Preparing students for the future workforce

Beginning September 2026, DeGroote is launching a reimagined co-op model across undergraduate and MBA programs. This new direction reflects extensive consultation with students, alumni and employer partners, as well as a clear view of how careers, hiring cycles and skill demands are changing. DeGroote recognizes that work-integrated learning must now be more flexible, more accessible and more closely aligned with how organizations operate.

For over 30 years, the DeGroote School of Business has been a national leader in work-integrated learning, with co-op and internship experiences central to how the school prepares students.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) has had a lasting impact on generations of DeGroote students, providing practical, hands-on experience while making tangible connections to their classroom learning. DeGroote is meeting the increased demand students have for not only meaningful work experience, but the opportunity to learn in the workplace and apply it as part of their learning journey.

Over the next two years, the new Bachelor of Commerce and Integrated Business and Humanities with Co-op program will gradually replace the existing internship model. Undergraduate students will be able to complete four, eight, 12 or 16-month work terms beginning in January, May or September. This creates year-round access to talent for employers, while allowing students to integrate meaningful professional experience earlier and more intentionally into their academic journey. DeGroote will be welcoming the inaugural undergraduate co-op cohort this coming fall.

The MBA with Co-op program is evolving in parallel. In addition to traditional four-month work terms, MBA students will now have access to eight- and 12-month opportunities. These longer terms enable extended learning opportunities, greater workplace continuity and stronger alignment with organizational priorities—particularly for project-based work.

Complementing this model is the expansion of graduate co-op opportunities, including the launch of the Master of Management in AI and Analytics (MMAIA), further strengthening DeGroote’s connection to emerging areas of business demand. MMAIA students will complete a four-month work term during their 16-month program.

As DeGroote enters this next chapter, our purpose remains unchanged: to prepare students for the future of business and to build enduring partnerships with organizations that value talent, curiosity and real-world impact.