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Recruitment Cycles and Student Availability

  • 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.

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

Co-op programs: Actuarial & Financial Mathematics, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography & Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Medical Physics, Molecular Biology & Genetics and Physics

Year Fall Winter Summer
Third Year Academic Term Work Term Work Term
Fourth Year Academic Term Academic Term Work Term
Fifth Year Work Term Academic Term

Co-op program: Biology & Pharmacology

Year Fall Winter Summer
Third Year Academic Term Academic Term Work Term
Fourth Year Work Term Academic Term Work Term
Fifth Year Senior Thesis Academic Term N/A

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

Recruitment Dates:

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