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Intersession

Intersession

The Intersession term invites undergraduate students from all levels to participate in flexible, kind, and imaginative learning opportunities!

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Intersession is a 4-week academic semester. Running throughout the month of May, Intersession provides novel interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities that are not available to all students in the typical fall/winter semester. Designed as a semester that fosters experimentation in both teachers and learners, Intersession was created to reimagine the academic experience in flexible ways that acknowledge the realities facing our current students. These realities include:

  • Increased levels of stress
  • Persistent financial burdens that often require students to work full-time or part-time during their studies, and;
  • Various life circumstances that make the traditional cycle of 2 full-time semesters and a 4-month break over spring and summer challenging for many students.
  • A desire to build connections and relationships with other students from across the University

With these realities in mind, Intersession has been built around 4 key components:

Interdisciplinary Learning

Intersession is a space for students to explore new pathways beyond their core discipline. Interdisciplinary courses offered during this term can serve as gateways to interdisciplinary minors, concurrent certificates, or unique topics that you might not have the time or capacity to build into your fall or winter schedule.

Experiential Learning

Intersession is a space for students to take courses that build skills that they can apply to school, work, and life in general. Some experiential courses offered during this term include smaller modules that develop skills applicable to any discipline or those that are focused on a disciplinary specific skills. Other experiential courses take the shape of 3-unit offerings that develop a range of skills in real-world or simulated settings.

Place-Based Learning

Intersession is a space for students to connect with their community and natural world. If you are enrolled in campus or community-based learning opportunities via Intersession, your learning might include exploring the Hamilton community, building relationships with fellow students by going for a group bike ride, or developing a deeper connection to the natural land that surrounds McMaster’s campus through your learning.

Transition To and Through University

Intersession is a space for students to exhale after the fall and winter terms by stepping back to reflect on their academic journey and look ahead to what’s to come. Designed to provide opportunities for academic skill development and personal growth, Intersession term is designed with your health and well-being in mind; we know you’re in the midst of a critical juncture in your life and have designed the program to recognize and acknowledge the life you lead beyond the classroom.

I’m interested! How do I develop a plan for participating in Intersession?

The links below have been created to help you learn more about the Intersession term. Areas you might want to explore include:

  • Possible Pathways: Learn more about the various ways that you might participate in Intersession.
  • Courses: Learn more about the courses on offer this coming Intersession term.
  • Place-based Learning: Learn about the in-person options you have for participating in Intersession that are focused on place-based experiences in the Hamilton area.
  • Online Learning: Learn about the online options you have for participating in Intersession via online formats.
  • Enrol: Interested in enrolling? This page will point you in the right direction.
  • Frequently Asked Questions: A list of common questions we get about the Intersession term.
  • Spring & Summer Learning: Interested in taking a course outside of the fall or winter term, but Intersession doesn’t work for you? Learn more about Spring and Summer learning opportunities at McMaster.

Possible Pathways

Intersession was designed with you, the student, in mind. Whether you have time for a full load (6 units) or want to take a course while working a spring job or taking on other responsibilities you have, there is an Intersession pathway for you!

Expandable List

A full Intersession learning load will see you participating in an immersive 4-week term that provides 6 units of academic learning. If you live within a commute of McMaster you might opt to enrol in place-based offerings; if not, multiple online options are available. As this learning pathway requires significant participation in Intersession learning from Monday to Friday, it is recommended for those who do not have significant commitments during the month of May.

The second option for you to enrol in one Interession course for 3 units of academic learning. This option might be of interest if you have other obligations in May but would like to dip your toe into flexible learning via the Intersession term.

Course Options

Courses listed below will be offered during the May 2026 Intersession term.

Expandable List

Place-Based Learning

If you’re interested in a different kind of learning that gets you outside to connect with the Hamilton community and with your peers, then Intersession’s place-based learning opportunities are just the ticket!

Place-Based Courses

Please return to this page later for a full list of place-based course options.

Online Learning

Whether home is in Hamilton, another province, or another part of the world, our online learning options allow you to participate in May Intersession from just about anywhere!

Online Courses

Please return to this page later for a full list of online course options.

Enroll

Interested in enrolling in the upcoming Intersession term? Scroll down for guidance on next steps.

Any McMaster undergraduate student may enroll in the Intersession term. Here are a few suggested steps to take to enroll for this coming May:

  1. Check the Intersession Schedule: The schedule for each Intersession term becomes available on the Office of the Registrar website in January each year. For more information on course schedules and delivery method, search the Spring-Summer schedule on the Office of the Registrar website here.
  2. Review Your Electives and Graduation Requirements: Before enrolling, be sure to review what space you have for electives within your program. Some, but not all, of the current suite of Intersession courses may count towards course requirements for interdisciplinary minors, though given the interdisciplinary nature of current offerings it is unlikely any courses will count towards a specific program.
  3. Review Courses on Offer: Each January, in alignment with the Office of the Registrar schedule update, we update our list of Intersession course offerings. Be sure to check here to see what we have on offer.
Please reach out if you have any questions about enroling in Intersession

Frequently Asked Questions

Interested but have some questions? So do others. Scroll down for some of the questions we get asked most.

Expandable List

Yes. All of the course offerings in the Intersession term count for credit. While the number of credits vary by course, most Intersession courses are 3 units.

No. At this point, all of the courses offered during the Intersession term do not have a prerequisite.

Yes! If there are multiple core sections under an INSPIRE course code during Intersession, you may take one section for 3 units of credit or two sections for 6 units of credit, so long as the topics are different.

Yes!

If you are eligible for OSAP, please go to this page (https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/build-degree/mytimetable/#tab-5) to find more information about how to apply for OSAP for Spring/Summer courses.