Student Summer Skills Incentive

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the Student Summer Skills Incentive a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Student Summer Skills Incentive is a Wage Subsidies And Interns

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Student Summer Skills Incentive?

Student Summer Skills Incentive is funded by Government of Nova Scotia

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Student Summer Skills Incentive?

You can contact Government of Nova Scotia.

Q: Where is the Student Summer Skills Incentive available?

The Student Summer Skills Incentive program is available the province of NS.

Q: Are youth (under 40) eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program?

Yes, youth under 40 are eligible to apply for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

NS, Canada

Get a wage subsidy to hire post-secondary students

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : December 15, 2023
Closing date : February 1, 2024

Financing Type

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

All industries

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

Get a subsidy for your non-profit organization when you hire a post-secondary summer student for 8-14 weeks.

Financing terms and conditions

The Student Summer Skills Incentive grant provides wage subsidies to eligible non-profit organizations to help them hire post-secondary students for summer positions. The financing modalities are designed to support both standard and Work Integrated Learning programs.

Wage subsidy of $10.50 per hour for standard positions, and $11.50 per hour if the hired student is part of a designated diversity group.
The subsidy covers up to 525 hours of work per student during the summer term.
For Work Integrated Learning (Co-op) positions, the wage subsidy increases by an additional $1 per hour above the regular subsidy rate, conditional on paying at least $1 above the minimum wage.

Activities funded

The Student Summer Skills Incentive (SKILL) grant is designed to provide wage assistance to non-profit organizations that hire post-secondary students for summer employment. The program supports various activities, primarily revolving around student employment in roles that align with their field of study, thereby enhancing skill development and career-related experience.

Hiring students for summer employment related to their area of study such as IT, marketing, or historical research.
Engaging students in work-integrated learning opportunities like co-ops or internships that provide academic credit.
Offering summer positions that help develop skills and experience in non-profit, charity, or social enterprise sectors.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 10,080

Hire IT students to develop a mobile app for community service coordination

$ 10,080

Hire students to support urban agriculture initiatives and community gardening projects

$ 15,120

Hire nursing students for a summer program providing health education to underserved communities

$ 12,600

Engage students to organize and run summer camps focused on STEM education for kids

$ 5,040

Hire students to assist in the digitization of historical records at the local museum

$ 7,560

Employ design students to create educational materials for a local wildlife preservation group

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive (SKILL), organizations must meet specific criteria.

Be a not-for-profit organization registered as a charity or active society with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
Plan to hire a university or college student for 8-14 weeks between April and August.
Pay their summer student-employee minimum wage or more (plus vacation pay) for at least 240 hours during their work term.
Not receive funding from any other government employment program for the same position.

Who is eligible?

The Student Summer Skills Incentive (SKILL) program is intended for registered non-profit organizations, charities, and social enterprises in Canada. Eligible organizations must be registered as a charity or be an active society with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. They should plan to hire a university or college student for 8-14 weeks between April and August and pay the student at least minimum wage plus vacation pay for full-time work. Additionally, the organization must not be receiving funding from any other government employment program for the same position. For those hiring students in Co-op or Work-Integrated Learning programs, the work term must also meet the educational requirements of the student's program.

Who is not eligible

This grant is specifically for non-profit organizations that hire post-secondary students for summer jobs. Consequently, certain types of organizations are not eligible to apply due to their business structure or funding sources.

For-profit companies of any kind.
Organizations not registered as a charity or active society with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
Organizations receiving funding from other government employment programs for the same position.

Eligible expenses

The SKILL grant supports activities that provide meaningful summer employment opportunities for post-secondary students within non-profit organizations. The eligible projects focus on hiring students to perform specific tasks that align with their field of study and enhance their career-related skills.

Hiring a Computer Science student to develop or enhance a website for the organization.
Engaging a Business student in marketing and promotional activities to boost organizational outreach.
Employing a History major for research projects connected to historical documentation or museum exhibits.
Offering positions in Co-op or other Work-Integrated Learning programs to provide academic credit and practical experience.
Contributing to social enterprises by engaging students in roles that support community development and services.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is directed by the Labour, Skills and Immigration department of Nova Scotia, indicating specific regional relevance to this Canadian province. Therefore, eligible geographical areas include units registered within Nova Scotia.

Organizations registered as a charity or active society within Nova Scotia.

Selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant.

Employers must be a not-for-profit organization registered as a charity or active society with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
The organization must plan to hire a university or college student for 8-14 weeks between April and August.
The employer must pay their summer student-employee minimum wage or more for full-time work (at least 240 hours during their work term).
The organization should not be receiving funding from any other government employment program for the same position.

How to apply

Access the Application Portal

Create a LaMPSS Account or log in if you already have one.

Prepare Required Information

Ensure you have your charity number or active Society Act number ready.
Describe your organization and detail the position(s) you wish to fill, including a breakdown of time spent on various tasks.
Review program guidelines for any additional required descriptions or documents.

Application Completion

Fill in the application online, ensuring all sections are completed as per the program guidelines.
If applying for positions in more than one county, complete a separate application for each.

Special Considerations for Work-Integrated Learning

If hiring a Co-op student, ensure you select "SKILL/Co-op" as the position type.
Provide written confirmation from the educational program representative about course credit eligibility, if applicable.

Submit Application

Carefully review all entered information and documents uploaded in your application for accuracy.
Submit the completed application online before the deadline.

Post-Submission

Retain a copy of your submission confirmation for your records.
If needed, contact Labour, Skills, and Immigration for any inquiries using the provided contact details.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The wage subsidy rate increases by $1 for co-op or Work-Integrated Learning positions where the student earns course credits.
Employers must submit written confirmation from an educational program representative if hiring a co-op or Work-Integrated Learning student.
The subsidy applies for up to 525 hours of student work during the employment term.
Separate applications are required for hiring students in different counties.
Contact information for queries is available, including a phone number and email.

Documents and links

Student Summer Skills Incentive

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Student Summer Skills Incentive Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Student Summer Skills Incentive. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the Student Summer Skills Incentive?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Student Summer Skills Incentive a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the Student Summer Skills Incentive?

Who is eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program?

To be eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program, you must: The organization must be a not-for-profit entity registered as a charity or active society with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. Organizations must plan to hire a university or college student for 8-14 weeks between April and August. The organization should not be receiving funding from any other government employment program for the same position.