Open
ECO Canada — Student Work Placement Program
Last Update: March 17, 2026
Canada
Money to hire students for an environmental co-op
Wage Subsidies And Interns
Overview
If you’re working on an environmental project, you could get connected with a post-secondary student in STEAM or business and a subsidy to cover 50% of their salary up to $5,000 for a maximum of 16 weeks.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce the ecological footprint
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : April 1, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Higher Education
- Environment
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Young adults
- New immigrants & refugees
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Activities funded
- Placement of post-secondary students in work positions related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM), or Business fields.
- Facilitation of real-world, on-the-job learning experiences for students in environmental sectors while they are still enrolled in post-secondary education.
- Collaboration between Canadian businesses and post-secondary institutions to offer meaningful work placements of 6 to 16 weeks duration.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 2,520
Research assistant position for an engineering student at GreenEnergy Labs
$ 2,200
Graphic design internship for an arts student at RecycleYourTech
$ 2,400
Sustainability advisor role for a business student at Forever Green Initiatives
$ 2,500
Real-world work placement for a data analyst student at GreenTech Solutions
$ 3,000
Web development internship for a computer science student at CleanTech Innovations
$ 2,400
Environmental impact study internship for a biology student at EcoBio Research
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a Canadian-owned business or a Canadian subsidiary.
- The applicant must not be a municipality, government entity, or post-secondary institution.
- The business can be of any size.
- The business must offer a new full-time or part-time placement lasting 6 to 16 weeks, with a minimum of 180 hours, for a post-secondary student in a STEAM or Business field.
Who is eligible?
- Businesses of all sizes that are Canadian-owned or Canadian subsidiaries (excluding municipalities, governments, and post-secondary institutions)
Who is not eligible
- Municipalities
- Government entities
- Post-secondary institutions
Eligible expenses
- Salary expenses for students hired for full-time or part-time placements (6 to 16 weeks, minimum 180 hours), covering 50% of wages up to a maximum of $5,000 per student.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses located anywhere in Canada
How to apply
1
Apply Online
- Visit the ECO Canada Student Work Placement Program website.
- Choose the appropriate application path: Apply as a Student or Apply as an Employer.
- Fill out the online application form with the required information.
2
Approval Notification
Once pre-qualified, both students and employers will receive an email informing them of their approval to participate in the program.
3
Placement Recruitment
- Begin recruitment for the placement through resources such as the ECO Canada Job Board.
- Employers can post job opportunities, and students can submit their resumes for consideration.
4
Contract Finalization
- After a match is confirmed between a pre-approved student and employer, contracts are prepared.
- Sign and return the contracts to ECO Canada within 15 days of issuance.
5
Funding Receipt
- Employers can receive up to 50% of the wage coverage, to a maximum of $5,000, once the placement begins.
- Both employers and students must complete required reports throughout the placement period to maintain funding eligibility.
Additional information
- The French version of the website is under development and will be available soon.
- The program offers access to a job board for recruitment support.
- Both employers and students are required to complete periodic reporting during the placement.
- Funding is secured only after a contract is signed and returned within 15 days of issue.
