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Faculty of Engineering

Degree + Experience
Degree + Experience

Co-op Program

Why Co-op?

The co-op program combines academic study with alternating work terms of durations from 4 to 16 months in length. Co-op gives students an experiential learning opportunity to apply academic knowledge outside the classroom, enhance their academic experience through paid employment and have a competitive edge for the workforce.

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Gain Experience

Co-op allows you to test out your future career before you graduate.

Co-op gives you the opportunity to connect with current McMaster students and alumni working in your field of interest.

Earn Money

All work term opportunities must be compensated by your employer. Compensation for work terms varies widely depending on your employer, industry of employment, program of study, and overall work experience.  

In 2021/2022, the average hourly wage for Faculty of Engineering co-op students was $23.00 per hour. Our wage range was $15.00 – $63.00 per hour.

Network with Employers

Meet employers face-to-face and build your professional network.

Learn about potential job opportunities and gain insight into the hiring process.

Flexible Work Terms

The co-op program is flexible and highly customizable based on the co-op experience you are looking for!

4, 8, 12 or 16 month terms

Our Services for Students

Engineering Co-op & Career Services is 100% student-funded. We rely on the collection of the annual registration fee as well as the co-op work term fee to provide our services, and keep supporting our engineering students and employer partners. Our service model begins immediately from first semester of a student’s first year and continues up until the point of graduation.

Our office is not a fee-for-service structure (meaning you pay at the time you access services). Rather, we provide services year round, which allows students to access services at the time they need them, with no financial concerns. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources made available, and can do so at any time (regardless of if you’re in school or out on co-op).

Come visit us in The Gerald Hatch Centre for Engineering Experiential Learning Room H301.

We charge the fees at the time you secure a job, as we find that this way is usually more affordable for students (versus one large lump sum payment at the start of the year). This also ensures that you are only paying at the time you have a job. In the case you do not secure a position, you are not burdened with paying fees at that time. Our services continue to remain available to you. We strive to maintain the lowest co-op fee in Canada and provide a model which is more financially viable for students.

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What do my fees pay for?

For a detailed breakdown of your fees, visit the following tabs:
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students

Co-op for Undergraduate Engineering Students

The Faculty of Engineering offers an optional co-op program for Bachelor of Engineering, Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences, and Computer Science Students. Co-op is a mandatory component of all Bachelor of Technology programs, including the BTech Degree Completion Program.

Enrol in the Co-op Program

BEng, IBEHS, and CompSci: Co-op is an optional program for Bachelor of Engineering, Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences, and Computer Science students. You may join co-op at any time up until your final year of academic studies, but most students join the co-op program in Level 1 or select it when applying to university through OUAC. If you do not have co-op showing on your Mosaic student record, you need to ask your Academic Advisor to transfer you into the co-op program. You must complete a minimum of 12 months (or 3 terms) of co-op in this program.

BTech and BTech DCP students do not need to enrol in co-op as this is a mandatory part of your degree program.

All new co-op students must login to OSCARplus and create an online profile. Click on My Account in the Dashboard and fill out the required information.

NOTE: Students must be in good academic standing to participate in co-op.

Co-op Preparation Course

All co-op students are required to complete a co-op preparation course before they can have access to co-op job boards or be approved for a co-op job. This course explains the co-op process and expectations, and helps you succeed in your co-op job search and on the job.

BEng, IBEHS, CompSci AND BTech students are required to complete ENGINEER 1EE0. (BTech DCP students: see below.) This course is offered every year in the fall and winter terms. Once completed, you are eligible to search for and accept jobs during the co-op terms in your academic program plan. The course is offered online on Avenue to Learn.

Starting in Fall 2020, if you are a first-year student who applied and was admitted to a BEng or IBEHS co-op program or a BTech (4.5-year) program through OUAC, you will automatically be enrolled in ENGINEER 1EE0 in the fall term of your first year.

If you opt-in to the co-op program after being admitted to a general engineering degree program, you should plan to take 1EE0 as soon as possible so that you are eligible to search for and accept co-op jobs. You will enrol yourself in this course on Mosaic and by the drop/add date for the term in which you plan to take the course.

BTech DCP students are required to complete ENGTECH 1ET0. This course is offered in all three terms every year. You will meet with the Career Educator for DCP students to complete the course content. Please make an ENGTECH 1ET0 appointment on OSCARplus early in your degree program. You may enrol yourself in this course on Mosaic by the drop/add date for the term.

NOTE: Enrolling in 1ET0 does not automatically create an appointment to complete the course, nor will anyone contact you about this — it is your responsibility to make this appointment yourself.

Co-op Fees & Financial Information

Co-op fees charged to students support the services provided by ECCS. (For information on OSAP, please scroll to the end.)

