Co-op
Chart your course, define your future
By diving into experiential learning through co-op, students forge their paths into meaningful careers.
What is co-op?
Our professional work placements – known as “co-ops” (cooperative education) – offer a unique opportunity to explore potential careers and apply your classroom learning to real-world challenges.
Co-op is our most immersive experiential programme. Through co-op placements you’ll engage in meaningful work with partner organisations, see the impact of your work first-hand in the workplace, and learn to lead in some of the world’s most critical emerging fields.
Through co-op you will have the opportunity to:
Apply your classroom skills to real-world needs
Work with mentors invested in your success
Gain confidence in your potential
Accelerate your transition from student to professional
Spend months exploring career fields before you graduate
How do co-ops work?
During a co-op, you’ll immerse yourself with one of our partner organisations over a period of months, working with mentors who are fully invested in your success.
Typically undertaken between your second and third years of undergraduate study, co-op placements support your path toward successful careers.
Co-ops are immersive work placements in community, public sector, or industry contexts. They are typically 3 to 6 months, full-time (32+ hours per week), and paid. Co-ops can be in-person, remote, or hybrid, with part-time options (16+ hours per week) also available.
The process
1
Preparation: Before starting a co-op placement, you’ll take a prep course to help you get the most out of the experience.
2
Support & guidance: Your university advisors will support you in finding co-op opportunities that align with your interests and your academic situation.
3
Application: Access the university’s co-op placement platforms directly to view current vacancies and submit applications.
4
Ongoing development: Throughout your placement, you’ll meet regularly with university advisers to capture and reflect on your learning experience.
A global leader in co-op
While co-ops at our London campus are a new offering, Northeastern students have been participating in co-ops for decades across our global network of campuses. This established programme has a proven track record of helping students thrive in their chosen careers. Here’s a look at how students are thriving.
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Breaking into the music business
Anya Gupta, ’25, spent six months at industry juggernaut Sony Entertainment working as a promotions co-op for Columbia Records. The experience was wide-ranging: she learned about radio airplay, sales correlations, the relationship between finance and promotion, and how business relations can affect an artist’s success. A bonus perk: The music industry major also got to attend artist events. Gupta is now positioned to pursue her dream career working for a major label after graduation.
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Co-op takes on CERN’s particle accelerator
Christian Bernier, ’25, with a combined major in computer science and physics, did a six-month co-op at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, or CERN, working on the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s biggest particle accelerator. A particle physics research assistant, Bernier helped develop software to ensure detector circuit boards connected to the LHC function long term without overheating. The experience illustrated for him how computer science can revolutionise physics research.
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A co-op to scale business
Matias Belete, ’24, and Robert Yang, ’24, launched a unisex streetwear company, Foreign Resource, to appeal to fashion-forward globetrotters. They spent a six-month co-op working on Foreign Resource full time. The pair want to use pop-up stores—typically used only as a marketing tool—to scale and grow their business. They also received support from the Sherman Center for Engineering Entrepreneurship, and resources from IDEA, Northeastern’s student-run venture accelerator.
Interested in learning more about co-op? Connect with us.
Northeastern University London is a charity
registered with the Charity Commission for
England and Wales (charity number 1189858).
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Devon House
58 St Katharine’s Way
London E1W 1LP, UK
+44 20 7637 4550
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