Closed
Source verified July 11, 2026
Magnet — Student Work Placement Program
Wage subsidies for hiring post-secondary students
Latest source updateLast Update: April 2, 2026Latest change: The Student Work Placement Program has removed the enhanced $7,000 funding tier for under-represented groups, replacing it with a flat $5,000 maximum for all eligible placements.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: April 2, 2026
Latest change: The Student Work Placement Program has removed the enhanced $7,000 funding tier for under-represented groups, replacing it with a flat $5,000 maximum for all eligible placements.
SWPP Funding Restructured for Under-Represented Groups
The Student Work Placement Program has undergone a significant funding restructuring. The enhanced funding tier providing up to 70% of wages (maximum $7,000) for under-represented groups, including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous students, and visible minorities, has been removed. All placements now receive a flat maximum of 50% of wages up to $5,000, regardless of student background. This change affects the selection criteria and eligible expenses for employers seeking to maximize their funding. The program continues to operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications open for Summer 2026 (May 1 to August 31, 2026). Minor updates to partner organization links were also made, including a URL change for Culture Works Canada and an expanded name for FCCQ.
Funding available
$ 7,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The Student Work Placement Program supports Canadian private-sector employers and not-for-profit organizations with up to 50% of wages, to a maximum of $5,000, for hiring post-secondary students across Canada. It funds paid work-integrated learning placements such as co-op placements, internships, and field placements.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Sole proprietorship
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-financial cooperative
- Social economy enterprise
- 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
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Paid work-integrated learning placements for post-secondary students.
- Co-operative education, internships, and field placements.
- Work experience, community service learning, applied research projects, and entrepreneurial WIL.
Documents Needed
- First Employer Report (2-Week Touchpoint)
- First Student Report (2-Week Touchpoint)
- Proof of Student’s active student status
- End-of-SWP Employer survey and End-of-SWP Student survey
- Proof of total payment of wages to Student and Invoice for amount claimed
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian private-sector employers.
- Not-for-profit employers.
Who is not eligible
- Federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.
- Members of the House of Commons and the Senate, and organizations that engage in partisan political activities.
- Post-secondary institutions.
- Hospitals and public long-term care facilities, Crown corporations, and financial institutions.
- Financial sector employers with 500 or more employees, and non-secular institutions unless the placement is a secular WIL opportunity.
Eligible expenses
- Gross salary paid to the student, including Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs).
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Sub contracts and contractor positions.
- Trades and apprenticeships, including apprenticeships on the Red Seal Trades website.
- Clinical hours in healthcare and articling hours for lawyers.
- Placements filled by a business owner or an existing employee.
- Placements that fill a vacancy due to an industrial dispute, fill the position of a laid-off worker awaiting recall, or displace another worker.
Selection criteria
- Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Completed applications are prioritized in the order they are received.
How to apply
- Create a FREE account on Outcome Campus Connect.
- Apply for funding through the Outcome Campus Connect platform.
Processing and Agreement
- Your application will be reviewed, and you will be notified of the next steps within two weeks, depending on the volume of applications received.
- Funding is reimbursed after the placement ends and once all required documentation has been received and approved.
Additional information
- Support and live sessions are available, along with self-serve guides, eligibility checklists, and a net-new calculator.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program Program
What is the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program?
The Student Work Placement Program supports Canadian private-sector employers and not-for-profit organizations with up to 50% of wages, to a maximum of $5,000, for hiring post-secondary students across Canada. It funds paid work-integrated learning placements such as co-op placements, internships, and field placements.
How much funding can be received?
Magnet — Student Work Placement Program Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $7,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program program?
To be eligible for the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program program, you must:
The employer must be a Canadian private-sector employer or a not-for-profit employer.
The placement must be a quality work-integrated learning experience aligned with the student’s post-secondary program.
The employer must pay the student and have the financial capacity to pay for the full placement.
What expenses are eligible under Magnet — Student Work Placement Program?
Paid work-integrated learning placements for post-secondary students.
Co-operative education, internships, and field placements.
Work experience, community service learning, applied research projects, and entrepreneurial WIL.
Who can I contact for more information about the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program?
You can contact Magnet by email at swpp@magnetnetwork.ca.
Where is the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program available?
The Magnet — Student Work Placement Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Magnet — Student Work Placement Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Magnet — Student Work Placement Program is a Wage Subsidies And Interns