BEng, IBEHS and CompSci students:

  • An annual fee of $100 will be charged to your Mosaic account each year that you are in the co-op program. It is usually assessed in September. If you join the co-op program at another time in the year, the first installment of this fee will be charged in that term; all other installments will be charged in September. The fee will be due on the due date for the particular term.
  • A fee of $350 is charged for each 4-month co-op term that you register. This fee will be charged to your Mosaic student account when you are enrolled in the co-op course ENGINEER 2EC0 (BEng and CompSci student) or IBEHS 2EC0 (IBEHS students). The fee will be due on the due date for the particular term.
  • NOTE: The ECCS office will enrol you in your co-op course when we process your co-op registration; you do not need to enrol yourself.

BTech students:

  • A fee of $600 is charged for each 4-month co-op term that you register to a maximum of $1,800. This fee will be charged to your Mosaic student account when you are enrolled in the co-op course ENGTECH 2EE0, ENGTECH 3EE0 or ENGTECH 4EE0. The fee will be due on the due date for the particular term. 
  • NOTE: The ECCS office will enrol you in your co-op course when we process your co-op registration; you do not need to enrol yourself. Also, when you have reached your maximum in co-op fees, our office will request a reversal of subsequent fees by the Registrar’s Office; this can take up to two weeks after your are enrolled in the co-op course.
  • Because co-op is a mandatory component of their program, BTech students do not pay an annual co-op fee.

BTech DCP students:

  • A fee of $600 is charged for each 4-month co-op term that you register to a maximum of $1,200. This fee will be charged to your Mosaic student account when you are enrolled in the co-op course ENGTECH 2ET0 or ENGTECH 3ET0. The fee will be due on the due date for the particular term. Students who have previous work experience may be eligible to count up to eight months of this experience towards the co-op requirement. Please see below, When Can I Work?, for more information.
  • NOTE: The ECCS office will enrol you in your co-op course when we process your co-op registration; you do not need to enrol yourself. Also, when you have reached your maximum in co-op fees, our office will request a reversal of subsequent fees by the Registrar’s Office; this can take up to two weeks after your are enrolled in the co-op course.
  • Because co-op is a mandatory component of their program, BTech DCP students do not pay an annual co-op fee.

OSAP: Students on co-op jobs are eligible for interest-free status on their OSAP loans. However, you are responsible for submitting the required Continuation of Interest-Free Status form yourself. Please see the Registrar’s Office website for more information on OSAP. You should also contact the Registrar’s Office through the above link if you have any questions about OSAP or financial aid.

For more details of what your fees cover, see Why Co-op?

Questions about the recent fee increase for BEng, Comp Sci and IBEHS? Explore our Frequently Asked Questions page.

When Can I Work?

Our co-op program is highly flexible and customizable with many different options depending on when you want to work. Some typical co-op sequences include:

The Bachelor of Engineering and Computer Sciences programs are non-mandatory co-op programs. Students can complete anywhere from four months to 24 months of verified co-op experience. For more information on these programs, please visit the departments, schools and programs web page.

This graphic shows different ways to organize co-op in bachelor of engineering and computer science program.
Three options to organize co-op within a Bachelor of Engineering (four-year) or Computer Science program. Option A: Co-op in the spring of your first, second and third years. Option B: Co-op in the spring of your first and second year, and a 16 month co-op stretching from third-year spring to fourth-year spring, inclusive. Option C: Co-op in the spring of your first, second and third years, and additional co-op in the winter of your fourth year through to the fall of your fifth year. 

The Bachelor of Engineering (5-year) programs and Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences programs are non-mandatory co-op programs. Students can complete anywhere from 4 months to 28 months of verified co-op experience. For more information on these programs, please click here.

Bachelor of Engineering, 5-Year programs include: Engineering & Management, Engineering & Society, and Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

This graphic shows different ways to organize co-op in bachelor of engineering (five year) and integrated biomedical engineering & health sciences program.
Three options to organize co-op within a Bachelor of Engineering (five-year) or the iBioMed program. Option A: Co-op in the spring of your first, second, third and fourth years. Option B: Co-op in the spring of your first, second and third year, and co-op from the spring of your fourth year through to your fifth year, inclusive. Option C: Co-op in the spring of your first, second, third, fourth years, and more co-op in the winter of your fifth year through to the fall of your sixth year, inclusive.

The Bachelor of Technology program is a mandatory co-op program. Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 months of verified co-op experience prior to graduation. Students may complete additional co-op terms to a maximum of 24 months of verified co-op experience. For more information on these programs, please visit the W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology website.

One option to organize Bachelor of Technology (4.5 year) program with co-op. Option A: Co-op in the spring of your first and second year, co-op in the winter and spring of your third year, and co-op in the spring of your fourth year.

The Bachelor of Technology, Degree Completion Program is a mandatory co-op program. Students in the Bachelor of Technology, Degree Completion Program are required to complete a minimum of 8 months of work experience prior to the completion of their final academic term. The eight months of co-op work term experience may be acquired through any of the following:

  • Two 4-month co-op work terms
  • One 8-month co-op work term
  • Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) which validates previous work experience deemed to be the equivalent or greater of either one 4-month or two 4-month co-op work experiences. Previous work experience is qualified as either full time continuing employment or a recognized co-op experience (at another institution) that occurred prior to admission into the BTech program.

