An engineering co-op is a paid, full-time (sometimes part-time) work experience integrated into a student’s academic program. Most co-ops last 3–8 months and help students gain real-world experience before graduating.

Some do and some do not. Here are the different categories:

-Housing Included- some companies own their own housing and will provide you a room at no cost, or they may ask you to pay for the internet or something similar.

-Housing Stipend- some companies pay co-op students a stipend. This may be a monthly allowance, anywhere from $200 - $1,000+ that you can use to pay for your housing. They may give you a lump sum at the beginning of your co-op, for example a lump sum of $2,500 along with your first paycheck to offset your housing costs.

-Relocation Assistance- Some companies will pay for your costs to relocate closer to work.

If a company does not state that they offer housing assistance, the MOST IMPORTANT thing to do is ASK! Some companies will not offer it unless the student expresses a need.

Engineering co-ops normally pay between $20 and $30+ per hour, depending on the industry, geographical location, and your current academic standing (such as pursuing a BS in Engineering or an MS in Engineering, etc.).

Yes! You can work wherever you like! Just be sure that you have proper housing and transportation; but don’t let these be barriers. It is just one more problem for you, as an engineer, to solve on your journey to becoming the engineer that you were meant to be! Go for your dreams!

This may depend on what school you are attending. We recommend communicating with your advisor.

This is up to you. There are different strategies you can use. If you want a diverse experience as a chemical engineer, try a manufacturing-related co-op. If you are able to do a second co-op, try a research-related co-op next. If you know exactly what you want to do, apply for the most specific co-ops in that area.

Yes! Since visa and sponsorship can be tricky, be sure to check with your international advisor on the possible limitations. Also, be sure to communicate with the employer as well. *Not all companies hire international students, but many do!

This is a common question for student engineers. The thing is, you have experience! Even if you have not had a “real” job yet, you still have plenty of experiences you can put on your resume. You have likely worked on multiple projects in your pre-engineering and engineering courses. You may have volunteer experience. Have you been a member of any academic clubs? Have you played sports? Have you been a mentor? Have you done work without pay such as yard work? Have you participated in fundraising or mission trips? The list goes on. Be creative and think of things you have done in the past that represent the skills you want to communicate. Everyone has experience that is applicable; the hard part is identifying and putting it into words on your resume!

Good question! If you don’t have a vehicle, you must be sure that you have some reliable way of getting to work. For some cases, public transportation such as busses or trains will work fine. A bicycle may be all you need. Maybe you have someone that could reliably give you a ride to/from work. Just be sure you communicate with the employer to be clear on transportation. Some companies have a security gate that requires you pass through with your own licensed and insured vehicle, though this is not the norm.