit. Students who complete 12-month and 16-month co-op placements will also qualify for a co-op designation. As part of this process, all the students in their 8-12-16 months placements will be required to submit an interim report at the end of each work term, as well as a final report at the end of your last work term to your Department Administrator.

For students who will be starting their placement between May and September 2024:

The fee, per work term, is $683 for students who were enrolled in the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program in September 2023, and who will be starting their placement between May and September 2024.

The FEAS Co-op and Internship Program fee is structured based on the total number of work terms and is paid in installments as outlined below:

 

Work Term 1*

 

Work Term 2

Work Term 3

Work Term 4

Total Fee

Internship Placement

(8 months)

$683

$683

--

--

$1,366

Co-op Placement (12 months)

$683

$683

$683

--

$2,049

Co-op Placement (16 months)

$683

$683

$683

$683

$2,732

*Starting between May-September 2024

For students who will be starting their placement between May and September 2025:

The fee, per work term, is $717 for students who enroll in the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program in September 2024, and who will be starting their placement between May and September 2025.

The FEAS Co-op and Internship Program fee is structured based on the total number of work terms and is paid in installments as outlined below:

 

Work Term 1*

 

Work Term 2

Work Term 3

Work Term 4

Total Fee

Internship Placement

(8 months)

$717

$717

--

--

$1,434

Co-op Placement (12 months)

$717

$717

$717

--

$2,151

Co-op Placement (16 months)

$717

$717

$717

$717

$2,868

*Starting between May-September 2025

How the fee works
The fee is payable after you secure a placement that is approved by the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program office. There is no registration or administration fee payable upon enrollment in the program after completing the second-year courses. The fee relates to the costs associated with the administration of the co-op and internship program and is calculated in accordance with the Toronto Metropolitan University and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities policies.

Why is there a fee?
The fee, in part, covers costs associated with the administration of the co-op and internship program which includes student access to co-op resources, career development workshops and support, work term preparation, and check-ins, and the recruitment and support of co-op and internship employers. Students who are successful in securing their placements can more than offset their co-op fees with their earnings.

Note: All co-op and internship program fees and payments are non-refundable and subject to change without notice.

Please contact the FEAS Co-op & Internship Program office for all questions related to:

  • Co-op enrollment
  • Job postings, applications, and interviews
  • student job accommodation needs
  • Co-op and internship program events and workshops
  • Co-op Portal troubleshooting

You can email feascoop@torontomu.ca, or visit us at ENG 273

Please contact your specific Department Administrator for all questions related to:

  • Co-op eligibility and admission decision
  • Work term course registration
  • Course intentions
  • Academic accommodation
  • Academic co-op reporting

Program

Name and Contact

Aerospace

Heejin Kim
Department Administrator
416-979-5000, ext.555016
heejin1.kim@torontomu.ca

Francine Belnavis
Department Assistant
416-979-5000 ext. 556466
f2belnav@torontomu.ca

Dr. Paul Walsh
Co-op Faculty Advisor
416-979-5000 ext. 7729
paul.walsh@torontomu.ca

Biomedical, Computer, Electrical

Yvonne Cordwell
Department Administrator
416-979-5000 ext. 5052
ecbinternship@torontomu.ca

Dr. Amirnaser Yazdani
Co-op Faculty Advisor
416-979-5000 ext.  6178
yazdani@torontomu.ca

Civil

Dianne Mendonca
Department Administrator
416-979-5000 ext. 555345
mendonca@torontomu.ca

Dr. Darko Joksimovic
Co-op Faculty Advisor
416-979-5000 ext. 6462
darkoj@torontomu.ca

Industrial

Shirley Dacanay
Department Administrator
416-979-5000 ext. 552129
mieiip@torontomu.ca

Dr. Mohamed Wahab Mohamed Ismail
Co-op Faculty Advisor
416-979-5000 ext. 552670
wahab@torontomu.ca

Mechanical & Mechatronics

Shirley Dacanay
Department Administrator
416-979-5000 ext. 552129
mieiip@torontomu.ca

Dr. Donatus Oguamanam
Co-op Faculty Advisor
416-979-5000 ext. 557490
doguaman@torontomu.ca

Chemical Engineering Co-op

A co-operative internship is a mandatory component of this program, helping you make informed career decisions and giving you valuable experience with Canada’s leaders in water treatment, food manufacturing, pollution control, and more. 

Beginning in your second year, you will alternate between academic and work terms, for a total of 12-16 months of work experience throughout your degree.

This program is mandatory.

When to apply:
When you’re enrolled in the program, the co-op office will notify you regarding upcoming application deadlines via email. Applications are generally ongoing from January to April (for work terms starting in May). The deadline to apply for any opportunity is generally one week from the posting date, unless otherwise stated.

How to apply:
Instructions on how to submit your application and required documents will be included in the job advertisement on the co-op office’s job posting website. You will be granted access to this site when you enroll as a student in the Chemical Engineering Co-op program.

