Co-op Admission

Admission to the University of Guelph’s Co-operative Education program from high school is primarily processed through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) for degree co-op programs or Ontario Colleges (OCAS) for associate diploma co-op programs. When applying through high school, admission to co-op occurs at the same time you’re accepted into your program.

If you have already begun your studies at the University of Guelph, it may not be too late for you to apply to co-op. Please review the In-couse Admission process for more information.

High School Admission

Admission to the co-op program from high school is based on the following criteria:

• You are applying to one of the programs offering the co-op option.*
• You have an 80% or higher average in your university-level high school courses for degree co-op programs.**
• You have a 60% or higher average in your college-level high school courses for associate diploma co-op programs.**

*Note: All students applying to co-op must declare a major in order to be considered for co-op with the exception of Bachelor of Science (Environmental Sciences) students – students in these programs must declare their major prior to beginning their second year of studies.

**Note: Meeting the minimum averages does not guarantee admission. Admission cut-off rates vary from year to year and may be higher than 80% (for degree programs) or 60% (for associate diploma programs), depending on the number of spaces available in each program. Applications to co-op during first year may be considered for degree programs; please refer to the current University of Guelph admission information. Applicants not accepted to a co-op program will automatically be considered for admission to the comparable regular degree and associate diploma programs.

In the Undergraduate Calendar and the Associate Diploma Calendar, the degree or associate diploma program followed by :C (a colon and the letter C) denotes co-op; for example, MEF:C is co-op.

In-Course Admission to Co-op

In-course admission is available to undergraduate students enrolled in programs that offer co-op. Admission is competitive and based on your cumulative average and space availability within the program.

Eligibility Requirements

Application Timing

Fall In-Course Application Programs:

• Application Deadline: November 28, 2025
• Decision Notification: Mid-January
• Eligibility: First-year students who have completed no more than 3.0 credits at the time of application.

Winter In-Course Application Programs

• Application Opens: January 2026
• Application Deadline: April 6, 2026
• Decision Notification: Early July
• Eligibility: First-year students who have completed no more than 6.0 credits at the time of application.

Note: All completed courses that count toward your program (core, restricted electives, electives) are included when determining eligibility.
Exception: Students in the Bachelor of One Health program may apply during their second year.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum cumulative average of 70% (meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission to co-op).
• Must be registered full-time each academic semester.
• Must agree to follow the co-op schedule of studies as outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar, or as approved by your Academic Advisor and the Experiential Learning Hub.

External Transfer Students

Students studying at another institution cannot apply directly for admittance to co-op at the University of Guelph. The student must first be admitted to Guelph and determine how many transfer credits they will receive towards their Guelph degree program. Transfer students can be admitted at any time during the Summer semester and up to the 8th class day of the Fall semester.

Admission to co-op for external transfer students is based on the following criteria:

• Acceptance into a program that offers a co-op option.
• 70% or higher admission average in your previous university or college courses (meeting the minimum cumulative average requirement does not guarantee your admittance to co-op)
• Students must be able to demonstrate that they will complete the necessary full-time academic requirement and are not beyond their second year of studies at the University of Guelph. Normally students with more than 5.0 transfer credits* will not be considered for admittance.
• Agree to the schedule of studies for co-op as outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar, or as approved by your Academic Advisor and the Experiential Learning Hub.

*Normally, all previously completed courses that count towards the program (core, restricted electives, electives) will be included when determining eligibility.

International Students

International students who meet the co-op admission requirements for their degree program or associate diploma are welcome to apply to co-operative education at the University of Guelph. Co-op fees are the same for both international and domestic students.

High School Admission

Information regarding admission to co-op for high school international students can be found here:

• Contact the University of Guelph Admissions Office to learn more.
• Contact the University of Guelph Ridegetown Campus Admissions Office to learn more.

In-course Admission

Applications to degree co-op programs for international students are processed the same way as applications for domestic students. Please follow the process for In-course Admission.

International students are defined as not Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents or Landed Immigrants and are paying international fees at the University of Guelph.