There has been concern around the lack of postgraduate qualified scientists and engineers (e.g., Gago et al., 2004; Koslow, 2005; Lovitts & Nelson, 2000). However, to be effective in increasing the number of science postgraduates, a greater understanding of why students go on to do graduate studies must be developed. Presented here is a study on the views held by science graduates from a cooperative education (co-op)/work-integrated learning (WIL) degree, who are currently undertaking graduate studies, on how their work placements influenced their decision to do further studies. These graduates cited greater awareness of career prospects and the experience of doing research during their work placement as motivators to carry on with graduate studies. These graduates also indicated an awareness of hierarchy within the workplace and were motivated to undertake graduate studies so they can obtain careers at these higher levels. The research findings suggests that the perhaps traditional views held by some co-op practitioners and faculty, where co-op students are directed readily into the employment sector, may be a too limiting view of co-op/WIL.