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.
Recent updates
The Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program has announced changes to SWPP funding. 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.
- 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.
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.
Note: Remember that final decisions lie with the SWPP funding partners. This is to provide employers with a guideline only
Employer eligibility assessment
The employer is:
- A registered Canadian business or organization
- Not a federal, provincial, or municipal 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
All SWPP delivery partner info
Tips for employers looking to hire through 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.
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.