Undergraduate Co-op

Yes.  Under current INS regulations, any student in the U.S. with an F-1 visa may work up to 364 days under Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. Any international students working beyond 364 days will lose Optional Practical Training benefits.

CPT requires that international students enroll in and complete academic credit for both co-op and internship assignments. INS regulations are complex; verify eligibility with ISS prior to beginning your search.

A family owned business?

Students are not eligible for academic credit if they are working in a family owned and/or managed organization. Additionally, students may not report to or be supervised directly or indirectly by a family member. Please contact ECS with any questions.

A College/University campus?

Positions in research labs are not eligible.  Credit may be awarded for support services like physical plant and maintenance that are related to a student’s course of study.

Academic Credit:

1. Students must submit an electronic notification of the JOB OFFER through Handshake (Experiences)
2. Attend a Course Orientation session
3. Submit a copy of the employer offer letter to ECS
4. Approval of the co-op must be given by ECS prior to course authorization for enrollment being granted by ECS

Additional steps apply to international students.

Here is information on how Co-op Credit applies to each major

Tuition:

All undergraduate students participating in a co-op are required to enroll and pay for the one-credit co-op course.  Students pay for only one credit of tuition, plus fees and prorated differentials. Companies may provide tuition reimbursement to cover the cost associated with the one-credit course; make sure to ask the employer ahead of accepting an offer. For specific tuition costs visit: https://bursar.wisc.edu/tuition-and-fees/tuition-rates

Restrictions on Additional Classes with Co-op Credit:

Students are not permitted to take in-person/on-campus classes while on co-op since the is a full-time, professional work experience. Student may elect to enroll in ONE additional, online asynchronous mode course during the semester in which they are engaged in co-op. Contact ECS if you have additional questions.

Financial Aid: Students are not eligible for new student loans or grants while on co-op. Some scholarships may be deferred until your return to campus.  Please contact your scholarship official for more details on how awards will be affected.

Students appropriately enrolled in the one-credit co-op course will remain recognized as a full-time student. By doing so, student loans will remain deferred and you will also be able to maintain parental or university health insurance. Every student accepting a co-op must register for the one-credit co-op course and complete educational assignments in order to maintain this status.

CoE/Department Scholarships: 

• Aligned with the Office of Student Financial Aid eligibility requirements for aid, students will receive half of the full academic year amount of their CoE/Department scholarship(s). Students will receive this amount during the term they are NOT on co-op. We encourage students to apply for scholarships for the following academic year during the CoE Continuing Student Scholarships Application period.
• Students who are recipients of outside scholarships will need to check with the outside scholarship administrator for eligibility during their  co-op.
• We encourage students to connect with the Office of Student Financial Aid regarding any other aid or awards. However, generally, students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits to be eligible for aid administered by OSFA.

Yes. University Housing will allow a student to be released from their contract if they choose to leave campus for a co-op. No payment will be required, however, you will forfeit the initial deposit. Contact the Division of University Housing  at 608-262-2522 for more information including key dates and deadlines to be aware of.