Current Co-Op Students
- Current Students
- Events
- Co-op Student of the Year Award
- Student Advisory Committee
- Personalized Job Search
- Working Abroad
- Current Students
- Events
- Co-op Student of the Year Award
- Student Advisory Committee
- Personalized Job Search
- Working Abroad
Current Students
Congratulations on your acceptance to Science Co-op!
Our SCCE Co-op staff are here to help. During your time as a co-op student, you are required to attend a number of orientation, training and development sessions. Information is sent directly to registered co-op students. All students need monitor their McMaster email account regularly, as well as join the McMaster Science Coop Facebook group (McMaster Science Co-op Students – Official) to connect with your peers and for program updates.
Events
Events
SCCE hosts a number of events only for co-op to give you the opportunity to network with others within our co-op community, or with alumni, employers and other stakeholders.
Registration for all events is on OSCARplus. A sampling of our events can be seen below:
Gathering of the Minds: Our official kick-off evening for all new co-op students. A chance to mingle and speak to upper-year co-op students from your program and beyond. | |
Work Term Presentations: Come listen to the 4th and 5th year work term presentations. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn what else is out there in the world of work. | |
Welcome Back Social: A relaxed social evening to welcome our 5th year co-op students back to campus for their final academic term. Open to all co-op students. | |
Co-op Graduation Reception: Open to graduating students only. | |
Co-op Student of the Year Reception: Open to all nominees and nominating employers. | |
National Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Week: Coordinated by our National Co-op Accreditation Body, CEWIL, a series of events and social media campaign to celebrate co-op student and employer accomplishments, and foster awareness of co-op and work integrated learning. |
Co-op Student of the Year Award
Co-op Student of the Year Award
The Co-op Student of the Year Award recognizes outstanding students in the Science Co-operative Education program.
Our winners and nominees display exceptional job and academic achievements, and contribute in a meaningful way to cooperative education and extracurricular activities at McMaster and in the community. One Year 3, 4 and 5 winner is chosen each year, with the top scoring candidate being considered as McMaster’s nominee for the National CEWIL and Provincial EWO Co-op Student of the Year Awards. A call for nominations is sent in November each year to all employers. Read about last year's winners in The Daily News.
Student Advisory Committee
Co-op Student Advisory Committee
A chance to impact the direction and activities of your co-op program.
Each program has a 3rd, 4th and 5th year rep on the committee elected by their peers. Elections take place every October.
Personalized Job Search
Personalized Job Search
Personalized job searching is an important part of the co-op journey and teaches valuable skills that will enhance your future career development and employability. When searching for personalized jobs, remember all co-op positions must be a minimum of 420 hours of paid full-time work per four month term. All positions must first be approved by the SCCE. The Personalized Job Approval form can be found on Avenue to Learn.
Where to look?
- Job Boards: Job boards such as Indeed, Monster and Eluta are great tools for finding posted opportunities. Only a small percentage of jobs are ever posted. So this should not be your only method of searching. Most tools allow you to filter your searches – look for “co-op”, “intern” or “student” positions, and/or limit to specific sectors. Remember to track all of the jobs you apply to this way.
- University Faculty Directories: If you are interested in a research opportunity, searching through a university’s faculty directory can help you find a researcher whose interests align with yours. From there you can contact them and see if they have funds and the space to hire you.
- Network: One of the most effective approaches (but the one least used by students) is taking advantage of your network. Letting family and friends know that you are a co-op student looking for an opportunity may lead to unexpected connections and recommendations. Attending events, such as company information sessions, professional association meetings, conferences etc., can expand your network and introduce you to a wider group of people in your field. LinkedIn is also a valuable networking tool that can help expand your connections. Taking advantage of organizations like Ten Thousand Coffees or the McMaster Alumni and Partners Advisor Network will connect you with experts in your area and allow you to gather information about various career paths and industries.
- McMaster Work Program: Every summer McMaster offers hundreds of full-time jobs to students who demonstrate financial need. All Work Program postings go live on MOSAIC in March. Check out the details on eligibility for the program.
