What is Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)?
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) as a wage subsidy. Funding is typically up to $7,000 per student placement. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $7,000 per student placement |
|---|---|
| Cost share | SWPP covers up to 50% of student wages (capped at $5K); up to 70% for underrepresented placements (capped at $7K) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Wage Subsidy |
| Delivered by | Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - rolling |
| Last verified | 2026-06-01 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors; delivered through industry-specific partner organizations (Magnet, BHER, TECHNATION, CWC, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, Toronto Finance International, others)
- Employee count: min 1, max No formal max (SMEs under 100 FTE prioritized)
- Eligible activities: Hiring a Canadian post-secondary student (college or university) for a paid work placement of at least 4 weeks; placement must align with the student's program of study; in-person, hybrid, or remote work all acceptable
Watch out for
Not incorporated; placement not connected to a post-secondary student's program of study; placement shorter than 4 weeks; student not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person; non-cash compensation only
Deadlines & how to apply
$635.2M renewed November 2025 through 2028-29. Summer 2026 applications open for placements between May 1 and Aug 31, 2026. SMEs with under 100 FTE may apply for any number of student hires regardless of whether they are net-new roles. Apply through an industry-specific delivery partner, NOT directly to ESDC. Choose delivery partner based on your sector.
How NorthGrants helps with Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
Most business owners read about Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.