Students can combine any of the above options to meet the minimum equivalent of 8 months of co-op work experience.

How to receive credit for these courses?

Option 1 – Admission Co-op Credit: Successful completion of co-op work term experience using transfer credit from relevant co-op completed in a college program. This will be assessed upon admission to your McMaster degree program and listed in your admissions letter.

Option 2 – Prior Learning Assessment: Current or previous program-specific employment experience deemed to be the equivalent or greater of either one 4-month or two 4-month co-op work experiences. A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) recognizes and grants credit towards your co-op requirements for this experience. All documents are online and will be submitted via your student OSCARplus account.

  • To activate: Go to OSCARplus and log in under the Student/ Alumni Login using your McMaster Student ID and Password
  • Under the Dashboard tab, select the tab Select a Form
  • Under Category, select Engineering Co-op
  • Under Sub-Category, select the DCP PLA Form. Once the form appears fill out the required information and upload any required documents. Once you have completed the form, press Save. When submitted, your application will be reviewed and we will contact you with any further steps.

Cost: $100 University administration fee for each qualifying 4-month work experience (total cost for 8 months of experience = $200)

Option 3 – Co-op Option: Completion of co-op work terms while registered in the Degree Completion Program at McMaster University. Engineering Co-op and Career Services (ECCS) will provide access to co-op job postings available in length from 4 to 16 months. You must complete a minimum of 8 months of co-op work experience to graduate. You are eligible to apply and work in co-op jobs longer than 8 months. Students electing to go on co-op must return to a minimum of 9 academic units in their DCP program following completion of their co-op work term. While on co-op, you may take up to 2 DCP courses, with approval from ECCS.

Cost: $600 work term fee for each approved 4-month work experience.

For questions

Co-op Requirements Academic Advising Requirements
engcar@mcmaster.ca

905-525-9140 x22571

 engserv@mcmaster.ca

Online Chatbot – “click to chat”

 

Co-op for Graduate Engineering Students

The engineering co-op program allows students to gain engineering work experience prior to graduation. Master’s and Ph.D. students may complete 4 to 12 months of co-op experience in various types of organizations, including corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, startups and research institutions. The graduate co-op program’s growth has been remarkable, with an increasing number of students choosing to gain co-op work experience. In the 2022-2023 academic year, graduate students registered 368 4-month work terms, emphasizing the program’s popularity.

How to Enrol in the Co-op Program

At the beginning of each academic term, make it a priority to attend one of the interactive Graduate Co-op Information Sessions, scheduled on the OSCARplus event calendar or in select cases, during your department orientation session. These sessions are designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the graduate co-op option. Once you’ve gained this insight, follow these steps to enroll in ENGINEER 701:

W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology students

  • Students registered in the SEPT (W Booth) graduate master’s programs in Manufacturing, Systems and Technology or Engineering Design are eligible for co-op and can directly enroll in Mosaic for the ENGINEER 701 – C01 Work Term Preparation (Lecture) course.
  • All students in these programs must complete the W Booth (SEPT) Registration Form and submit the permission form directly at this link using this name convention (MacID@mcmaster.ca & student number).
  • It is advised that SEPT students register for Engineer 701 in your first academic term at McMaster, setting a strong foundation for your co-op journey.
  • International students will be given a letter to apply for your required co-op work permit after the course has begun. Learn more about working in Canada.

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences students pursuing MEng, MASc, MSc or PhD

  • All students in these programs must complete the Graduate Supervisor Permission Form and speak to your academic supervisor or department administrator before enrolling in the ENGINEER 701 – C01 Work Term Preparation (Lecture) course. Once completed, students are required to submit the permission form directly at this link using this name convention (MacID@mcmaster.ca & student number).
  • Enroll in Mosaic to ENGINEER 701 – C01 Work Term Preparation (Lecture).
  • Only students who submit a completed Graduate Supervisor Permission Form prior to the final date to add courses will be eligible to participate.
  • International students will be given a letter to apply for your required co-op work permit after the course has begun. Learn more about working in Canada.
  • Note: It is recommended that students enrolled in MEng degrees complete ENGINEER 701 within the first 1-2 terms of study.
  • Note: It is recommended that Ph.D. students enroll for ENGINEER 701 after 2 years of study.

Other Important details:

  • Students who completed an engineering undergraduate degree at McMaster and passed the 1EE0 or 2PW3 co-op preparation courses are eligible to view the job board and do not need to attend ENGINEER 701. ECCS will still require the Graduate Supervisor Permission Form to be submitted to gradcoop@mcmaster.ca and you must speak to one of the Graduate Career Educators.
  • Students can apply to job opportunities posted on the OSCARplus job board or externally source a co-op/internship; however, you must have the role approved by ECCS.
  • Access to the OSCARplus job board is only granted for the terms approved by your supervisor after completion of ENGINEER 701.
  • Ph.D. students should register for ENGINEER 701 after completing the comprehensive exam.
  • If you are a student who receives a scholarship or TA, it is important to speak with your department administrator before registering for ENGINEER 701 to learn how this may impact your funding once you secure a job opportunity.

