Becoming a Co-op/Internship Student at Sheridan

Discover how a co-op or internship placement while studying at Sheridan can benefit you.

Whether you’re currently applying to schools in Canada or you’re still figuring out your options, one important thing you should look for in your potential program is work integrated learning opportunities. Why is that important? Work integrated learning is the opportunity for students to get paid to work in the Canadian job market while they complete their studies. At Sheridan, this comes in the form of co-op and internship opportunities in many of our programs.

Each year, over 2,500 of our students participate in a co-op or internship work term. While there are many similarities between a co-op and an internship placement — like starting your career early and gaining Canadian work experience — the main different between the two are co-ops are paid placements whereas internships can often be unpaid. Discover why co-ops and internships are so important and how you can participate in one at Sheridan.

Benefits of co-op and internship programs

The main benefit to co-op and internship placements is it gives you a jump-start on your career by providing you with valuable work experience while you complete your studies. So, not only will you get a peek at what your future career could look like, but you also earn important skills necessary for the workplace.

Still not quite sold on whether a co-op or internship is right for you? Check out these other benefits:

• You’ll create a strong network of contacts
• You can use your co-op/internship employers as references when you graduate and apply to jobs
• Help pay for your education with a co-op/internship placement where you can earn on average between $10-$24/hour for many programs
• You can be employed for up to 12 months while you complete your diploma/degree
• Find full-time employment after graduation faster than non-co-op students
• Try a variety of career options and employment settings to find the best fit for you
• Enhance your understanding of course material through real work experience
• Graduate with a stellar resumé and job search skills
• Get Canadian work experience

How to become a co-op student at Sheridan

Think a co-op is a good choice for you? Here’s how you can become a co-op student at Sheridan:

Step 1: Select an undergraduate program

When deciding on your program, try searching for programs with co-op options. Some programs have mandatory co-op terms while others have optional co-ops.

Step 2: Apply to co-op

Once you have applied and been accepted to an undergraduate program at Sheridan, you will be invited to apply to co-op if it is offered in your program. You’ll apply for co-op in your first year.

Only some students are accepted into co-op to ensure adequate training, job selection, and support. Although work terms are not guaranteed, Sheridan has traditionally helped more than 95% of its students find a placement.

Step 3: Get accepted into the co-op program

Once you’ve been accepted into the co-op program, you’ll need to pay a supplementary fee of $535 for each of your work terms.

As part of the co-op program, you’ll also need to successfully complete the Cooperative Education & Internship Credit Course. This is a preparatory course which helps you develop career planning skills, resumé and cover letter preparation, tips for interviewing well, and how to search for jobs.

You’ll also need to maintain your academic performance to stay eligible for a co-op placement. This can be something like having a 3.0 GPA in your program. You can learn more about the academic standards for co-op here (pdf).

Step 4: Apply to jobs

Sheridan makes it easy to find positions for in-person or remote opportunities with their job boards. You can visit Sheridan Works! to get started on your job hunt!

Here are some key dates you’ll want to note for when to apply:

• January — summer job boards open
• May — fall job boards open
• September — winter job boards open

You should know that co-op programs at Sheridan require 360 hours for the completion of a work term which roughly lasts one semester.

How to become an internship student at Sheridan

If you’re looking at a program that requires an internship, then here’s what you’ll need to know:

Step 1: Select an undergraduate program

Once you have been accepted into a degree program at Sheridan, you’ll automatically have one internship included in your studies. You’ll typically complete this internship between your third and fourth year of the program.

Step 2: Be eligible for an internship

To be eligible to participate in an internship program, you’ll need to pay a supplementary fee of $535 for your internship placement. You also must meet certain academic requirements, which are determined by your program.

Just like co-op students, you’ll also have to successfully complete the Cooperative Education & Internship Credit Course which helps you develop the necessary skills you’ll need to apply to jobs, like resumé and cover letter preparation, tips for interviewing well, and how to search for jobs.

Step 3: Find an internship placement

Using Sheridan Works! you can find in-person or even remote internship opportunities.

In your internship search, you’ll need to remember that internship programs require a minimum of 14 full-time consecutive weeks (30 hrs/week on average) for the completion of an internship for the applied degree programs. This means you’ll essentially work full-time during the summer between your third and fourth year. All degree programs have a mandatory work term component to fulfill graduation requirements.

Don’t let your opportunity to participate in a co-op or internship program pass you by! You can leverage the work experience you earn during your studies in your job search after you graduate. Not only will you have relevant Canadian work experience that you can use to apply to jobs, but you can also use it as a bargaining tool to increase your salary, compile glowing references, and get a better idea of what career path you want to take.