Cooperative Education Program

The University of Alberta Cooperative Education (Co-op) program combines academic learning with paid, full-time work experience. Bachelor of Commerce Co-op students complete three work terms, accumulating 12 months of relevant professional experience before graduation.

Students are available for 4, 8, or 12 month work terms starting in January, May, or September. Whether you are looking to expand team capacity, advance strategic projects, fill temporary staffing needs, or evaluate future hires, Co-op students offer a flexible and cost-effective talent solution.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Co-op Student?

Hiring a Co-op student is a strategic way to access emerging talent while increasing flexibility and capacity within your team.

Key benefits include:

• Access emerging talent early - Connect with motivated, pre-screened Business students who bring strong academic foundations, technical skills, and a willingness to learn.
• Evaluate future talent with reduced hiring risk - Work with students over 4-, 8-, or 12-month work terms to assess their skills, fit, and long-term potential before making full-time hiring decisions.
• Flexible workforce support - Co-op students can help support project work, temporary staffing needs, leaves of absence, and peak workload periods while adding capacity to your team.
• Fresh perspectives and current technical knowledge - Students bring new ideas, up-to-date industry knowledge, and experience with tools such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Python, and other business technologies.
• Flexible hiring timelines and a simple recruitment process - Students are available to start in January, May, or September, with a streamlined, no-cost hiring process through campusBRIDGE.
• Build long-term partnerships and talent pipelines - Develop relationships with future professionals while benefiting from a mutually valuable partnership with the University of Alberta.
  
  

What Can Co-op Students Do?

BCom students have a broad range of business skills, making them qualified for roles in areas such as:

• Accounting: Corporate Accounting, Financial Reporting, Audit/Assurance, Tax
• Finance: Financial Analysis, Capital Markets, Credit/Risk, Commercial Banking, Treasury, Budgeting/Forecasting
• Business Analytics & Technology: Data Analysis, Business Intelligence, Reporting, Business Systems Analysis, Process Improvement, Technology Projects
• Marketing & Communications: Marketing Coordination, Market Research, Communications, Digital Marketing, Sales Support
• Human Resources: Recruitment, HR Generalist, Talent Management, Employee Experience
• Operations & Project Management: Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement, Operations Analysis, Project Management
• Strategy, Research & Consulting: Consulting, Business Research, Economic & Policy Analysis, Strategic Planning
• Business Development, Strategy & Innovation: Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Market Expansion, Strategic Initiatives, Innovation Projects

What are the Requirements for a Co-op Work Term?

The Alberta School of Business Cooperative Education Program is accredited by Cooperative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada). To qualify as a Co-op work term, positions must:

• Include business-related duties and responsibilities
• Be paid positions
  • There are many funding opportunities available to help organizations hire students. Please see our Wage Subsidies & Grants page for more information.
• Be full-time and a minimum of 13 weeks (4 months) in duration
• Be offered as 4-, 8-, or 12-month work terms
• Provide a dedicated supervisor responsible for supporting the student’s learning experience
• Include a mid-term check-in with the student’s Co-op Coach
• Include a final evaluation at the end of the work term

Please refer to the Business Cooperative Education Program Employer Handbook for additional information on work term timelines, expectations, and the responsibilities of both employers and students.

What is the Role of a Co-op Supervisor?

A Co-op supervisor plays an important role in supporting the student’s professional growth and workplace success. Supervisors help students connect academic learning to real workplace experience, provide ongoing feedback, and support skill development throughout the work term.

A strong Co-op supervision experience includes supporting the student in establishing learning objectives, participating in a mid-term check-in with the student’s Co-op Coach, and completing a final evaluation at the end of the work term.

How to Hire a Co-op Student

Recruitment for Co-op students takes place throughout the year, with students available to begin work terms in January, May, or September.

Our approach is flexible, allowing employers to contact students directly to arrange interviews and extend offers. Employers can post positions online through campusBRIDGE. Once posted, employers may review applications, connect directly with candidates, and manage their own interview and hiring process. 

Co-op Posting Schedule

Co-op work terms follow the academic year, meaning they can only start in January, May, or September. Work terms may be 4-, 8-, or 12-month durations aligned with these start dates.

While positions can be posted at any time, employers are encouraged to post 3–4 months in advance of their intended start date to maximize access to the candidate pool.

• Example 1 – May start date: Post between January and April
• Example 2 – September start date: For the largest candidate pool, post in May or June and complete hiring in June or July
• Example 3 – January start date: For the largest candidate pool, post in September or October and complete hiring by November

Recruitment timelines can vary by industry, and some employers choose to recruit earlier. If you have questions about the best time to post your position, please contact us at hirebusiness@ualberta.ca.

Next Steps

If you still have questions, please feel free to contact us at hirebusiness@ualberta.ca

More information about the Business Co-op Program can be found here.