What is ENGINEER 701 (Co-op Preparation Course)?

The graduate co-op preparation course (ENGINEER 701) is a 6-week series of lectures (9 hours in total) offered virtually in the Fall and Winter terms. The course is housed in Avenue to Learn and all lectures will be recorded, enabling you to revisit the content at your convenience. ENGINEER 701 is designed to equip students with the essential skills necessary for a successful co-op job search. Topics covered include crafting effective cover letters and resumes, optimizing LinkedIn profiles for engagement, implementing efficient job search strategies, refining interview skills, negotiating job offers and workplace professionalism.

Upon completion of the course, international graduate students who have opted into the co-op program will be given a letter to apply for their co-op work permit.  We recommend that all students consider enrolling in ENGINEER 701 8-12 months prior to their intended co-op work period. This strategic timeline accounts for the timeframe employers post jobs (often up to 6 months in advance of the work term) coupled with the understanding that co-op work permits may take up to 165 days for processing.

What are the Co-op Fees?

Enrollment in ENGINEER 701 is free of charge. A career training fee of $1275.00 will be applied to the student’s account for the initial 4-month co-op term registered in OSCARplus. This fee will be incurred once a student accepts an approved co-op job offer and completes registration with ECCS, after which it will be added to the student’s Mosaic account.

Payment of fees is due at the beginning of the work term, and late payment will be subject to interest/late charges. Students will also be responsible for the payment of normal supplementary fees or tuition charged for additional courses taken during co-op terms.

Graduate students are advised to engage in discussions with their respective departments to assess the potential impact of a co-op work term on their graduate funding prior to committing to a co-op job.

When Can a Student Work?

Master’s students who have successfully finished ENGINEER 701 are entitled to engage in work opportunities after completing 2 terms of study, with a maximum duration of 12 months. For Ph.D. students, it is advisable to consider enrolling in ENGINEER 701 after completing 2 years of study or after the comprehensive exam. This strategy allows students to target co-op positions as they approach graduation. To determine the optimal timing, we recommend consulting with either a Career Educator or your respective department.

For more information, please contact the Graduate Co-op Team at gradcoop@mcmaster.ca.

International Students

International students must have a valid co-op work permit to work full-time in Canada.

Co-op Work Permit

Co-op jobs are full-time jobs, so you will need to apply for an off-campus (or co-op) work permit to allow you to work up to 40 hours a week. The Citizenship & Immigration Office can take several months to issue a work permit, so it is best to submit your application to them as soon as possible, at least 4 to 6 months before you intend to start a co-op job.

If you have a valid work permit that will expire while you are on co-op, you need to submit an application to get a new co-op work permit.

International students who do not have a valid co-op work permit will not be allowed to begin a co-op job.

An official letter verifying your status as a co-op student is required for your application. Our office will provide this letter to you.

During the co-op preparation course, all international students will be sent this letter so they can submit their applications for co-op work permits as soon as possible.

If you are not currently taking the preparation course and require this letter, or you need to renew your work permit, please send a request for the co-op work permit letter to us at engcar@mcmaster.ca.

When you receive your new work permit, please send a scan or screenshot of it right away to us at engcar@mcmaster.ca so that we can update your OSCARplus record.

Access to Co-op Job Postings

To be given access to co-op job postings on OSCARplus, international students must submit one of the following documents:

  • a valid co-op work permit
    Please send a scan or screenshot of your work permit to us at engcar@mcmaster.ca and we will update your OSCARplus record.
  • verification that you have applied for the co-op work permit
    Citizenship & Immigration will send you an acknowledgement when they receive your application. Please send us a scan of the acknowledgement letter or forward the acknowledgement email to engcar@mcmaster.ca.
    NOTE: Verification of your application will allow you access to co-op job postings, but you will still require a valid co-op work permit to begin a co-op job. You will need to send us a scan of your work permit when you receive it before we can approve a co-op work term for you.

A work permit and a study permit are two different documents. Our office is only able to provide you with documentation for a work permit.

Resources for International Students

McMaster International Students Services provides Immigration and Mobility Advising for international students.They can help you with study permits, visas and work permits.

The Immigration and Mobility Advising website is a great source of information for international students and includes detailed instructions for co-op students on how to apply for a work permit.

You may also request help from the Immigration Consultant, Anthony Cheah at immigration@mcmaster.ca.

Take time to review the other services offered by International Student Services – they offer success coaching, arrange peer support, run events and administer UHIP, the health insurance plan for international students.

Citizenship & Immigration Canada provides detailed information for international students on their study in Canada website; in particular, please visit their instructions for co-op students.

Get Hired

Want to learn how to land that dream job? Check out this handy timeline and learn how Engineering Co-op & Career Services can help you every step of the way. Click on each of the icons below to learn more!

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Resources

Engineering Co-op & Career services offers a wide range of resources and services to all McMaster Engineering students to support your career development and job hunt.

