Co-operative Education at Lang

The co-op advantage

Adding co-operative education (co-op) to your degree can be a career-defining decision. Not only will you gain relevant, paid work experience, you will also develop your professional network, increase your understanding of your chosen field, boost your resume and get an idea of what the job competition process is like.

Co-op at Lang is administered by Co-operative Education & Career Services, which also delivers a number of helpful and informative career services to all University of Guelph students.

All majors within the BComm program feature a co-op option.

Where our students work

Co-op employers include a range of organizations, from national and international corporations to local businesses and not-for-profits. Each offers a different experience and opportunity for skill development. Some of the co-op employers who have hired Lang business students include:

*This is a sample list of employers. Enrolment in the co-op program at the University of Guelph does not guarantee a co-op work term with these organizations.

How co-op works

Co-op generally adds one year to your Bachelor of Commerce degree, making it a five-year degree, but for that extra year you are gaining valuable experience that will give you an edge after graduation. Depending on your major, you may complete a series of four-month, and/or eight-month co-op work terms or a one-year co-op work term. The semester prior to your co-op work term(s), you apply and interview for jobs that are of interest to you, giving you experience competing for job opportunities after graduation.

For more information about the co-op program, visit the Co-operative Education & Career Services website. 

Applying to the co-op program

You can apply for co-op either directly from high school or after you arrive on campus through in-course admissions. In-course students are required to have a minimum 70% cumulative average in full-time studies in order to be considered for the co-op program. 

If you wish to take co-op you should apply directly to one of our majors (and its co-op option), rather than our "undeclared" option.  While it is possible to apply for co-op during first year, entrance for in-course students depends upon space availability.

*You MUST gain entry into a co-op program during your first year. After your first year, you will not be eligible to apply.

More information

Carla Bradshaw, Co-op & Career Coordinator
Tel: (519) 824-4120 x. 56866
Email: cbradsha@uoguelph.ca

Co-operative Education & Career Services
www.recruitguelph.ca