Information last updated on May 19, 2022.
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. This funding is being administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the following delivery partners.
Important Updates: New changes to SWPP funding
The Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program has announced changed to SWPP funding beginning April 1, 2022. These changes include:
- Net new hiring restrictions will be reintroduced. Net new refers to the growing number of students you hire each year and represents the number of work placement subsidies you are eligible for.
- Funding will cover up to 50% of student wages. Students hired from under-represented groups, including first-year students, women in STEM, indigenous students, persons with disabilities and newcomers, may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. Learn more about these changes.
- Co-op students may continue to work from home, or in a hybrid work setting. NOTE: Some exceptions may apply if you will be engaging a student as an independent contractor.
NOTE: Some exceptions may apply if you will be engaging a student as an independent contractor.
Tips for employers lookign to hire:
1) The start date dictates which year a student would be counted in, e.g., a student hired in January – April would be counted for that year ending in March, and not again in April unless they were hired for another full term that summer.
2) If you have multiple offices, departments and locations, an accurate number could be challenging to find from years back. If this is the case, please use numbers from your local office, team or even department for the sample.
3) When forecasting student hires, organizations should use a “best-case scenario” mindset (e.g., forecast for the higher end of student hires vs being restrictive in forecasting.
4) Recent graduates, high school, and/or international students are NOT included in net new calculations as none are eligible for this program.
Are you eligible to apply?
This guide provides you with a general assessment of eligibility.
If you meet the following requirements, you will likely be eligible for SWPP funding.
Employer eligibility assessment
The employer is:
- A registered Canadian business or organization
- 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
Student eligibility assessment
The student is:
- A Canadian Citizen, permanent resident 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
Remember that final decisions lie with the SWPP funding partners. This is to provide employers with a guideline only
All SWPP delivery partner info
BioTalent Canada
For employers within the biotechnology industry (or related projects)
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: |
Organizations in Canada looking to hire for roles related to biotechnology and healthcare. Click here for more information about terms, conditions and eligibilty |
| How to apply: | Through their website, download and fill out the "SWPP Employer Application Package"
NOTES:
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| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | Benita Email: buruhisho@biotalent.ca
Hannah |
Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC)
For employers within the agricultural industry
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000).
Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Any Canadian organization related to agricultural, such as food growers to retailers, nursery, horticulture, and ag-tech firms, are eligible to apply under this program. |
| How to apply: | Start the application process for CAHRC funding! |
| Application deadline: | Check the CAHRC website for application deadlines |
| Contact: | info@cahrc-ccrha.ca |
Canadian Council for Aerospace and Aviation
For employers within the aerospace and aviation industry
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Organizations in Canada working in the aerospace and aviation industry (cannot be a research position in a school lab).
Click here for more information about terms, conditions and eligibility. |
| How to apply: | Complete and submit the employer application online: Employer Information Form - Student Work Integrated Learning Program
Don't have a candidate in mind? You can post your job on WaterlooWorks. NOTES: Employers NEED to have a candidate before applying. |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | Kethy S-K Sangaré Phone: (613) 727-8272, ext. 261 Email: ksossokolle@avaerocouncil.ca |
Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
For employers within the production industry
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: |
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| How to apply: | Start the application process for CMPA funding! |
| Application deadline: | Check the CMPA website for application deadlines |
| Contact: | Sarolta Csete Email: sarolta.csete@cmpa.ca |
Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC)
For employers within the cultural sector
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Organizations in Canada within the cultural sector, both for-profit and non-for-profit. This includes:
Federal, provincial, municipal and territorial governments are not eligible. |
| How to apply: |
On their website, fill out the "CHRC Student Work Placement Program Employer Request Intake Form"
Their information package also has some helpful details. |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: |
Email: info@culturalhrc.ca
|
Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) – Empowering Futures
For employers within the electrical power sector
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
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|---|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: |
Click here for more information about terms, conditions and eligibility. |
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| How to apply: | To qualify for the program, the company must be Canadian owned or a Canadian subsidiary and are part of the economic sector represented by:
NOTES:
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| Application deadline: | Check their website | |
| Contact: | Sarah Jourson, Project Coordinator Phone: (613) 235-5540 ext. 229 Email: jourson@electricityhr.ca |
Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada – Co-op Program
For employers in Canada
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Organizations in Canada that are looking to hire students from science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics (STEAM). Work terms must be at least 6 weeks long. Funding can be applied to part-time students as well as co-op students.
Click here for more information about terms, conditions and eligibility. |
| How to apply: | Complete the form for "Host employers" on ECO Canada Wage Subsidy Program page.
NOTES:
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| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | coop@eco.ca |
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
For employers within the manufacturing sector (or related projects)
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Work placements should be relevant to manufacturing and related sectors. |
| How to apply: | Click here for more details on how to apply. |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | Wendy Gray, Senior Project Coordinator Phone: 1-866-323-4362 Email: wgray@emccanada.org Susan McLachlan, Project Coordinator |
Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC)
For employers within the food and beverage manufacturing industry
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Work placements should be relevant to food and beverage manufacturing and related sectors. |
| How to apply: | Click here for more details on how to apply. |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: |
Jennifer Brown, Project Manager Tiffany Gelvez, Project Specialist |
Information and Communication Technology Council – WIL Digital Subsidy
For employers within the technology sector (or related projects)
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Eligibility requirements include:
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| How to apply: | Visit ICTC's WIL Digital Program site to create an account to apply.
