The Co-op experience
It’s not just about the marks
A big benefit of the UNSW Co-op experience is the leadership and professional development training program to ensure our scholars are well-rounded professionals when they graduate and enter the workforce.
This is facilitated through challenging, skills based, hands-on interactive workshops and camps including, but not limited to our Kick Off event, in collaboration with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), which is an opportunity to learn about personal presence, active engagement, effective communication and listening; our Co-op tailored leadership camp, which centers on leadership styles and teamwork skills, and other workshops that promote personal and professional growth through reflection and goal setting.
Accelerate your career journey
Co-op scholars graduate with up to 18-months of relevant industry experience with multiple companies during their degree, which provides invaluable insight into the real world of work in their chosen profession.
Final year scholars get the opportunity to showcase their unique talents and experience to our sponsor companies, as part of a bespoke Graduate Recruitment event. Whether meeting sponsors for the first time, or re-energising existing relationships, scholars can come away from this event with some great graduate possibilities, and even take the stress out of their final year by locking in graduate employment early on in their final year.
Graduate Outcomes
These companies partner with UNSW to proudly develop and support the next generation of leaders.
Our scholars are sought after graduates, who are ready to hit the ground running. *Average between 2022 and 2023.
Maintaining our Co-op partnerships, even after graduation builds lasting connections. *Average between 2019 and 2023.
Your impact, your way
Our goal is to provide a wide variety of experiences for all our scholars so that they can become not only well-rounded professionals but individuals. Our scholars are exposed to exciting opportunities outside of placement not only with our sponsors, but on a global scale.
Co-op activities in my first year have set the right tone for the rest of my time at uni. The initiation day helped me connect with my peers before the first term started to feel supported and excited about this new journey. Leadership camp then gave me more confidence to head into my first professional placement.
The Co-op Program placements provide an unparalleled opportunity to learn from inspiring leaders and embrace real challenges in rewarding environments. My experience not only enriched my professional skills but also propelled my career forward, igniting a passion for growth and excellence.
Some of the other fun stuff!
Throughout the Co-op Program, we run a range of events which help scholars create professional and social networks, make the most of university life, and cultivate skills essential for graduate recruitment and career development.
Our scholars are involved in a range of activities from representing the Co-op Program, to UNSW, to Australia and beyond!
Co-op is not just about the academic or the industries despite their importance, at the end of the day you find a group of people you thrive with.
The Co-op Camp was a very great experience for new Co-ops: it developed not only leadership and teamwork skills, but also built rapport and friendship amongst the cohort. The challenges were difficult both intellectually and leadership-wise and developed everyone to be better followers and leaders ...
Global experience
The Co-op experience is truly global. Scholars have the opportunity to see the world through international exchange, international placements, and international policy scholarships, as well as connecting with alumni working all over the world.
There is an opportunity in every program stream to go on an international study exchange and the Co-op Program strongly encourages our scholars to take up that opportunity if they can.
Travelling abroad for study opens our scholars’ eyes to new cultures, new networks of people, and new ideas. We believe exchange pushes our scholars to develop their leadership skills, independence, resilience, cultural awareness and broaden their minds to think about new ways of life.