- Studentships: A studentship typically involves summer work on a research project. There are many studentships available both here in Ontario and around the globe. Below is a sampling of relevant opportunities:
Program: | Organization: | Website: |
---|---|---|
Summer Research Student | Women's College Hospital | Website Link |
Charles Hollenberg Summer Studentship Program | Banting and Best Diabetes Centre | Website Link |
Undergraduate Summer Research (Pharmacy) | University of Toronto | Website Link |
SickKids Summer research Program (SSuRe) | The Hospital for Sick Children | Website Link |
Summer URSA | McMaster University | Website Link |
Ward Family Summer Student Research Program | Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital | Website Link |
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships | American Physiological Society | Website Link |
Summer Student Program | Sandra Rotman Centre and Grand Challenges Canada | Website Link |
Summer Undergraduate Research | University of Toronto | Website Link |
Starbuck Clinical Genetics/Genomics Research Studentship Award | The Hospital for Sick Children | Website Link |
RTC Summer Research for Undergraduates | Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute | Website Link |
Summer Studentships | Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Website Link |
Keenan Summer Research Program | Keenan Research Centre - St. Michael's Hospital | Website Link |
NSERC Experience Award | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Website Link |
Undergraduate Student Research Awards | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Website Link |
Hannah Studentship | Associate Medical Services | Website Link |
Canadian Blood Services Summer Research Scholarship Program | Canadian Blood Services | Website Link |
Undergraduate Student Program | Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics | Website Link |
Summer Student Program (Medical Biophysics) | University of Toronto | Website Link |
Working Abroad
Working Abroad
Interested in venturing outside of Canada for your work term?
Benefits of International Co-op:
-
Experience a new culture
While travel can provide you with a snapshot of a certain location, there is nothing like working and living in a place to fully immerse yourself in the local culture. Working abroad exposes you to new foods, customs, traditions, business practices and social norms. Our students often take the opportunity to travel to neighbouring areas, actively participate in local activities, make lasting friendships and grow their global network.
-
Hone Your Language Skills
Chances are if you’re planning on working abroad, one of the major draws may be the opportunity to interact in a foreign language. There is no better way to learn than to dive right in, and you will have a fantastic opportunity to learn or improve your written and verbal communication skills.
-
Personal Development
Being on your own in a foreign country can be nerve-wracking for some, while exhilarating for others. By embracing new challenges over the course of your experience, you will have the opportunity to further develop many important skills, including problem solving, independent thinking, research, communication and resiliency.
-
Graduate School Admissions
Like future employers, graduate school admission boards look very highly on abroad experiences. Students who work or study abroad display diversity and show that they aren’t afraid to seek out new challenges or put themselves in difficult situations.
-
Unique Life Experience
For many students, this may be the only chance to travel abroad, and live and work in a foreign country. Many nations are supportive of temporary student work experiences; full-time postgraduate positions may be much harder to secure. Students are encouraged to embrace this unique opportunity.
Eligibility for an International Co-op
All work term positions must be preapproved through the Science Career & Cooperative Education office. Students must consult with the SCCE before accepting an offer and receive signed approval from the SCCE Manager or Co-op Advisor.
Visa Eligibility: Students must be able to secure a work visa in the country of employment.
Security: The country must not be on the “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid all non-essential travel” list issued by the Government of Canada
Securing an International Co-op Work Term:
After you have met with a member of the SCCE team to discuss your international co-op plan, your job search will follow the same strategies and principles that you learned in SCIENCE 2C00 and 3C00.
1. Personalized
Your primary strategy will be catered to your interests. Use your personal networks and apply to positions in the hidden job market and targeted web searches.
- For example, you can look into different university websites to obtain background and contact information for the research labs within the institution. EUROScholars is a good reference for 7 major universities.
- You can also connect with companies and organizations via LinkedIn, e-mail or company websites.
2. Websites and Organizations with an International Focus
- Each country you are interested in will have unique career websites and job boards. Check these regularly for updated postings. Examples Include:
- REED (United Kingdom)
- SEEK (Australia)
- EURES (Europe)
- GoAbroad
- ScienceCareers
- Quite a few organizations help connect students to work opportunities abroad. Please note there may be an additional charge for their services, which is your responsibility to pay:
- International Science Scholarships:
3. OSCARplus Job Board
The OSCARplus Science Co-op and SSC’s main job board occasionally post positions outside of Canada, so keep an eye out for international opportunities. Your co-op coordinator can also connect with you when opportunities arise if s/he is aware of your interest in working abroad.