Book an appointment

Our team of 12 career development staff are ready to meet you and support you in your co-op and career needs. Book an appointment using OSCARplus, or visit our office.

Workshops

What is networking? When is it okay to negotiate salary? Our office provides a wide variety of professional development workshops to answer these questions and more!

Log onto OSCARplus and under the Career & Employer Events page, look for a career development workshop!

Build Your Professional Skills

Complete these online tutorials to learn skills necessary to launch your career! Learn steps on how to communicate effectively, plan your career in industry or academia, and crack the market.

MyGradSkills.ca

MyGradSkills.ca is a series of free professional skills development modules available to Ontario graduate students!

For more resources on networking, writing cover letters and resumes, interview skills and more, check out the Fireball Academy website!

Fireball Academy Resources

Register Your Co-op

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Congratulations on securing a co-op position!

Let’s start with some quick reminders before you register your co-op.

  1. Requirements for an eligible co-op experience: Prior to accepting an offer of employment, make sure the role meets co-op eligibility requirements (as follows) and/or contact your Career Educator for any questions related to the position meeting the criteria for co-op credit. For a position to be verified as an eligible co-op experience, it must meet the following minimum requirements:
    • The role needs to be related to engineering and/or technology.
    • The role needs to be a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks in duration, for every 4-month employment term.
    • The role needs to be full-time hours. The minimum requirement is 35 hours per week.
    • The role must be paid and the wages/salary need to meet provincial or territorial minimums. The current minimum wage requirement for Ontario employers is $15.50/hour (this will increase to $16.55/hour on October 1, 2023)
  2. Co-op Prep Course: Completion of the co-op prep course for your program is required in order to be fully enrolled in the co-op option and to accept any co-op work terms with an employer. For undergraduate students, the co-op prep course is ENGINEER 1EE0 or GENTECH 1ET0. For graduate students, the co-op prep course if ENGINEER 701.
  3. Academic Standing: To be eligible to register a co-op, a student must be designated as full-time status in the academic term that immediately precedes the work term and must be returning to full-time status in the academic term that immediately follows the work term. As defined by the McMaster Academic Calendar – Full Time Student “full time status” is defined as an undergraduate student who is registered in at least 9 units in an academic term (fall, winter or spring/summer). This enrollment status requirement applies to all undergraduate co-op programs.
  4. Taking Courses While on Co-op: While on a co-op work experience, students are eligible to enroll in one (3-unit or 4-unit) academic course. Requests to enroll in more than one course (up to a maximum of two courses) may be granted with approval of the student’s co-op employer and ECCS.  Requests to take capstone courses while on co-op require additional levels of review. Approvals are rare, and for some programs, not allowable.

Now, let’s get your work term registered! It is the responsibility of the student to register their work term, access resources to prepare for the work term, and update their information in OSCARplus prior to starting the work experience. Here’s how to complete each of these steps:

Mandatory Work Term Reflections

Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada, requires that all academically recognized co-op work terms have a mandatory reflection completed to meet National accreditation requirements. Students have two reflections that take place during each 4-month co-op work term. All reflections are administered through a student’s OSCARplus account and connected to their work term record. 

Mid-Point Check-In: The mid-point check-in is sent to students about halfway through each 4-month work term. This is an opportunity to reflect on how the co-op work term is going so far, and to connect with your Career Educator to discuss anything that has come up on work term that you could use support and guidance navigating. 

Final Work Term Reflection: Students must complete one final work term reflection for each applicable 4-month term of co-op (e.g. if you do a 12-month co-op, that will span three 4-month terms and you will need to complete three reflections).

The completion of the reflection is required for a final grade of “COM” on the co-op course to be added to your Mosaic transcript. ECCS will send a reminder to your McMaster email about completing the reflection.

Update to work-term registration process  

Effective Fall 2023, students who secure a co-op job will be required to register the work term by completing and submitting a co-op confirmation form prior to the start date specified in their offer of employment (or employment contract).  We have concluded our practice of allowing co-op work terms to be registered retroactively (also known as “backdating co-op”).

FAQs

Our policy regarding co-op work term registration remains the same; co-op work experiences should be registered prior to the start of your employment. However, our practice of allowing retroactive registration of co-op via a petition process has concluded.  

A co-op experience is intentionally designed to integrate with a student’s academic program, to support skill development and learning that is tied to career decision-making, and to complement a student’s experience in coursework. If a student delays the registration of the work term or chooses not to register the work term at all, the following risks and consequences become relevant.  

When a student takes a break from academic courses in order to pursue employment that is not registered as a co-op experience, their status as a full-time McMaster University student changes, and this can impact things like OSAP and access to on-campus resources/supports.  

If a student encounters an issue during a work experience that is not registered as co-op that impacts their health, safety and/or general well-being, McMaster has limited ability to intervene and/or support the student in any official capacity.   

A work experience that is not registered as co-op is not guided by the guidelines/expectations of Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada which can impact the experience of the student in terms of supervision/mentorship provided on the job, alignment of job duties/skill development with program of study, as well as compensation and minimum number of weeks/hours needed to qualify for co-op credit.   

