MBA Co-op

The Co-op Option provides an opportunity for participants to integrate their academic studies with work experience in co-operating organizations.

MBA Co-op Employment Data - Work Term 1

MBA Co-op Student Profiles

Program Features

  • Designed for high-caliber, recent graduate with less than two years of work experience.

  • As one of Canada’s largest business schools, Laurier leads the way in developing globally-recognized MBA programs through its academic rigour and innovative delivery methods.

  • An integrated curriculum built around case competitions, consulting and international projects.

  • A serious commitment to corporate social responsibility; all students participate in a not-for-profit practicum.

  • Program lasts 20 months, including 2 work terms from January through April and September through December.

  • Follow this link to the MBA Co-op academic program.
Applying

Students apply for co-op when they submit their application for Laurier’s MBA program.  Those admitted to this limited-enrolment and competitive program will be automatically enrolled in the Co-op Option.  Please see the Laurier MBA site for more information about the application process.

Work Terms
The development of suitable work-term employment for co-op students is under the direction of the Department of Co-operative Education. Students apply to employers with whom they are interested in working. The majority of work term opportunities are located in the greater Toronto area.  While employers are encouraged to conduct interviews on campus, a number of them require students to travel to their place of business. 

After completing the first academic term from late August to December, students complete a work term from January through April. Students return to campus from May through August, then pursue their second work term from September to December. Towards the end of the work term, students discuss their experience in a work term report. MBA Co-op students return to campus for a final academic term from January to April.
 
To obtain the co-op designation, students must complete all the requirements of both their academic program and the option. Students completing the option will have the notation of "Co-operative Option" appended to their transcripts and noted on their degree. No academic credit is given for participation in co-op.
 
Some recent recruiters of Laurier MBA Co-op students:
  • Accenture
  • Cadbury Schweppes Americas
  • Earth Renew Organics
  • General Mills
  • Guy Carpenter & Co.
  • Industry Canada
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Mercer Consulting
  • McCain
  • Novartis
  • UBS Securities
Please see a more comprehensive list of sample employers who hire Laurier Co-op students.

Employer Testimonial:
“I have been hiring Laurier Co-op students for eight years, and three of the best members of our research team are graduates, so I have high expectations of the program. MBA Co-op students help us provide insightful, thought-provoking analysis of emerging technology trends. They bring a strong work ethic and, most importantly, provide great intellectual contributions; we are, after all, a think tank.”
Mike Dover, Managing Partner
Socialstruct Advisory Group

Student Testimonials
“At GE Capital, I completed credit reports for companies needing financing and was able to pitch the deals to credit managers for approval. Although I experienced a steep learning curve, I enjoyed the challenges of the job very much. “
Jessica Pavan, MBA co-op, Class of 2011

“Both my co-op positions (at Imperial Oil in Sarnia and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Toronto) were extraordinary. I worked on 14 client engagements, reporting to the management teams of the top 100 firms in North America in my first work term!”
Ronald Bell, MBA co-op, Class of 2009

Sample Job Descriptions

Assistant Brand Manager, Unilever Canada - Track sales trends, conduct brand and competitive analysis and deliver targets for financial growth.

Associate, Equity Research, Scotia Capital - Perform financial analysis such as market comparisons, company valuations and financial modelling.

Analyst, Strategic Planning and Execution, Telus - Perform quantitative analysis to provide insight into key business metrics. Increase efficiency and improve client service by producing operational reports.

Job Search

Students prepare for the job search by attending workshops and individual counselling sessions. An in-depth orientation program is provided during the month of August.
 
Although employment cannot be guaranteed, every effort is made to ensure that suitable employment is available for students admitted to the option. We approve positions that provide students with productive assignments that will contribute to their learning. The Co-op Office monitors each student’s progress and employers supervise their students, evaluate their performance and provide compensation.  

Co-op Fees

All co-op students pay an administrative fee in addition to regular tuition. This fee helps the University to recover a portion of the cost of maintaining and promoting the co-op programs. Administrative costs include salaries, travel expenses, telephone charges and the printing and mailing of resumes and promotional materials.  Laurier does not receive any government assistance to operate co-op.

The fee is $591.60 per academic term, as of July 1, 2010. For MBA Co-op students, a two-term fee is charged with tuition for the fall term, followed by a final one-term fee payable with tuition for the spring term. The university reviews co-op fees annually and applies modifications to the fall term.

For detailed information about fees, please look for the MBA Co-op document under Co-op Fees.

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