Professional Experience Year Co-op Program (PEY Co-op)

Source: https://discover.engineering.utoronto.ca/experiential-learning/professional-experience-year-pey/ Parent: https://discover.engineering.utoronto.ca/

Career preparation for tomorrow's engineering leaders

U of T Engineering students can choose to graduate with up to 20 months of meaningful work experience, a competitive salary, an extensive network and professional skills they’ll leverage for years to come.

That’s what we deliver through PEY Co-op, our flagship work-experience program with a proven track record going back more than 45 years. Created in collaboration with industry partners and engineering leadership experts, this program is designed to help you build your professional profile and prepare you for long-term career success.

Participation in PEY Co-op automatically fulfills the Practical Experience Requirement for your studies. As well, you can apply 12 months of PEY Co-op experience toward acquiring your  P.Eng. designation from Professional Engineers Ontario.

How to apply for PEY Co-op

PEY Co-op is optional. As an applicant, you will indicate your interest in PEY Co-op when you apply for studies at U of T Engineering. You will be asked to answer whether you plan to participate in PEY Co-op on the OUAC application. Your answer will not affect your admission eligibility in any way (i.e., it will not be more competitive to get into the Faculty with PEY Co-op). You will later be able to opt in or out if you change your mind.

The PEY Co-op experience is built on three pillars

1. Lay your foundation:Starting in first year and continuing into your second year, you’ll complete foundational programming designed to orient you to different industries, guide you through the professional goal-setting process, and practice the skills you’ll need to be successful in securing employment during the recruitment cycle, such as making a positive impression and writing industry-ready resumes and cover letters.
2. Apply your knowledge:Drawing on the career confidence you’ve developed, you’ll apply to and interview for co-op positions that align with your goals. Through our robust network of employers, you’ll have access to more than 3,100 jobs around the world and across every sector.

There are two main recruitment cycles: during second year in preparation for a three-to-four-month summer co-op, and during third year in preparation for a 12-to-16-month position. In order to satisfy PEY Co-op Program requirements, students must obtain a minimum of 12 months' consecutive work experience with one single employer. This is usually done through the 12-to-16-month work term. The summer work term is an additional opportunity. 3. Showcase your talent:While on the job, you’ll immerse yourself as a full-time employee. Working for 12 to 16 consecutive months after third year will give you ample opportunity to make meaningful professional contributions and build a valuable network. You’ll also have the option to work for an additional four months after second year, giving you up to 20 months of paid professional work experience before you graduate.

PEY Co-op Quick Facts

Leverage U of T Engineering’s connections to 800+ posting/hiring companies worldwide, including AMD, OPG, AlphaWave SEMI, Qualcomm, Tenstorrent, TTC, Sanofi, Sysnopsys, Huawei, IESO Shell and more.

You’ll have access to 5,300+ Job Posting offering multiple 4-months and 12-16 months positions across every industry worldwide; in a typical year, 1 in 10 students work outside of Canada.

All PEY Co-op positions are paid. In recent years, the average 12-month salary was $59,900 CDN, with higher earnings for longer durations of work.

Graduate with up to 20 months of professional experience across two work terms after second and third year.

PEY Co-op experience can count toward obtaining your P.Eng. designation, giving you a head start on earning your professional engineering license after graduation.

The PEY Co-op Experience

Kimberly Lai completed her PEY Co-op at Safran Landing Systems, a global company that designs and manufactures aircraft landing gear​s. As a Systems Architecture Intern, Kimberly helped to develop ​a model-based-systems engineering platform for ​the development of landing gear systems. While her office was located in Ajax, Ontario, she collaborated with engineers all over the world, and had the opportunity to travel to France to work with industry experts.

1 in 10 PEY Co-op students work outside Canada

This map highlights some of the countries in which students have gained international work experience. Students have secured positions at companies such as Bombardier, EPSON, Toyota, IBM, Ontario Power Generation and BMW, among many other high-profile companies and research centres.

United States of America

Japan

China

South Africa

Botswana

United Kingdom

United Arab Emirates

South Korea

Belgium

Switzerland

Frequently Asked Questions

How will PEY Co-op benefit me?

In 2020, PEY Co-op launched a new, immersive student support program made to enhance the academic experience from the first day of school to graduation day. It is designed to help you gain professional confidence before applying for positions. The PEY Co-op Program offers professional support to both employers and students to ensure positions are a good fit for everyone. 

U of T Engineering students can graduate with up to 20 months of meaningful work experience that includes a competitive salary, an extensive network and professional skills they’ll leverage for years to come.

PEY By the Numbers (2025-2026)

• Average salary: $59,900+ per annum
• Highest salary: $104,000 per annum
• Number of Engineering students who secured a work term: 1026
• Jobs available to students: 5300+ Job Posting offering multiple 4-months and 12-16 months positions
• Leverage partnerships with 800+ companies worldwide (posted/hired for Summer Co-op 4-month and PEY Co-op 12-16-month)
• Percentage of first-year students who choose PEY Co-op: 95%

PEY Co-op goes far beyond a traditional work experience program. PEY Co-op helps you understand the practical side of your studies, gives you insight into your own interests and helps you develop your skills as an engineer. 

• Work at cutting edge organizations
• Contribute to meaningful projects at every stage of development
• Take on more challenging responsibilities as you grow with the job
• Companies often offer full time employment to PEY Co-op students upon graduation
• The 12-to-16-month work term provides valuable insight not offered by shorter-term experiences. Learn beyond the day-to-day transactions and observe the impacts of your work on the company over the course of a year or more.
• You can try out a type of job or sector before you invest in it as a career
• It’s a great opportunity to network and make industry contacts
• It gives you confidence that you can apply your knowledge, skills and experience in the real world

How does PEY Co-op work?

PEY Co-op students have the opportunity to work for two different periods of time:

• In the summer after second year for four months; and
• After third year for 12 to 16 months.

The Engineering Career Centre (ECC) works closely to support Engineering students before and during the co-op term. The ECC offers learning and professional development well before the job begins; with programs starting in first year.

What do students do on a PEY Co-op?

PEY Co-op goes far beyond a traditional work experience program, where jobs usually last four months — just about the length of a summer job and barely enough time to learn the ropes. PEY Co-op helps you understand the practical side of your studies, gives you insight into your own interests and helps you develop your skills as an engineer. You’ll be treated as a professional, working with diverse teams and responsible for managing and contributing to key projects.

Are there other ways to get work experience?

While the majority of our students opt into the PEY Co-op Program, others choose to explore future career paths and develop professional skills in other ways:

• work in research labs each summer
• launch a company through The Entrepreneurship Hatchery
• develop leadership skills through Troost ILead
• leverage personal contacts or U of T Engineering's alumni network to line up a job

No matter what your future aspirations, U of T Engineering is here to support you in your success.

Where can I find out more about PEY Co-op?

We invite you to visit the website of the Engineering Career Centre, which runs the PEY Co-op Program.