An employer has zero obligation to report any incidents to the university related to student employees if the student’s employment is not registered as a co-op work term.   

In cases of international work experiences, there are steps in the university’s co-op approval process to ensure students have the appropriate insurance coverage, work visas and pre-departure information for the safety and security purposes. When an international work experience isn’t registered as co-op, some or all of these pieces can get missed by the student and put them at risk while travelling and working abroad.  

Accepting a position with intent to register it after the start date can result in an experience being completed and then declined for co-op credit if CEWIL Canada guidelines are not met (something that is assessed by ECCS staff when approving co-op work terms).  

A registered co-op incorporates critical touch-points with ECCS staff throughout the co-op experience to support the student in all aspects of the experience, including: overall assessment of the student’s experience, ensuring student health, safety and wellbeing throughout the experience, and advocacy on behalf of the student if issues arise on the job or with the employer.   

Fees related to co-op enrollment and registered work terms support the annual operation of the program including pre-employment and professional development programming, one-on-one appointments with our team, events and workshops, networking opportunities, curated job board of employment opportunities, and resources that directly support students in securing and succeeding on a work term. We maintain some of the lowest co-op fees in the country in order to maximize participation from a diverse population of students.  

Here’s more details on Undergraduate co-op fees and Graduate co-op fees.  

Requests for backdating co-op work terms will be reviewed under the guidelines of extenuating circumstances and decisions to approve these will happen on a limited case-by-case basis.

Co-op Testimonials

Information Box Group

George Padeigis, wearing a button-up shirt, smiles at the camera.

George Padeigis

August 25, 2022
Intern at Tesla
George Padeigis: Read More
Jenna Bullard, wearing a lab coat, smiles.

Jenna Bullard

August 25, 2022
Co-op at Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee for 4 months
Jenna Bullard: Read More
Kevin Hardy-Cooper smiles with former Dean of the Faculty Ishwar Puri as he receives an award.

Kevin Hardy-Cooper

August 25, 2022
Intern at Splunk Inc. for 4 months
Kevin Hardy-Cooper: Read More
Michelle Woo wears a hardhat and vest on a construction site.

Michelle Woo

August 25, 2022
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FAQs

About the McMaster Engineering Co-op Programs

The McMaster Engineering Co-op Program provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable engineering work experiences before they graduate. Co-op gives students an opportunity to apply academic knowledge outside the classroom, enhance their academic experience through paid employment and gain a competitive edge for the workforce.

The co-op program combines academic study with flexible paid work terms of durations from 4 to 16-months in length. Our co-op structure means you can complete work terms when and where it makes sense for you.

Co-op work experience gives you a competitive advantage over all other new graduates. You get a head start by graduating with at least one year of paid industry experience in your field. You can also count this co-op experience towards your PEO certification, if you meet the qualifications. 

The most obvious distinction is that you will graduate with a co-op designation on your degree if you complete the minimum 12-months of registered co-op, and all the work you have done (even if you do not meet the 12-months of co-op requirement) will be recorded on your transcript. However, there are many other benefits to doing co-op. 

With a co-op degree, you will gain valuable work experience and technical skills that can boost your resume, which will aid your future career development. Your experiences will also create a job network that will be useful once you are looking for full-time permanent positions in the future. 

The co-op program for Bachelor of Engineering, Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences and Computer Science students has two options. The first option is you choose to complete co-op work terms. To graduate with the co-op designation on your degree program, you are required to complete a minimum of 12-months of co-op experience before graduation. In the second option, if you do not complete 12-months of co-op, it will not affect your ability to graduate.

The Bachelor of Technology programs have mandatory co-op. You must complete a minimum of 12-months of co-op experience prior to graduation.

The Bachelor of Technology, Degree Completion Program is a mandatory co-op program. You must complete a minimum of 8-months of co-op experience prior to graduation. If you have previous work experience prior to starting this program, you can count this experience towards the co-op requirement.

The Graduate Student Co-op is optional. Once enrolled, Master’s and PhD students are given the option to complete 4 to 12 months of co-op experience.

Students are never “placed” into co-op positions automatically. Co-op is a competitive process and It is the student’s responsibility to apply and interview for co-op positions. However, there are many supports available to prepare you for co-op opportunities through the McMaster Engineering Co-op and Career Services office – including LinkedIn and resume workshops, networking events, 1:1 appointments, employer events and much more!

In addition, there is a Faculty of Engineering exclusive job board where over 4,000+ jobs are posted each year, but we also direct students to relevant external job boards (recognizing some employers prefer to post on their own sites) and we will work support you if you find a job externally as well!

The time it takes to complete your program may vary depending on the timing and length of your placements. When students are in co-op placements, they are not registered for school. They are, however, permitted to take one course per term if they choose to do so.

Our co-op program is highly flexible and customizable with many different options based on when you want to work. Depending on your program, you have the option of working a verified co-op experience from as short as 4-months to as long as 16-months in duration. For more information, visit the undergraduate co-op page and scroll down to “When Can I Work?” for examples of the combination of academic and work terms students can take (you are not limited to this order).  

