At Seneca Polytechnic, your experience goes beyond the classroom.
We’re committed to creating dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities that empower you to grow, explore and thrive—both inside and outside the classroom. Whether you're preparing for your dream job or planning to continue your studies, you'll gain real-world skills and experiences that give you a competitive edge.
Work-integrated learning (WIL) is an experiential learning opportunity between Seneca Polytechnic, students and employers. Many programs at Seneca offer WIL opportunities that include at least one term in a formal work environment. These positions may be paid or unpaid and will typically involve full-time hours. In some programs, completing work experience is a mandatory requirement to graduate from the program.
A work experience that includes at least one term in a formal work environment. In most cases the work term(s) is a paid position that is completed between two academic semesters and requires a minimum of 420 hours of work.
A mandatory program requirement in a formal work environment. The work term(s) is similar in length to an academic semester and typically involves full-time work hours that may be paid or unpaid.
A co-op term is typically a full-time paid position completed between two academic semesters. Programs with an optional co-op stream provide the opportunity to participate in a co-op term(s) if eligibility requirements are maintained.
A work term is similar in length to an academic semester and is typically a full-time position that may be paid or unpaid. Programs with an optional work term stream provide the opportunity to participate in a work term(s) if eligibility requirements are maintained.
The job search for a co-op or work term is student-driven, and participation in the co-op or work term stream does not guarantee that a work position will be secured. However, through Seneca Works, you will receive guidance and support through in-class career workshops and one-on-one coaching to help prepare for the work term.
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Graduate, Marketing Management
“The soft skills and marketing knowledge I gained at Seneca directly helped me excel in my career. I use the knowledge, resilience and discipline I learned every day. The program’s work term gave me the opportunity to intern at Omnicom Group, which gave me real-life experience of the concepts taught in class. After four months, I was able to land a full-time role. For me, Seneca Polytechnic was always the top choice!”
Graduate, Human Resources Management
"In the Human Resources Management program, I was able to learn through industry-oriented and practical courses which provided me with hands-on learning experiences and real-world applications. My co-op during the program’s work term helped me build valuable connections, which led to a full-time job!"
Graduate, Honours Bachelor of Crime & Intelligence Analysis and Police Foundations
“My professors encouraged me to be motivated, engaged and confident about my career path. I’m now working at the Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario Court of Justice, as a court and client registrar. I started there as an intern during my program’s work term, and I’ve been there since. My program totally prepared me for my career—there’s no better educational institution that will offer what Seneca has.”
Graduate, Business Administration - Marketing and Honours Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management
"Ultimately, I chose this institution because I was impressed by the facilities and the breadth of the curriculum for my academic program. I chose to continue on to a degree program at Seneca because I loved the fact that there was work-integrated learning as part of the curriculum for the Business Management degree program. I also liked the multiculturalism that Seneca embodies, and the location of the numerous campuses is ideal for my day-to-day commute."
Graduate, Honours Bachelor of Crime & Intelligence Analysis and Police Foundations
“Without the opportunities provided by Seneca’s Police Foundations and Honours Bachelor Criminal Intelligence Analysis programs I would not be where I am today! Each program gave me extensive skills for a profession in the policing community. With hands-on work integrated learning, and technical skills learned in the classroom I was able to be hired by Toronto Police after graduating. The amount of networking connections offered by Seneca and learning from experts with real-world experience in the field allowed me the opportunity to begin my tenure as a Crime Analyst.”
Graduate, Chemical Laboratory Technology
“The Chemical Laboratory Technology – Pharmaceutical program at Seneca helped me to develop leadership and people skills. Through the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, I was able to get a job as a chemical technologist at Ontario Power Generation. Never limit yourself; there is a sea of opportunities out there. Learn to swim strong with Seneca and go and get it!”
The Academic Pathways team provides a number of services to help you continue your education with pathways to, within and beyond Seneca. Learn about pathways to Seneca from another institution, diploma-to-degree pathways and opportunities to build on your credentials with graduate studies at Seneca or one of our partner institutions.
Seneca Applied Research gives you the opportunity to collaborate with industries to address real-life business and technical challenges. Through curriculum-based partnerships, students can participate in hands-on learning experiences where they work with real organizations on collaborative applied research projects.
Seneca Works prepares you for success in today’s workforce and helps connect you with employers after graduation. Through one-on-one resumé critiques, interview preparation, employer on-site interviews, career fairs, plus a job bank of more than 16,000 companies posting more than 7,000 jobs per year, we help you reach your career goals.
Learn more about everything Seneca has to offer. Book a one-on-one program advising appointment, or take a campus tour to experience Seneca’s innovative learning spaces.