NOTES:
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| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | wil_digital@ictc-ctic.ca |
Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) – Gearing Up
For employers within the mining sector (or related projects)
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Organizations in Canada (small and large companies/post-secondary institutions/non-profit organizations) working in the mining or mineral exploration sectors are encouraged to apply. |
| How to apply: | Organizations must fill out and submit the Gearing Up Application Form to gearingup@mihr.ca. Applicants will know within 10 days if their organization has been approved. Once approved, your organization will:
More information can be found on the Gearing Up applicant guide or on their Gearing Up Program page. NOTES: Employers DO NOT need to have a candidate before applying. |
| Application deadline: | |
| Contact: | Priya Phone: (613) 270-9696 ext. 63 |
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For registered Canadian business or non-profits
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Eligibility requirements include:
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| How to apply: | Click here for more details on how to apply. |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | top@occ.ca |
Technation (Formerly known as ITAC) – Career Ready Program
For employers within the technology sector (or related projects)
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: |
Registered Canadian businesses and non-profits who can provide a meaningful, tech-focused work placement opportunity to a student. Students must work in a role that is tech immersive - although they are not required to be studying something in tech. International students are not eligible for funding. Large financial sector employers and municipal governments are no longer eligible for funding. |
| How to apply: | Complete the online Employer Eligibility Assessment and submit it with the necessary documentation.
To access the application portal, please visit Technation's website. NOTES:
|
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | careerready@technationcanada.ca |
Tourism HR Canada (THRC)
For employers within the tourism and hospitality industry
| Amount: |
Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000).
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|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: |
Registered Canadian businesses, startups, and not-for-profits related to the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector. |
| How to apply: |
Start the application process Here! |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | propel@tourismhr.ca |
| Amount: | Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: |
Click here for more information about terms, conditions and eligibility. |
| How to apply: | Visit the Trucking HR Canada website and click "Start your application today". |
| Application deadline: | Check their website |
| Contact: | Email: theteam@truckinghr.com |
Venture for Canada - Internship Program
For startups or related entrepreneurial projects and innovation in Atlantic Canada, British Columbia and the Prairies
| Amount: | Up to $7,000 is specifically available for under-represented groups including women in STEM, Indigenous students, newcomers, and persons with disabilities, as well as first-year students. | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility/Who Can Apply: | Employers must:
All industries welcome! Employers can be from a wide range of industries from agriculture to robotics and anything in between. |
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| How to apply: | To join this program and access this funding, complete the application form on the Venture for Canada website.
NOTES: Employers DO NOT need to have a candidate before applying. |
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| Application deadline: | Check their website | |
| Contact: | Click here to send an email to Venture for Canada. |
A tip to maximize your funding
Student Work Placement Program funding can be combined with the Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit. This mean that you might be eligible to receive both types of funding.
For example: for each student you hire, you could receive up to $5,000 in SWPP funding plus an Ontario Co-opertive Education Tax Credit of up to $3,000 in expenditures not covered by SWPP!
Frequently asked questions
We've taken questions that we know our employers are asking and have consulted with our experts at Co-operative and Experiential Education to provide some helpful answers.
IS THERE A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS I CAN HIRE AND RECEIVE SWPP FUNDING FOR?
No limit is set, however since funding is limited, SWPP partners reserve the right to limit your intake.
WHAT IS "NET NEW"?
Net New refers to growing the number of students you hire each year and represents the number of work placement subsidies you are eligible for.
HOW IS NET NEW CALCULATED?
Net new is determined by subtracting the number of students your company is intending to hire (forecast) in the current fiscal year, including those already hired, from the number of students hired by your company in a fiscal year prior to first participating in this program (baseline).
For example, if your company hired 3 students in the fiscal year (April 1 – March 31) prior to applying for funding, 3 is your baseline. Then, your company must intend to hire at least 4 students in your forecast of hires within that fiscal year to qualify for 1 subsidy to support the increase.
Forecast – baseline = net new student placements eligible for wage subsidy
ARE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
No, the program is only open to students with Canadian citizenship, permanent residents, or refugees with the right to work in Canada.
CAN A STUDENT I HIRE WORK FROM HOME?
Yes. Provided that the student meets all the eligibility criteria, the student can work remotely.
CAN I HIRE A STUDENT AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AND STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SWPP FUNDING?
Possibly. However, SWPP partners prefer to subsidize students who are employees of the employer and may decline an application for a student hired as an independent contractor. Contact the SWPP partner for more information.
IS A RESEARCH POSITION ELIGIBLE FOR SWPP FUNDING?
Yes. You may stack provincial funding with SWPP funding but not other forms of federal funding. For example: if you’ve already received NSERC funding for your co-op student, you will not be eligible for SWPP funding.
CAN I STACK FUNDING?
You may stack provincial funding with SWPP funding but not other forms of federal funding.
For example: if you’ve already received NSERC funding for your co-op student, you will not be eligible for SWPP funding.
WHAT IF A CO-OP STUDENT IS PARTIALLY PAID BY FEDERAL FUNDS? ARE THEY ELIGIBLE FOR SWPP FUNDING?
You cannot stack SWPP funding with other forms of federal funds. If a student’s wage is partially funded by federal funds, the remaining wage is not eligible for SWPP funding.
SWPP cannot be calculated on a portion of a student’s wage when some of that wage is federally funded.
If you already hire UWaterloo students, please contact your service team about any questions you have about SWPP by logging into WaterlooWorks and sending a message.
