• All co-op programs start in year 3, meaning students have completed at least 5 academic semesters before their first work term.
• Students apply to enter co-op in the second semester of year 2, after completing an 8-week career course, “Skills for Career Success in Science”, which is open to all science students.
• In year 3, all co-op students \also complete another 8-week professionalism course, “Advanced Job Search Skills for Science Co-op Students”, before their first work term.

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Table: Work-Study Sequence, By Co-Op Program

Co-op Program	Third Year Fall	Third Year Winter	Third Year Spring/Summer	Fourth Year Fall	Fourth Year Winter	Fourth Year Spring/Summer	Fifth Year Fall	Fifth Year Winter
Actuarial & Financial Mathematics Biochemistry Medical and Biological Physics Chemical Biology Chemistry Earth & Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences Life Sciences Mathematics & Statistics Molecular Biology & Genetics Physics	Academic Term	Work Term	Work Term	Academic Term	Academic Term	Work Term	Work Term	Academic Term
Biology & Pharmacology	Academic Term	Academic Term	Work Term	Work Term	Academic Term	Work Term	Senior Thesis	Academic Term

 

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Co-op Recruitment Cycle:

Cycle	Co-op Position Starts	Student Availability
Winter	January	4 or 8 months
Spring	May	4 or 8 months
Fall	September	4 months

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Recruitment Dates:

For more information, or to post your position please contact hiresci@mcmaster.ca