Federal Programs
Federal Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
The Student Work Placement Program gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study.
How the SWPP program works
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) works with Employer Delivery Partners. Employer Delivery Partners are a group of recognized associations and organizations that represent the interests of employers in industries.
They work with businesses and post-secondary education institutions to:
- provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements, and
- create partnerships with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to recruit students for these placements
What is considered a student work placement?
Student work placement activities can include, but is not limited to:
- mentorship programs
- co-op placements
- practicums, and
- internships
Canada Summer Jobs
Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help small businesses, public sector employers, and non-profit organizations to hire students under the age of 30 during the summer term.
Applications are accepted in mid January of each year; approval notifications are sent to employers in April.
Young Canada Works
Young Canada Works (YCW) wage subsidies are dedicated to offering summer jobs and internships to Canadian students and graduates, allowing them to gain valuable experience while putting their skills to the test.
Young Canada Works (YCW) sponsors 2 summer job programs for students:
Mitacs Accelerate
The Mitacs Accelerate program provides support for research partnerships including funding for internships.
Organizations partner with academic researchers to develop a project proposal, and must provide a financial contributio which is matched by Mitacs.
Projects can include multiple interns and span multiple terms. Interns spend about half the term on site working on the research issue in question and collecting data, and the balance of their time at their university further advancing the research under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. Applications are accepted year-round.
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program
The Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program provides support for businesses and nonprofits to implement innovation focused business strategies, which includes funding for internships.
Organizations partner with am academic supervisor to develop a project proposal where interns provide technical expertise on everything from operations to finance, to marketing, to intellectual property, and beyond to help businesses develop and implement their innovation roadmap.
Organizations must provide a financial contribution, which is matched by Mitacs. Projects can include multiple interns and span multiple terms. Interns spend about half the term on site working on the issue in question. Applications are accepted year-round.