During the placements scholars are treated like employees and expected to conform to professional standards of performance, dress, business hours and undertake appropriate duties and responsibilities. Depending on the size of the sponsor pool each year, scholars will experience working life with different companies for each placement. Contact with all sponsors of the UNSW Co-op Program will be possible over the duration of the program through company visits, guest lectures and social events.

After graduation there is no formal obligation on Co-op scholars to be employed by any of the sponsors. Likewise, there is no obligation for sponsors to offer employment. However, employers recognise that the program produces the kind of graduates they are very keen to attract for challenging positions in their organisations. It is expected that students will consider employment with a sponsor organisation first.