Gain Experience & Get Paid
Every student has access to the co-op program. The best part? You decide when you would like to complete co-op and we'll help you get there.
About MacEng Co-op Program
The Engineering Co-op Program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to gain valuable engineering work experiences before they graduate. We have the 2nd largest engineering co-op program in Ontario! In 2018/2019, our students participated in over 3,200 4-month co-op work terms across the globe.
98% of our employers would hire a McMaster Engineering co-op student again
44,000 student applications were submitted on our co-op job portal in 2018/2019
$25,536,453 : The total wages earned by Engineering co-op students in 2018/2019
MacEng Co-op: Flexible, Optional, Supported.
From helping you develop your resume and cover letter to giving you tips on how to ace an interview to posting job opportunities and much more, we do everything we can to help you find and secure a co-op job.
1. FLEXIBLE
Co-op term lengths vary. Many students complete 4 month work terms during the summer. Others opt for longer placements - 75% of co-op work terms are 8 to 16 months in duration, enabling intensive work term experiences.
2. OPTIONAL
Students in Engineering, iBioMed, & Computer Science can opt into co-op at any point in their degree, prior to their final year of studies. (B.Tech. students must complete 12 months to graduate).
3. SUPPORTED
A team of 18 staff in the Engineering Co-op and Career Services office engage with over 1000 employers to ensure that there are ample opportunities for you when you are ready to apply.
Flexible Co-op Options
There’s more than one way to gain work experience at MacEng. Our flexible co-op structure means you can complete work terms when and where it makes sense for you.
Check out our 2020 co-op students of the year (Areeba and Mitchell) for two examples of how you might complete up to 28 months of co-op during your degree.
MacEng Co-op Opportunities
Interested to know what are some sample co-op opportunities you'd have in a specific program?
Supporting Your Success: Employer of the Week
One week can make a big difference! The Employer of the Week series features a new employer every week, who will engage with our students, both on and off-campus.
Google@McMaster
During the week of October 15th, Google came to visit McMaster Engineering as a part of the Employer of the Week program, organized by the Faculty’s Co-op and Career Services office. Throughout the week, several events were held, including a resume critique, mock interviews, writing Google-ready resumes and an information booth featuring McMaster students who have worked at the tech giant. Finally, Google Week concluded with “Goodbye Google”, where Cathy talked about her experiences leading up to working at Google, and answered questions that students had for her. Here is what she had to say:
IBM Week (Employer of the Week)
As our inaugural Employer of the Week, IBM Canada came to campus in September 2018 to start off this exciting new series.
Supporting Your Success: ENGINEER 1EE0
Learn about ENGINEER 1EE0: a 5-week online course for first year McMaster Engineering students registered in the co-op program that covers skills in resume and cover letter writing, interview performance, managing your digital footprint and so much more.
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All students complete in first term, first year
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Awareness focus, learn to build your network
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Learn how to stand out and build skills
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Required to attend one mandatory in-person career event in first term, first year
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Peer support- 12 TA's and 2 Instructors
Students for Students
Advice and tips from our current MacEng Students!
Read about some additional experiences that our students have had with co-op
October 3, 2020
Co-op Ambassador Program bolsters community spirit in an online world
Engineering Co-op and Career Services (ECCS) is introducing 18 Co-op Ambassadors to increase engagement and build a stronger community spirit amongst members of the engineering co-op community.
September 29, 2020
Five students share secrets to co-op success
This year’s Co-op Return to (Virtual) Campus Event on September 16 welcomed 235 participants.
June 27, 2019
3 honest thoughts on McMaster Engineering's co-op program
Advice from Kelvin Lin, a recent Software Engineering and Management co-op graduate
Where Big Ideas are Born
More interested in starting your own company than working for one? No problem. With our Minor in Innovation program option, you can develop skills to create your own start-up. Our on-campus incubator, The Forge@Mac is there to support our budding entrepreneurs.
We even have Big Ideas Entrance Scholarships and Innovation & Society Living Learning Community in residence, so you can begin thinking about your end goal beginning in first year.
Thode Makerspace
Thode Makerspace offers students a space to learn technical skills, develop new technologies and work collaboratively, while sharing ideas, equipment and knowledge.
Innovation Minor
Offered jointly by the Faculty of Engineering and the DeGroote School of Business, the Minor in Innovation is designed to give students the tools they need to succeed as entrepreneurs.
MacEng Innovators in the News
January 29, 2020
Software Engineering student top finalist in $1M competition to combat fake news
Second-year software engineering student, Jay Mody, is competing for the $1 million Leaders Prize.
February 11, 2020
McMaster student first Canadian to be awarded prestigious aerospace fellowship
This International Day for Girls and Women in Science, we’re celebrating Hira Nadeem, an electrical engineering student who is one of 40 women recognized for excellence in the aerospace industry.
November 19, 2020
Six McMaster Engineering startups to watch
In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, we are recognizing six thriving startups founded by McMaster Engineering students and alumni.
December 1, 2020
Four students answer your research and entrepreneurship questions
Want to know more about student research or working with a startup but don’t know where to begin? Four McMaster Engineering students who attended last week’s Engineering Research & Entrepreneurship Fair can help.
January 27, 2021
Virtual Backpack to Briefcase event brings together students and alumni from around the world
Last week, more than 250 McMaster Engineering students, graduates and faculty members from around the world connected virtually at the Faculty’s annual Backpack to Briefcase event.
February 4, 2021
Black History Month Q&A Spotlight Series: Rotimi Fadiya
By embracing ideas and opportunities with grace, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering grad, Rotimi Fadiya has discovered the key to success early in his career.