Explore Co-op at York - Faculty of Science

The York University Co-op Program provides students in specific programs with an opportunity to integrate their classroom learning with hands-on, paid work experiences related to their field of study. While completing their work terms, co-op students apply their classroom learning in a work environment, explore potential career options, and build relationships with colleagues and employers.

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Co-op Program Application Process

The Faculty of Science currently offers co-op opportunities for students in any Faculty of Science Program who are full-time students with at least 18 credits remaining before they enter their work term.

Self-assess your eligibility. Review the co-op program terms and academic requirements.

Attend a Science Co-op Information Session. (Register on Experience York).

Complete required sessions: Resume Fundamentals for co-op; Interview Fundamentals for co-op. (Register on Experience York).

Submit the co-op Program application form (Passport York login required)

Science Co-op Info Session

Attending three required sessions: Co-op Information Session, Resume and Cover Letter Fundamentals Workshop, and Interview Fundamentals Workshop, is mandatory to apply to the science co-op program. Check out upcoming co-op events and resources to register.

Upcoming Co-op Events & Resources

Benefits of Co-op

Co-op gives students the opportunity to gain professional, paid work experiences related to their program of study. Each job is approved by York University to ensure that students are engaging in productive and meaningful work in their respective disciplines. Other benefits include:

Gaining hands-on work experience before you graduate

Earning income as all co-op positions are full-time and paid

Networking with professionals in your field

Learning by applying classroom knowledge in a professional work environment

Co-op Program FAQs

Students must be enrolled full-time.

Students must have an overall cumulative GPA at 5.0 and a Major GPA of 5.0.
* New for Fall 2026 applicants: major GPA of 5.0 is no longer required.

Completed three required sessions (Please register on Experience York)

Co-op Information Session
Resume and Cover Letter Fundamentals Workshop
Interview Fundamentals Workshop

Prior to first work term:

have completed at least 45 credits
have 18 credits remaining to complete Honours degree
for Data Science, students must be enrolled in or have completed MATH 2130 3.00 and MATH 2131 3.00 at the time of application.

Co-op is available to both domestic and international students.

Our co-op program has been designed to provide multiple pathways and flexibility to achieve your desired co-op employment goals. More sequences will be discussed in co-op information sessions and individual consultations but the two examples below showcase just a fraction of the combinations you might choose as a co-op student to increase your employment length and opportunities for learning.

SAMPLE SEQUENCE 1

Year	Fall (Sept-Dec)	Winter (Jan-Apr)	Summer (May-Aug)
1	STUDY	STUDY	OFF
2	STUDY	STUDY/JOB SEARCH	WORK
3	STUDY	STUDY/JOB SEARCH	WORK
4	WORK	WORK	WORK
4	STUDY	STUDY	GRADUATE

SAMPLE SEQUENCE 2

Year	Fall (Sept-Dec)	Winter (Jan-Apr)	Summer (May-Aug)
1	STUDY	STUDY	OFF
2	STUDY	STUDY	OFF
3	STUDY	WORK	WORK
4	WORK	STUDY/JOB SEARCH	WORK
4	STUDY	STUDY	GRADUATE

SAMPLE SEQUENCE 3

Year	Fall (Sept-Dec)	Winter (Jan-Apr)	Summer (May-Aug)
1	STUDY	STUDY	OFF
2	STUDY	STUDY	OFF
3	STUDY	STUDY	JOB SEARCH
4	WORK	WORK	WORK
4	STUDY	STUDY	GRADUATE

Yes, all co-op positions are paid. You will be working full-time with your employer for the duration of the Co-op.

Undergraduate students are considered full-time if they are registered in a course load of at least 60% or 9.00 credits in each term. If you are an undergraduate student with a permanent disability, you are considered full-time if you are registered in a course load of at least 40% or 6.00 credits in each term.

Program Enrollment Fee – $200 (This fee is to cover the costs of providing customized job search and career support services for co-op students, access to the co-op job posting board and the overall administration of the program.) *This fee is subject to change with annual reviews.

Work term courses (per course, i.e., for each four-month work term) – $500 *fees are subject to change with annual Associated Course Fee (ACF) reviews.

Yes. Upper-year student can still apply as long as you have at least 18 remaining credits prior to your first co-op work term.

The eligibility requirements are the same for both domestic students and international students. On April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the rules applicable to international students who wish to participate in university approved student work placements, commonly referred to as "co-ops" or "internships".

To be eligible international students must be registered in York University's Co-op Program and hold a valid study permit that includes the condition that says you're allowed to work "on campus". With this condition, work placements can be obtained on or off campus. A separate co-op work permit is not required. For more information, visit the IRCC website, or contact the International Student Advising and Immigration Specialist Team.

Interested in connecting? We’d love to answer your questions. Join us during group drop-ins via Zoom. The link is: York University Portal - Experience YU - Events. This is the fastest way to connect with the co-op team and no registration is needed. Can’t make it to our drop-in hours? Email our office at askcoop@yorku.ca, please include “Science Co-op” in the subject line of your email.”

Other Opportunities for Experiential Education

Students will engage in Classroom EE through group work, labs, field trips, field courses, case studies, guest speakers, and more.

There are also many ways for students to participate in research opportunities through research practicum courses, Research at York (RAY), Capstone Project Courses, NSERC USRA Research Awards, and Dean Undergraduate Research Awards.

Students can engage in Community EE by participating in research projects, volunteering, networking, or becoming peer mentors. Some programs also offer international research experiences.

York Capstone Network (YCN) is a faculty-driven initiative to provide an unique, cross-faculty capstone experience for students. C4 (Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom) brings together third- and fourth-year students from across the university to work together in multi-disciplinary teams on pressing, “real-world” challenges posed by organizations operating in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds.

To learn more about YCN and C4 opportunities, please visit our website capstone.yorku.ca.

Get involved by emailing YCN@yorku.ca to join the mailing list and to learn about the next Capstone Café.

Meet Our Team

Freda Liu
Co-op Coordinator

Contact Us
Join us during group drop-ins via Zoom. The link is: York University Portal - Experience YU - Events. No registration needed.

Email our office at askcoop@yorku.ca Please include “Science Co-op” in the subject line of your email