The Cooperative Education program (Co-op) is the compulsory 10-12 month placement, part of a four-year Bachelor of Business Professional or Applied degree.
The program provides invaluable learning and development opportunities for students, from making professional job applications to starting work in a full-time role.
Students are responsible for finding their own placement with support from the WIL team.
Students can start placement in their third year or after completing at least 14 courses (including credit transfers*). Students are encouraged to start looking for their ideal placement in their second year of studies.
Register with the WIL team and stay up-to-date with key information and receive invitations to workshops to help you secure your placement.
Once you have found a position
1. Inform the WIL team
Launch an enquiry with our team through Business Connect, selecting the Work & Study Opportunities category, to let us know you’ve secured a position.
If you have found a position independently (outside of CareerHub), you are required to email the Position Description on the relevant company's letterhead to the WIL Team for approval and we will contact you.
2. Complete and sign the WIL Agreement
Once our team has confirmed your role has been approved, complete and sign the WIL Agreement.
What is the WIL Agreement?
The WIL Agreement is a necessary legal document for formal WIL activity and is between:
- the student
- the host company
- the University
This contract ensures that students and employers are clearly informed of their role and responsibilities during WIL activities. It covers Intellectual Property and details RMIT insurance which covers students whilst undertaking a WIL activity with a partner organisation. The WIL Agreement must be submitted prior to commencing placement.
If you have sourced the placement yourself
Request your host organisation sign the Host company WIL Agreement per the button below and attach your Student WIL Agreement for their reference. If you have found your placement on Careerhub, the WIL team has already organised for the host organisation to sign the Agreement and you only need to complete your section per the above.
Once you have been sent the final and complete version of your WIL Agreement, keep a copy for yourself and give a copy to your employer/supervisor.
3. Complete the online WIL Ready Credential
Follow the link to complete the WIL Ready Credential. The credential will provide additional key information about your WIL placement and getting the most of the internship.
You have a limited number of attempts to pass the modules so ensure you do not rush through the content.
4. Complete a self-placement submission in InPlace
InPlace is RMIT’s central system for managing and recording WIL activity. You will receive an email with instructions for completing this step.
When completing your InPlace submission, you must have the below documents ready to upload:
- The detailed Position Description on the company letterhead
- Your employment contract/letter of offer from the company confirming your position is full time, for a period of 10-12 months and the remuneration (if these details are not covered in the position description)
- Your final signed WIL Agreement
Refer to the Quick Reference Guide (PDF) for specific instructions if needed.
5. Enrol into the right courses and complete the required academic assessments
The WIL team will give you permission to enrol into the WIL and WEI courses once your role has been approved and WIL Agreement signed.
Ensure you enrol into the below courses:
Semester 1 of your placement: Work Integrated Learning 1 (WIL 1) and Work Experience Industry 1 (WEI 1)
Semester 2 of your placement: Work Integrated Learning 2 (WIL 2) and Work Experience Industry 2 (WEI 2)
Failure to enrol in classes while you’re on placement may result in RMIT discontinuing your enrolment.
Once the Semester commences, check out Canvas and ensure you understand the required assessments and submit on time. You should begin your assessments during your placement.
Please refer to 2023 higher education important dates for full list of key dates