Documents to prepare: 

  1. Cover letter
    Address your cover letter to the company to which you are applying. When writing the content, remember that its purpose is different from that of your resume. A cover letter is your opportunity to provide more details about a past experience that may be relevant to the specific employer and position, or that highlights certain technical and employment skills that will benefit the company or organization. 
  2. Resume
    Be sure to keep your resume brief and relevant to the type of employment the co-operative position offers. Consider including:
    • Computer skills – software you are proficient with; programming languages you know
    • Technical skills – laboratory skills you have gained such as thin layer chromatography, distillation, IR spectroscopy, extraction, reflux, vacuum filtration and recrystallization
    • Relevant employment history – professional experience (especially technical) that demonstrates you are dedicated to your work and can perform well on a team
    • Relevant extracurricular activities – any after-school activities that demonstrate useful skills for the workplace, especially design teams
    • Education history – clearly communicate if you have excelled in any engineering courses (i.e. fluid dynamics, thermodynamics), or have taken courses in technical fields (i.e. Lean Six Sigma, machining operations)
  3. Unofficial transcript
    These can be downloaded from MyServiceHub.

  

Get cover letter, resume, and interview support from the co-op office

  

Admission process:

The entire process may take between three to five weeks from the time you apply to the offer of employment and generally involves the following five stages:

  1. Co-operative opportunities are advertised via the co-op office online job posting board.
  2. You apply, following instructions that are included on the job posting.
  3. The co-op office shares your applications with the specific employers you have selected.
  4. The employer or co-op office contacts you to arrange an interview. Employers may request to interview you on the company’s premises or on campus. You should be prepared to expect a call or email any time after the application. Some employers may require more than one interview as part of their recruitment process. In a multi-stage hiring process, typically the first interview would be with the human resources department and the second would be with the hiring manager from the technical department.
  5. The employer shortlists you and offers you the position. The employer may contact you directly with their offer or ask the co-op office to forward the offer to you.

Securing a job through the co-op office
Opportunities are advertised through a web-based job posting board on a regular basis from January to April. You are encouraged to apply to as many opportunities as you can find to secure co-op employment. Our employer partners include leaders in the Canadian chemical engineering industry such as Apotex Canada, Sanofi Pasteur, Agropur, Pepsi Co, and Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

Sourcing your own job
If you secure your own employment, you need to contact the co-op faculty advisor to make sure the opportunity is relevant to the academic program and that the work plan meets the co-operative course requirements. Approval on the provided work plan from the co-op faculty advisor must be obtained prior to the commencement of the co-op work term(s).

Both co-op and internship placements start anytime between May and September, and include

  • Access to student resources, career education and support

  • Valuable and rewarding engineering experience

  • Academic reporting, recognition & on transcript credit

     

The differences are: 

Co-op

Internship

 

12 & 16 consecutive months placement duration

8 consecutive months placement duration

 

3 or 4 work terms

2 work terms only

 

Co-op designation is included as part of degree name

Internship designation is not included as part of degree name

 

Co-op is recognized by OSAP and included in interest-free status 

Internships are not recognized through OSAP. However there is a 6-month loan repayment grace period 

 

You’ll alternate between academic and work terms throughout your degree, for a total of 16-20 months of work experience.

Year

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Year 1

Study Term

Study Term

Study Term

Year 2

Study Term

Study Term

Work Term 1 (May start)

Year 3

Work Term 2

Study Term

Work Term 3

Year 4

Study Term

Work Term 4

Work Term 5

Year 5

Study Term

Study Term

Study Term

The actual wage you will receive is determined between you and the employer during the hiring process. 

The rates below are presented in dollars per hour before deductions, according to your level of experience (junior, intermediate or senior). These wages represent a compilation of historical salary and wage data reported by students and employers. Salaries and wages are subject to change based on employer preferences and prevailing wages in various industry sectors. If you have questions, please reach out to the appropriate contact below.

Junior: $16- $30

Intermediate: $16 - $37

Senior: $25-$39

 

The co-op office offers a range of career readiness support, including help with cover letters, resumes, and interviews.

Co-op coordinators, who are dedicated to chemical engineering students, help with job search techniques and advice throughout the hiring process and during work terms. You will be introduced to the co-op staff during a co-op orientation day, which will be held during the first semester of your first year in the program.

Each co-operative work term is an academic Pass or Fail course. You need to complete the full 16 weeks per semester of full-time employment to receive credit. You also have to submit the required reports to the co-op faculty advisor.

The fee for the Chemical Engineering Co-op program is $3,500.00. 

This fee is in addition to tuition and incidental fees, and relates to costs associated with the administration of the program. It is calculated in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Toronto Metropolitan University policies. The fees are paid in 10 installments of $350 each fall and winter term.

 

Co-op Faculty Advisor

Primary contact for student-sourced job descriptions, work plan approval and academic reporting.

Dr. Simant Upreti
416-979-5000 ext. 556344
supreti@torontomu.ca

Co-op Office Contacts

Primary contacts regarding job application process, co-op fees, potential employers, typical co-op employment rates, work site visits, etc.

Students with last names A - C should contact:

Sunny Chan
416-979-5000 ext. 556957
sunnychan@torontomu.ca

Students with last names D - K should contact:

Charles Dune
416-979-5000 ext. 556624
charles.dune@torontomu.ca

Students with last names L - Z should contact:

Adrian Layne
416-979-5000 ext. 555068
adrian.layne@torontomu.ca

Architectural Science

The Architectural Science co-operative education internship is a highly competitive program open to the top 40 students in the third year. 

For 12-16 consecutive months, you will take a break from your studies and gain valuable work experience with leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, including award-winning design firms.

A group of professionals and students discussing AERIAS placement

Want to do an AERIAS placement instead?

AERIAS, a unique partnership between TMU and the Canadian aerospace industry. This work-integrated program immerses engineering students in real-world, aerospace research and design at some of the top aerospace companies in Canada. All engineering students can apply!

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