Key takeaways
- Since April 1, 2026, post-secondary students do not need a co-op work permit for required placements
- You need a study permit that allows on-campus work and a letter from your school confirming the placement is required
- Placements have no weekly hour limit, but cannot be more than 50% of your program
- Co-op fees are extra: $836 per fee term at Waterloo (2026/2027) and $889 per work term at UBC Vancouver
- Co-op work done while studying full time does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class
What is a co-op program?
In a co-operative education (co-op) program, you switch between study terms at school and work terms with an employer. Many programs call these “student work placements”. They include co-ops, internships, field placements and practicums.
IRCC treats a placement as part of your studies when your program requires it to graduate. Your school must confirm this in a letter.
Co-op is common in engineering, computing, business and science degrees, and in many college diplomas. Some programs build co-op in for everyone. Others make it optional, with a separate application.
Do international students need a co-op work permit in 2026?
Post-secondary students: no, since April 1, 2026. IRCC says that as a post-secondary international student, you do not need a co-op work permit for student work placements. You can take part if you meet all of these conditions:
- Your study permit includes conditions that allow you to work on campus
- You have a letter from your DLI confirming the placement is a requirement of your program
- Your study permit is valid, or you applied to extend it before it expired
- You study full time in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional program
- Your placements total 50% or less of your study program
If you are eligible but your study permit does not show the work conditions, you can ask IRCC to amend it. There is no fee. Do this before you start work.
Other cases
- Already have a co-op work permit? You can keep using it until it expires.
- Applied before the change? You can withdraw the application, or IRCC may withdraw it and send you a letter.
- Secondary school students still need a co-op work permit. There is no fee to apply.
Older guides, and some school pages, still say you need a co-op work permit. Those pages may not be updated yet. IRCC’s student work placement page is the current rule.
Who cannot do a work placement?
IRCC says you cannot take part in student work placements if you are taking:
- English or French as a second language courses
- General interest courses
- Courses to prepare for another study program
- Courses at an institution outside Canada
You must also stop if you stop studying full time (except in your final semester), your study permit expires, you take an authorized leave, or you switch schools.
How many hours can you work during co-op?
IRCC sets no weekly hour limit for student work placements. You can work full time during a co-op term. You can work for any employer that your school’s placement program accepts, even if it is off campus.
The limit is on the total: your work placements cannot be more than 50% of your study program.
Outside the placement, the normal rules apply. You can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during classes, and unlimited hours on campus. See working while studying for the full rules.
What do co-op programs cost?
Many schools charge a co-op fee on top of tuition. Neither of the two fee pages below lists a different co-op fee for international students. Two examples from school pages:
| School | Co-op fee | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| University of Waterloo | $836 per fee term (2026/2027) | Engineering students pay 8 times, starting in first term; most science students pay 6 times, starting in second year |
| UBC Vancouver | $889 per work term, plus a $288.25 co-op administration and workshop fee | Co-op course fee for each work term, from the UBC Academic Calendar. Students on a work term also pay Winter Session student fees, the U-Pass and the student health and dental plan. The calendar does not say how often the administration fee is charged. |
Worked example
A Waterloo engineering student pays the co-op fee 8 times: 8 × $836 = $6,688 over the degree, at 2026/2027 rates. Waterloo says this is not a job-finding fee. It covers the cost of running the co-op program. A UBC student with 4 work terms pays 4 × $889 = $3,556 in co-op course fees at current calendar rates, plus the $288.25 administration and workshop fee and other student fees.
Co-op terms can also add terms to a degree. That can mean more months of rent. Compare total costs with engineering tuition compared and hidden costs for international students.
How much do co-op students earn?
The University of Waterloo publishes average hourly co-op pay from its 2025 Canadian work terms:
| Faculty (undergraduate) | First work term | Later work term |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | $22.76 | $34.15 (term 6) |
| Engineering | $21.67 | $31.53 (term 6) |
| Health | $18.75 | $21.19 (term 5) |
Waterloo notes that employers do not have to follow these rates. Pay at other schools and in other fields can be lower.
Worked example
A first-term Waterloo engineering student at $21.67 an hour, working 37.5 hours a week for 16 weeks, earns about $13,002 before tax (600 hours). After the $836 co-op fee for that term, the gain is about $12,166 before tax. Your hours and term length may differ.
Does co-op count toward PR or the PGWP?
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): No. IRCC says work done while you were a full-time student, including co-op terms, does not count toward CEC work experience.
- PGWP: Co-op is part of your program. The PGWP depends on your program, its length and other rules. See the PGWP eligibility checker.
- Your résumé: Co-op still gives you Canadian work references, which can help you find a skilled job after graduation. Skilled work after graduation is what counts for PR. Read study permit to PR.
Questions to ask a school about co-op
- Is co-op required in my program, or optional? Is there a separate application, and how many places are there?
- What is the co-op fee, how many times is it charged, and is it refundable if I do not get a placement?
- What share of international co-op students found a paid placement last year?
- Does the program add terms or a year to my degree?
- Will the school give me the letter confirming the placement is a program requirement?
- Do placements total 50% or less of the program?
Use the answers in your DLI checklist.
Common questions
Do I need a co-op work permit in 2026?
Is there an hour limit during co-op terms?
Can I keep using my existing co-op work permit?
Does co-op work count for Express Entry?
Do international students pay more for co-op?
Sources
- IRCC: Student work placements (modified May 1, 2026)
- IRCC notice: Simplifying the co-op work permit requirement for post-secondary international students (April 9, 2026)
- IRCC: Canadian Experience Class
- University of Waterloo: Your co-op fee (2026/2027)
- University of Waterloo: Co-op earnings (2025 work terms)
- UBC Vancouver Academic Calendar: Program and course fees