How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $7000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)?

BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is funded by BioTalent Canada

What are BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)'s eligibility criterias?

The employer must create a work-integrated learning opportunity within biotechnology or healthcare sectors. The position must either be in a biotechnology or healthcare focus or the employer must have a biotechnology or healthcare focus. The student must be added to the employer’s payroll with the necessary Federal/Provincial tax deductions.

BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Funding to hire co-ops in healthcare or bio-economy

BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $7,000
Up to 70% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : December 1, 2024
Closing date : March 31, 2025

Financing Type

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance

Grant Providers

BioTalent Canada

Program status

Opening Soon

Overview of the BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) program

If you’re in the business of healthcare or bioscience, you could get connected with a post-secondary student to work with you on a project up to 16 weeks and a subsidy to cover 70% of their salary, up to $7,000.

Eligible projects & activities

This grant is available to companies located throughout Canada, as it is a national program. Eligible companies must be able to offer work-integrated learning opportunities in biotechnology or healthcare sectors across the nation.

Companies located in any province or territory in Canada.
Organizations conducting biotechnology or healthcare-related work across Canada.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 4,500

Hire a pharmacy student to improve medication management systems

$ 7,000

Hire a biotechnology student for research in cancer cell biology

$ 7,000

Provide a work-integrated learning opportunity in pediatric healthcare

$ 5,000

Support a psychology student in mental health outreach initiative

$ 6,000

Engage a student from UBC for healthcare data analytics project

$ 5,600

Engage a business student for a healthcare startup’s financial analysis

Eligibility criteria of the BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) program

Eligibility for this grant is determined based on the employer's ability to create a suitable work-integrated learning opportunity and adherence to the program's distinct criteria.

The employer must be creating a work-integrated learning opportunity that meets the program criteria.
The employer should be a biotechnology or healthcare organization, or the position should have a biotechnology or healthcare focus.
The employer must ensure the student placement is additional to the baseline number of students previously hired and not funded by other Federal grants.
Students must be added to the employer’s payroll with Federal/Provincial tax deductions.

Who is eligible?

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is available to Canadian employers that meet specific criteria related to biotechnology or healthcare and are looking to create work-integrated learning opportunities for students.

Employers must provide work opportunities in biotechnology or healthcare fields.
Employers can be any organization with a biotechnology or healthcare focus.
Students hired must be enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution full- or part-time.
Students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees legally entitled to work in Canada.

Who is not eligible

This grant does not specify restrictions related to certain companies or industries based on status or main activities. Eligibility is instead focused on meeting certain conditions related to bio-economy and healthcare functions.

Eligible expenses

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) supports projects that aim to enhance the job-readiness of students enrolled in various programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The eligible activities are focused on providing work-integrated learning opportunities within the bio-economy and healthcare sectors.

Hiring students for roles with biotechnology or healthcare focus.
Creating net new student placements that align with bio-economy or healthcare job functions.
Engaging in projects aimed at developing business, technical, and essential skill sets of students.
Offering part-time or full-time work opportunities for students, ensuring they meet the minimum duration and hour requirements.
Utilizing wage subsidies to offset costs associated with hiring students from under-represented groups.
Ensuring student placements contribute to the employer’s workforce strategy, developing talent for future recruitment needs.

Eligible geographic areas

The grant covers the wage subsidy for student placements to support work-integrated learning opportunities.

Wage subsidies covering 50% of a student's salary up to $5,000.
Wage subsidies covering 70% of a student's salary up to $7,000 for first-year students and under-represented groups.

Eligibility criteria of the BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) program

Below are the evaluation and selection criteria for the Student Work Placement Program grant:

Demonstrated need for funding to support student work placements
Alignment of the proposed work placement with the program's objectives
Clear plan for integrating the student into the organization and providing valuable work experience
Commitment to support the student's learning and development
Capacity to provide a safe and inclusive work environment for the student
Potential for the work placement to lead to future employment opportunities

How to apply to the BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) program

Create an Account

Log into the BioTalent Canada website.
If you don't have an account, create a new one providing necessary details.

Access Dashboard

Sign in to your BioTalent Canada user account.
Navigate to the 'My Applications' section under Wage Subsidy Applications.

Submit New Application

Click on the 'Submit new wage subsidy application' button.
Complete the application form with details about your placement opportunity.
Ensure all required fields are filled accurately and submit the application.

Confirmation and Follow-up

Receive an email confirmation verifying the submission of your application.
If placed on a limited-capacity waitlist, await further communication via email.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

Applications may be placed on a limited-capacity waitlist due to overwhelming demand, especially for summer-term placements.
BioTalent Canada offers free access to new training programs once the placement is approved.
The program is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program.
Placements funded through stipends, scholarships, or bursaries do not qualify for this program.
Student work placements must be considered net new hires, beyond a company's baseline hiring records.
Employers must add students to their payroll including Federal/Provincial tax deductions.