MEng Co-op Program

The Faculty of Engineering offers a Co-op option for the Master of Engineering (MEng) program.

This option provides MEng students with practical, industry-relevant experience that complements their academic studies, enhances experiential learning, and supports their career development. Students gain hands-on experience in their field while developing valuable skills and industry connections.

Graduate students can opt-in for co-op under the 2 following programs:

Master of Engineering (MEng) Program

Students registered in the MEng with Co-op Option will finish their program in 4 terms.
Students are required to complete the 3 academic terms of the MEng program followed by a single (4-month) co-op term.

Master of Engineering (MEng) - Graduate Diploma (GDip) in Engineering Leadership and Innovation Program 

For students in the combined MEng-GDip program who opt-in to the co-op option, they will complete their program in 5 terms or 6 terms depending on the total length of the student's co-op placement.
Students are required to complete the 4 academic terms of the MEng-GDip program followed by 1 or 2 co-op terms (4 or 8 months).

The co-op option will be offered to students who start the MEng or MEng-GDip program in the Fall, Winter, or Summer term. The Co-option will be available once students start the program (the option will not be offered at the time of admission)

To Register:

  1. Students must be registered as full-time students to be eligible for the Co-op option. Students must then submit an application through Western Engineering Career Services and pay the $125 application fee. Career Services will contact students and provide support once they begin their studies.
  2. Students may request the Co-op option prior to the end of their first term in the program. The application deadlines are:
    • December 15 – for students who began the MEng program in September
    • April 15 – for students who began the MEng program in January
    • August 15 – for students who began the MEng program in May
  3. International students must hold a valid study permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that authorizes them to participate in co-op employment. The study permit must:
    • Identify Western University (or “The University of Western Ontario,” “Designated Learning Institution,” or “Any designated post-secondary institution”) as the institution; and
    • Include a condition authorizing on off-campus employment in Canada under the applicable eligibility criteria (R186(f), (v), or (w)), or a condition permitting on-campus employment only under R186(f)
  4. If a student, whether international or domestic is unable to secure a co-op placement by the last week of their final academic term, or if their co-op is cancelled before it begins, their registration will revert to the original MEng program to which they were admitted, allowing them to proceed with graduation

Co-op Fees

Once a co-op placement is secured, students will register in the Co-op Module and pay a $550 tuition fee plus full-time ancillary fees including UHIP and the SOGS Health & Dental Plan for the co-op term. This registration allows students to maintain their full-time student status while completing their co-op placement.

For more information, please visit Career Services.