More than ever, employers are looking for graduates who can bring both in-depth field knowledge and practical work experience to their new job. Some of the best ways for students to gain this experience are through work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities like co-operative education, work placements, or internships. To learn more about work-integrated learning opportunities in Canada and which international students are eligible to participate, keep reading!

Canada’s current policies link broader post-study work eligibility to high-demand sectors like health care, skilled trades, and engineering. As such, students with these valuable skills and hands-on expertise will be set up for success.

Work-Integrated Learning Opportunities

There are two main types of WIL opportunities in Canada. Let’s take a closer look at both.

Co-operative Education

Co-operative education, often just called “co-op,” allows students to combine classroom learning with practical full-time work experience. A co-op program might include alternating academic and paid work terms or multiple consecutive work terms.

Co-op work terms have specific requirements which are the same across Canada.

For example, the student must:

• Be engaged in productive work for which they’re paid
• Have their performance supervised and evaluated by their employer; this may include formal midpoint reviews and final assessments
• Participate in a work term which must last for a minimum of 12 weeks (or 420 hours)

The specific number of work terms a student completes depends on their program. For study programs which are two years or longer, students must spend at least the equivalent of 30% of the time they participate in the classroom in work terms. For programs which are two years and under, that proportion is closer to 25%.

Co-op may be some students’ first work experience, which could feel overwhelming. However, all co-op employers must assign a specific staff member to be responsible for the student’s experience, work plan, and progress during their work term. These employees often take on a mentorship role towards their co-op student.

Did You Know: Particularly for university students, participating in one or more co-op terms in Canada is likely to mean earning a higher income after graduation?

Student Work Placements and Internships

In Canada, the terms ‘student internship’ and ‘student work placements’ are often used interchangeably. However, note that interns and student interns are different under Canadian law. For example, unlike interns, student interns can’t work more than the standard hours of work, and student intern positions can be paid or unpaid.

These WIL opportunities are supervised full- or part-time work experience or practice placements related to a student’s program. After completing a student internship, students receive academic credit.

Some students will complete their internship partway through a program. Others pursue an internship after finishing their coursework but before graduating. While internships can vary in length, they are usually between 12 and 16 months long.

Work Permit Eligibility Requirements

As of April 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for work experiences which:

• Are required for their study program
  and
• Are approved by their academic institution

This change makes it simpler for many international students to gain work experience.

However, secondary students (high school students) will still need a co-op work permit for student work placements. Fortunately, co-op work permit eligibility conditions for secondary students are pretty straightforward. These students must:

• Have a valid study permit
• Be required to work to complete their Canadian study program
• Be intending to work at an internship or co-op placement which equals 50% or less of their study program
• Share a letter from their Canadian academic institution that confirms that all students in this program must complete work placements to get their secondary school diploma or certificate

International secondary students who want to participate in WIL may apply for a co-op work permit either during their study permit application, or after arriving in Canada or when they’ve been approved to begin their placement.

Benefits of Work-Integrated Learning Experiences

International students in programs with co-operative education or work placements will reap many benefits. We’ve highlighted just a few below.

Choosing a program with a work-integrated learning opportunity means:

• Building a broad, international professional network
• Receiving mentorship in a Canadian work environment
• Often earning money to help with tuition and living costs
• Developing a stronger understanding of Canadian workplace cultures
• Strengthening their skill set and resume
• Gaining perspective on the industry and jobs within it (co-ops and internships let students see what different jobs in their field are really like, and can be a good way to gauge if the pace of work and daily tasks are something they want to pursue after graduation—or, just as valuably, if not)

Important Note: Unlike co-op terms, remember that not all student internships or work placements are paid. If earning an income while studying is essential, it’s vital to understand which study programs (and later, student work placement employers) offer paid opportunities before choosing a study program and applying to a WIL employer.

Looking Forward

By 2040, projections show that nearly one-quarter of Canada’s population will be over 65. This demographic shift will dramatically alter how the Canadian workforce will function. In the years ahead, international students with WIL experience can bridge emerging workplace gaps, while bringing innovative approaches and cutting-edge skills to their new teams.

Curious about pursuing a study program in Canada? Find one that matches your academic goals on the ApplyBoard platform today.