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Source verified May 7, 2026
Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program
Subsidy to hire students for mining jobs
Latest source updateLast Update: March 20, 2026Latest change: The Gearing Up program has updated its fiscal year cycle, reduced maximum wage subsidy amounts, and increased its WIL placement targets for 2026-27.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: March 20, 2026
Latest change: The Gearing Up program has updated its fiscal year cycle, reduced maximum wage subsidy amounts, and increased its WIL placement targets for 2026-27.
Gearing Up Program 2026-27 Updates
The Gearing Up program is transitioning to the 2026-27 fiscal year with a new application window opening March 25. Key funding changes include a reduction in the maximum wage subsidy from $7,000 to $5,000 per employer. The program's WIL placement target has been increased from 2,000 to 2,500 opportunities. All program documents have been updated to reflect the new fiscal year cycle.
Funding available
$ 5,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Opened April 1, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
Get a wage subsidy of up to $5,000 to create new work-integrated learning opportunities for students in mining-related post-secondary education programs.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Structured work experience placements.
- Co-op placements.
- Internships.
- Field placements.
- Applied projects.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian-owned companies.
- Canadian subsidiaries.
- Not-for-profit organizations.
- Mining and mineral exploration employers.
Who is not eligible
- Post-secondary education institutions.
- International students.
- Apprenticeships.
Eligible expenses
- Wage subsidies for paid work-integrated learning placements.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Apprenticeships.
- Other federal funding programs combined with this wage subsidy.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada.
- Placements outside British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec are prioritized.
Selection criteria
- Priority for new employers not previously involved in Gearing Up.
- Priority for small and medium-sized employers.
- Priority for placements outside British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
- Limit of 10 net new Gearing Up placements per work site during 2025-2026.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review resources
- Read the applicant guide and confirm eligibility.
- Understand the net new placement calculation.
- Step 2: Submit Phase I application
- Apply through MiHR’s online application form.
- Provide organizational contact details, job title, work terms, and net new placement information.
- Step 3: Preliminary review
- MiHR reviews the application and net new calculation.
- If accepted, the employer receives next-step instructions.
- Step 4: Complete Phase II
- Submit the signed employer agreement and participant information form through the online employer portal.
- Complete any required training and follow-up program steps.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed in two phases by MiHR.
- Approved applicants must submit signed agreements and participant information forms before funding is confirmed.
- MiHR may place applications on a waitlist if funding allocation is exceeded.
- Placements are monitored during the work experience, and a post-placement survey is completed afterward.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Gearing Up encourages participation by underrepresented groups such as women in STEM, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, first-year students, and members of visible minority groups.
- A Steering Committee provides guidance and subject matter expertise into project activities, outputs, and desired outcomes, comprising members from various universities and organizations involved in the mining sector.
- Applications can be submitted online via the dedicated application form on the Gearing Up website.
- Employers can access wage subsidies of up to $5,000 for offering work experience opportunities.
- Gearing Up aims to create over 2,000 new work-integrated learning opportunities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program Program
What is the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program?
Get a wage subsidy of up to $5,000 to create new work-integrated learning opportunities for students in mining-related post-secondary education programs.
How much funding can be received?
Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $5,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program program?
To be eligible for the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program program, you must:
Canadian-owned or subsidiary employer
Mining sector employer
Net new WIL placement
What expenses are eligible under Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program?
Structured work experience placements.
Co-op placements.
Internships.
Field placements.
Applied projects.
Who can I contact for more information about the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program?
You can contact Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) by email at wagesubsidies@mihr.ca.
Where is the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program available?
The Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program is a Wage Subsidies And Interns