Co-operative Education
Gain business-related work experience while you study
Within three months of graduating, over 80% of Co-op participants are working full time.
The BComm Co-operative Education Program (Co-op) at the Haskayne School of Business gives you 8 to 16 months of full time, paid, professional experience while you complete your degree. Co-op integrates academic learning with real workplaces so you can apply business concepts, build career ready skills, and explore potential career paths before graduation.
What you will gain
Students gain experience in areas such as finance, marketing, business analytics, operations, accounting, real estate, energy, consulting, and technology. These work terms complement your classroom learning and often lead to:
- stronger academic performance
- clearer professional direction
- increased confidence entering the workforce
Support I can get
Structured support throughout the program
- mandatory Co-op Orientation
- access to an exclusive Co-op job board in Elevate
- ongoing coaching from Career Development Specialists on résumés, interviews, job search strategy, and workplace questions
With competitive salaries, diverse employer partners, and strong post graduation outcomes, Co-op is one of the most direct ways to gain meaningful experience and graduate career ready. Within three months of graduating, over 80 percent of Co-op participants are working full time.
Application deadlines
Why should I join Co-op?
The Haskayne Co-operative Education Program gives BComm students a significant advantage by combining academic learning with meaningful, paid work experience. Through up to three full time work terms, completed consecutively or throughout your degree, you will gain professional skills, industry insight, and the confidence to transition successfully into the workplace.
How Co-op is structured
Student Experiences and Stories
Hear directly from Haskayne students about how Co-op helped shape their academic and professional journeys.
Omar and Zuzanna – Real work opportunities
Learn how Co-op helped them build confidence, apply business concepts, and explore new career pathways.
International Co-op experience
I secured my final Co-op work term at the Canadian Embassy in Germany. I had a diverse range of projects including arranging meetings with the Prime Minister and contributing to reports sent back to Ottawa. It has been tremendously rewarding to be involved in such important projects and I’ve grown personally and professionally.
Kelsey Wiggers, BComm'20
Discovering your path
My biggest takeaway from my Co-op terms was realizing what areas of focus did not fit with my interests & skills. This helped me figure out what I was passionate about and allowed me to better tailor my remaining courses. My advice for incoming Co-op students would be to have an open mind; go in with a positive outlook and be open to being challenged.
Christina Chow, BComm'19
Frequently Asked Questions
Co-op work terms are paid, full-time positions (35–40 hours/week) that relate directly to your BComm studies. Each work term:
- Lasts a minimum of 13 consecutive weeks
- Must provide meaningful professional responsibilities and supervision
- Is approved and recorded through COOP 523.xx
- Counts toward the 8–16 months required for the Co-op designation
Work terms can take place in Calgary, across Canada, or internationally, as long as they meet Co-op program criteria and any required work authorization is obtained.
During each work term, you register in a COOP 523.xx course.
This maintains your full-time student status and includes the tuition/fees associated with that course.
Exact fees change from year to year. Students should refer to:
University of Calgary Academic Calendar and finance page
Co-op roles are paid positions, and many students find that their earnings help offset educational or living costs during their work terms.
While completing a full-time Co-op work term, students:
- Register in the appropriate COOP 523.xx course
- Complete required Co-op academic components (goals, check-ins, final reflection, employer evaluation)
- Usually do not take a full course load at the same time
- What is MGST 303 and do I have to take it?
MGST 303 (Personal Career Strategies) is a great course to get you started on your career growth journey! In the course you’ll focus on workplace skill development, including career management, workplace communication and ethics, career readiness competencies, and leadership development through experiential learning. While this course is not mandatory to participate in the co-op program, if you complete MGST 303 and receive a grade of B or higher before you apply to co-op, you can skip some steps on the co-op application.- Note for many students, MGST 303 can be used towards their senior commerce/non-commerce requirements in the BComm. For advice on where this course will fit your degree, please email us at coop@haskayne.ucalgary.ca with your UCID.
- MGST 359.03 is equivalent to MGST 303 and can be used in lieu of MGST 303 towards co-op application (with B or higher) and for many students can be used towards senior commerce/non-commerce requirements in the BComm. Note that MGST 359.03 is intended for non-BComm students
Your Co-op Advisor and BComm Advising can help you plan how Co-op fits into your degree, including when to schedule work terms and how they align with your major requirements.
Step-by-step instructions for this are included in the Co-op Student Handbook (for accepted students).
International students are welcome in Co-op. Because immigration policies can change, students should always review the most up-to-date information on the ISS website and IRCC website before making decisions about work hours, Co-op permits, or international placements.
International students who are not participating in Co-op work can currently work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic terms, and full-time during scheduled breaks, as long as they meet IRCC requirements.
To complete a Co-op work term in Canada, you must have a valid study permit. If completing a work term outside Canada, you must secure the appropriate visa/work authorization for the host country.
Please refer to International Student Services (ISS) and IRCC for the most current immigration guidance.
The Co-op Student Handbook provides detailed program information, including:
- Work term expectations
- Reporting requirements
- Academic components
- Roles and responsibilities
- Key policies and deadlines
- Contact details for Co-op Advisors and support units
Students should utilize the handbook throughout their Co-op journey and refer to Important Contacts for Students for campus and emergency resources.
Questions?
If you have questions about Co-op requirements, eligibility, academics, or work terms, we are here to help.