Terminology for co-op and internship programs and experiences can vary based University, employer, and country, which can make it difficult to understand!  

In Canada, a co-op work term is defined as a work experience which is a minimum 12 weeks and/or 420 hours full-time, paid experience.  

For the purposes of our program, if a work experience meets the minimum requirements for co-op, it can be determined an eligible work experience. It does not need to be called a “co-op” to be eligible for co-op. 

Examples of job titles or programs which may be eligible work experiences include: co-op, intern, long-term co-op, professional experience year (PEY), and student. 

Absolutely! Co-op is available for all our programs, including our specialized 5-year engineering options like “& Management” and “& Society”. 

Yes, you would need to ensure you have planned your academic course requirements and co-op placements accordingly. You can take one course per term while on co-op, which can help contribute towards a minor. 

How to Prepare for Co-op

All co-op students in every Faculty of Engineering program are required to complete an online pre-employment preparation course before they can have access to co-op job boards or be approved for a co-op job. These courses explain the co-op process and expectations, as well as provide advice and resources to help you succeed in your job search and co-op positions. 

Co-op is a competitive process. It is the student’s responsibility to apply and interview for co-op positions, but there are many supports available for you through the Engineering Co-op and Career Services office — including LinkedIn and resume workshops, networking events, 1:1 appointments, employer events and much more!  

Want to learn how to land that dream job? Check out this handy timeline and learn how Engineering Co-op & Career Services can help you every step of the way. 

If you are looking for a 4-month co-op in the summer after your first year, you would apply in first year! If you are looking for a longer-term co-op in third year and after, then you would apply later in your program. It is recommended that students start to apply for positions about 4-months in advance of when they want to begin working.

Co-op is a component of a student’s academic studies. To participate in the co-op program, you must be a full-time undergraduate student and in good academic standing in the Faculty of Engineering. Changes to student status may result in termination from the co-op program, at the discretion of ECCS. (“In good standing” does not include reinstatement, academic and/or program probation).

Both are important, but soft skills are critical, especially for early co-ops (i.e. summer after first year) when your technical/academic skills may still be developing. Never underestimate the value of extracurricular activities on your resume! They show drive, teamwork, leadership, time management skills, and so much more. Generally, students that are very involved also perform well inside the classroom because they have a built-in support network and are surrounded by similarly motivated individuals. 

Congratulations on securing your co-op work term! Before you can begin working, there are a few things you need to complete — more information is available on the register your co-op page!

Engineering Co-op & Career Services is here to support students in all of their experiential education choices and needs. We offer a wide variety of co-op and career development such as: 

  • 1:1 Career Education
  • Job Search Strategies 
  • Resume & Cover Letter Critiques 
  • Interview Skills (panel, phone, skype) 
  • Summer Research Opportunities 
  • Portfolio Development 
  • Career Fair Preparation 
  • How to Network 
  • How to Negotiate an Offer 
  • How to improve my Communication Skills 
  • How to Develop Business Acumen 
  • Employer Panels 
  • And more! 

About Co-op Placements

All work term opportunities must be compensated by your employer. Compensation for work terms varies widely depending on your employer, industry of employment, program of study, and overall work experience.  

In 2021/2022, the average hourly wage for Faculty of Engineering co-op students was $23.00 per hour. Our wage range was $15.00 – $63.00 per hour.

McMaster Engineering is the second largest engineering co-op program in Ontario! In 2021/2022, over 2,500 students participated in over 4,000 4-month co-op work terms across the globe. 

Annually, McMaster Engineering co-op students work across the globe! In recent years, students have gone to locations such as the United States of America, Australia, Germany, China, and beyond!

Absolutely! International students must have a valid co-op work permit to work full-time in Canada. Learn more by visiting co-op’s international students page.

Yes! If your position meets the minimum number of hours/week (35 hours/week) and the minimum number of week (12 weeks), it will count as co-op credit. Find out more about summer researchers! 

If you have an employer that is accommodating of your training schedule, or perhaps choosing co-op terms that work around your competition schedule makes more sense, there should not be any concerns. Your coaches and academic/co-op advisors can help guide you. 

The services and support available to you are exactly the same. Most of the jobs you would be applying to are the same too! Some employers will specifically post jobs for certain BTech or Engineering disciplines depending on the role. 

Many of the roles would be quite similar and the available work term lengths are the same for both programs (4, 8, 12 or 16 months). Computer Science students could have a bit of a head start on a technical side because they do not have a common first year and start learning Computer Science content right away. On the other hand, engineering students, especially those completing a 5-year program such as “& Management” or “& Society”, could have space/time to accrue more work terms over the course of their program with progressively higher levels of responsibility. 

While on Co-op

Aside from your co-op fees, you would only pay tuition for any courses you enrol in while doing a co-op placement (up to one per term while on co-op).  

McMaster University Engineering Co-op has one of the lowest co-op fee structures in Canada compared to other Canadian universities. Please visit the undergraduate co-op page for more information.

