UNSW has over 40,000 students, from over 90 different countries. The university offers over 700 undergraduate and postgraduate programs, with around 24 of these offered under the UNSW Co-op Program.

The UNSW Co-op Program offers industry linked scholarships to high achieving students in the fields of Business, Science, Engineering and Built Environment.

Programs of Study are all based on existing undergraduate programs at UNSW but with the following features:

• UNSW academics and senior managers from industry and government have jointly planned them all.
• UNSW Co-op Program Scholars receive structured industrial training (between 9 and 18 months) and gain valuable work experience with up to four different Sponsors.
• UNSW Co-op Program Scholars receive a tax-free scholarship of $15,000 per annum.* This is paid in fortnightly instalments and can be used at the student's discretion.
• On graduation, Sponsors look to recruit UNSW Co-op Program Scholars first.

UNSW Co-op programs in different disciplines vary with respect to program length and the number and length of Industrial Training placements. Individual programs are outlined on subsequent pages.

Jump to a section of interest:

• How did it start?
• What's so special about UNSW Co-op?
• Industry Experience
• Professional Development & Leadership
• Friends and Fun

How did it start?

The UNSW Co-op Program was started in 1987 in response to industry's unmet demand for exceptional IT graduates. Over 20 years later the Program has extended into many areas of Engineering, Applied Science and Business and most recently the Built Environment, based on industry demand.

The Co-op Program continues to grow with four new Programs in 2009 including Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management & Property and Software Engineering. There are now 25 programs available, see Programs.

What's so special about UNSW Co-op?

The UNSW Co-op Program is not just a regular scholarship because it aims to develop our Scholars into professionals, not just graduates at the end of a university degree, making sure our Scholars have lots of fun along the way.

"Co-op students really stand out to employers during graduate recruitment season.  Through the industrial placements, they gain valuable real world experience in the profession.  It not only gives them a head start over other graduate candidates in both technical and soft skills, but also means they can make better career choices, having had the chance to experience what various roles actually involve."
Liz Brown, Partner, Risk Services, Deloitte.

Industry Experience

All UNSW Co-op Scholars have the opportunity to gain experience on multiple industrial placements with leading companies. This not only provides invaluable insight into the real workforce but also puts Co-op graduates ahead of the competition when it comes to graduate recruitment.

Professional Development & Leadership

To enhance the industrial experience gained through the Program we recognise the need to further develop the professional skills and leadership capabilities of all Co-op Scholars. In response, the Co-op Program has developed a Professional Development & Leadership Program with a number of different sessions attended by Scholars throughout their degree.

The objective of the Professional Development & Leadership Program is to introduce Scholars to the concepts and essential skills of leadership, teamwork, communication and professional networking. We like to present these sessions in a way that scholars find them interesting, practical, fun and social.

Friends and Fun

It's not all work and no play, Co-op Scholars have fun too. Scholars are introduced to each other in the first week of university at a Co-op Welcome Reception and often form strong friendships early in their degree. The Co-op community of Scholars is a close knit group and offers great peer support throughout the challenges of study and into graduate employment. The regular Co-op Scholar social gatherings give Scholars the opportunity to get to know the Scholars from all disciplines and also keep in touch with the Co-op team.

UNSW Co-op Program will enable you make to the most of your years at university and offer you the best start for your career.