Find a job through funded programs

Whether you’re arranging your own co-op job or using WaterlooWorks to find a position, it can be helpful to know about available sources of funding that may help employers cover the cost of hiring a student. This way, when you’re talking with potential employers or negotiating job offers, you can point them towards information that might make it easier and more cost-effective for them to hire YOU!

This webpage outlines some available sources of funding that can help (as a starting point) with your conversations with employers. Please be sure to do some research to ensure you have the most up-to-date information, and reach out to your co-op advisor if you have any questions about how to talk to employers about funding opportunities.

For more job search advice, visit our tips for arranging your own job webpage. You can also reach out to your co-op advisor for access to tailored UWaterloo broadcast letters to help introduce employers to the benefits of hiring a co-op student! 

If an employer seems interested in applying for funding or has any questions:

  • They must fill out any funding applications themselves - students cannot apply or fill out forms on their behalf.
  • If they have questions about applying for funding or hiring a student more generally, they can contact employerfunding@uwaterloo.ca.

Funded programs students can apply for

Venture for Canada - Internship Program For students interested in working for startups or related entrepreneurial projects
Eligibility/Who Can Apply: Students must be enrolled full-time or part-time and be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or refugees

Positions offered in all provinces excluding Ontario
How to apply: Learn more about the future program on Venture for Canada website.
Deadline: n/a

Environmental Careers Organization of Canada – Wage Subsidy Program for Environmental Students
Eligibility/Who Can Apply: Students must be enrolled full-time in a science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM) or business.
How to apply: Complete the CO-OP Program: Student Eligibility form to become a pre-approved student.
Deadline: n/a

Green Jobs - Project Learning Tree Canada For students interested in green jobs
Eligibility/Who Can Apply: To be eligible for a Green Job you must be:
  • between 15 - 30 years old;
  • a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone who has been granted refugee status in Canada; and
  • legally entitled to work according to relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.
How to apply: Visit the Project Learning Tree Canada website and register or log in to apply.
Deadline: on-going; apply between January - April for summer jobs.

STEP Services - Government of Manitoba For students interested in working for the Province of Manitoba

Young Canada Works - Government of Canada For students looking for Spring/Summer co-op opportunities

Two programs offered by Young Canada Works:

  1. Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
    1. This summer job program lasts between six and 16 weeks, and offers students job opportunities with organizations in Canada that have a heritage mandate. Students might organize cultural or recreational projects in a heritage organization, for example, or learn new skills in preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.
    2. Read more about who can apply to Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations.
  2. Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages
    1. This summer job program lasts between six and 16 weeks, and offers students job opportunities with organizations which conduct activities in both official languages. Students can gain practical work experience while improving their second language skills.
    2. Read more about who can apply to Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages and the Languages at Work program.
Eligibility/Who Can Apply: A student may be eligible for employment if they:
  • are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible);
  • are legally entitled to work in Canada;
  • will be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
  • are willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
  • will not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) during the Young Canada Works (YCW) work assignment;
  • have been a full-time high school, college, CEGEP or university student (as defined by their educational institution) in the semester preceding the YCW work assignment; and
  • intend to return to full-time studies in the semester following the YCW work assignment.
How to apply: To apply for the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations program, please visit this page for full details and instructions.

To apply for the Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages program, please visit this page for full details and instructions.
Deadline: There is no deadline for students to apply, but it is recommended that applicants create an account and submit their candidacy before the summer.

United Nations Association in Canada: Green Spaces For students interested in green jobs
Eligibility/Who Can Apply: To be part of Green Spaces, applicants must be:
  • Un- or underemployed;
  • Between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of intake/selection;
  • A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada;
  • Legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations; and
  • Must not have previously participated in UNA-Canada's Green Spaces programme.
How to apply: Visit the UNAC Green Spaces page to register.
Deadline:

For most up-to-date deadlines, visit the UNAC Green Spaces page.

Funding opportunities for employers located in Canada

If you are arranging your own job, or just networking with employers you are interested in working for, feel free to chat with them about the following funding opportunities that may be available to them!

Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

As part of the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a variety of funding opportunities are available for employers to hire students for the purposes of experiential learning. Employers may be eligible to receive up to $7,000 in wage subsidies!

If you and your employer meet the following guidelines, your work term will likely be eligible for SWPP funding. Please note: the table below should be used as a guide only, as the final decision around whether a work term is eligible for SWPP funding lies with SWPP funding partners.

Typically, employers must be:

  • A registered Canadian business or organization OR post-secondary education institution
  • Not a federal or provincial government organization
  • Financially capable to hire a student for a part- or full-time work term, pay them consistently and provide a meaningful work experience

Typically, students must be:

  • Canadian Citizens, permanent residents or a protected person defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
  • Registered as a full-time student in a post-secondary institution program
  • Not an international student requiring (or on) a work permit
  • Not an immediate family member of the employer

For more information on SWPP funding, please direct your employer to the webpage below on our employer website.

Tax credits and incentives

When Canadian employers hire a student enrolled in a co-operative education program, there are a number of tax credits they can take advantage of to help cover the cost of hiring a student. Depending on where they are located and what industry they are in, employers can claim a percentage of what they spent on hiring a student and receive tax credits in return. 

These tax credits exist for employers in Ontario (can receive up to $3,000 per work placement) as well as employers in Central Canada, Western Canada, Atlantic Canada and Northern Canada. Learn more via the link below!

Spring/summer funding opportunities

Green funding opportunities

Funding for small businesses

Fun fact: 97.9% of Canadian businesses have between 1-99 employees according to a 2019 report released by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Despite making up such a large proportion of Canadian businesses, some small businesses may need funding to help hire a co-op student.

Visit the link below for more about funding opportunities for small businesses in Central Canada, Western Canada, Atlantic Canada and Northern Canada.

Research grants and funding

Funding opportunities for employers based outside Canada

If you are interested in working for an employer who is based outside Canada, you can try researching available opportunities in their area, or asking if they know of any funding that might be available to them!

Funding opportunities for Canadian and international student

MITACS BUSINESS STRATEGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Mitacs Business Stategy Internship program provides students with the opportunity to develop a strategic project in partnership with a company or not-for-profit organization in Canada. This internship program is for students to apply their strategic business skills to help Canadian small and medium enterprise businesses on the road to economic recovery. Strategy might be related to product redesign, product & services pivot, marketing, operations, finance, logistics, etc.

International visa students and all Canadian & PR students are eligible for this funding stream. The award will provide $10,000 to interested students who develop a project designed to help the organization restore or modify business operations in the new economic environment.