You will not be doing full-time school and co-op at the same time! You are allowed to take one 3-unit academic course per 4-month co-op work term without permission, but anything more than that you would need approval. You are welcome to continue to participate in various clubs and teams at McMaster while you are in co-op. 

Yes, if your work qualifies for PEO Pre-Graduate Experience, you can count it towards the requirements for obtaining your P. Eng license. Please visit the PEO website to view the requirements to count your co-op work experience towards your certification.

It is typically the student’s responsibility to secure their housing situation should they need to relocate. However, some employers may have intern residences available or provide a living stipend as part of the student’s salary – it all depends on the company.

Yes! If you receive OSAP loans and are participating on co-op, you must ensure that your co-op is fully registered with ECCS in order to maintain interest free status on your loans. If you do not notify ECCS, you will be contacted by National Student Loan Service Centre to begin repayment on your loans.  

Once you fully registered you co-op with ECCS, you must contact the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships directly to complete the appropriate paperwork. 

Have more questions?

Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Office Location: JHE-H301 (Third floor of the New Gerald Hatch Center)

T: 905-525-9140 x22571

E: engcar@mcmaster.ca

Co-op Policies

As a McMaster Engineering co-op student, you are expected to conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner throughout your participation in the co-op program. The following policies and expectations will help guide you throughout your co-op journey to ensure your success on the job and in your program. 

We encourage you to download and save these policies to easily reference when needed. 

Download the policy

The policies set out in this document support the operation and delivery of the Faculty of Engineering Co-op Program in alignment with national accreditation standards and expectations set out by Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. Engineering Co-op & Career Services (ECCS) adheres to these policies and expects the same of McMaster Engineering co-op students.

Please note: multiple infractions across section types could lead to an escalated action plan, assessed on a case-by-case basis.

We recognize there may be situations that warrant alternative approaches/actions from what is outlined in this policy document and students are expected to contact their Career Educator for guidance and support in advance of acting on their own.

The Policy

Students are required to register their work term prior to the employment start date indicated on their offer letter and must meet all the conditions outlined on the Co-op Confirmation Form. Students are not permitted to backdate the registration of their co-op work term (i.e. students are not permitted to register a co-op work term once employment has commenced or concluded). 

Register your work term

Students are expected to attend all interviews to which they have been invited and should be monitoring their email at least once per day while in an active job search term.  

A student may decline an interview opportunity under the following conditions: 

  • If they have already received an offer of employment from another company. 
  • If they have an exam/class conflict, are ill, have a family emergency, for religious observation, or another extenuating circumstance. In cases like this the student should request to reschedule their interview by emailing engcoop@mcmaster.ca.  

Actions & Outcomes 

If a student has not responded to an interview request within a 24-hour period or does not show up for an interview, the following actions may be applied.  

  • (1st occurrence) OSCARplus access is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator to discuss next steps.
  • (2nd occurrence) Student is placed on probation in the co-op program and access to the job board is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator and a Manager to discuss next steps.
  • (3rd occurrence) Student may be removed from the co-op program and moved to a non-co-op academic plan.  

Once a student has accepted and signed an offer of employment, they become ineligible for additional interviews or accepting other offers. ECCS does not encourage or endorse job offer reneges and students are not permitted to renege on an accepted co-op offer. In a situation where a student is considering reneging for any reason, they are expected to contact their Career Educator before making any decision that impacts their offer acceptance. 

Actions & Outcomes 

If a student reneges for any reason that is deemed inappropriate, the following action may be applied. 

  • (1st occurrence) OSCARplus access is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator to discuss next steps.
  • (2nd occurrence) Student is placed on probation in the co-op program and access to the job board is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator and a Manager to discuss next steps.
  • (3rd occurrence) Student may be removed from the co-op program and moved to a non-co-op academic plan.  

Once a student starts a co-op they are expected to remain in the position for the duration of the co-op.  A student should speak with their Career Educator if there are any issues before deciding to resign from the co-op position.  

Actions & Outcomes 

If a student resigns from their co-op for any reason that is deemed as inappropriate, the following actions may be applied. 

  • (1st occurrence) OSCARplus access is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator to discuss next steps.
  • (2nd occurrence) Student receives a failed work term status, is placed on probation in the co-op program and access to the job board is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator and a Manager to discuss next steps. Student will not be refunded the co-op work term fee.
  • (3rd occurrence) Student may be removed from the co-op program and moved to a non-co-op academic plan.  

If a student is terminated for just cause (e.g. unprofessional conduct), the ECCS team will review the reasons that led to the termination to ensure a full understanding of the situation before determining a course of action.  

Actions & Outcomes 

If a student is terminated with cause for reasons that are deemed appropriate/justified, the following actions may be applied. 

  • (1st occurrence) Student receives a failed work term status, is placed on probation in the co-op program and access to the job board is suspended. Student must meet with their Career Educator and a manager to discuss next steps. Student will not be refunded the co-op work term fee. 
  • (2nd occurrence) Student may be removed from the co-op program and moved to a non-co-op academic plan.