Open
Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Money for businesses to hire students
Wage Subsidies And Interns
Overview
Get a wage subsidy of up to $7,000/student to cover up to 70% of your costs when you hire post-secondary students on work-integrated learning (WIL) placements in your business or not-for-profit organization.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce the ecological footprint
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : July 9, 2023
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Employment and Training
Target groups
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Academia / students
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- National
Activities funded
- Hiring post-secondary students for work-integrated learning (WIL) placements, such as cooperative education or internships, related to their field of study.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 7,000
Setting up a tutoring program for high school students in mathematics and science
$ 7,000
Implementing an educational recycling campaign in local schools
$ 6,300
Creating a digital archive for local historical documents and photographs
$ 7,000
Developing a mobile app for local farmers to sell produce directly to consumers
$ 7,000
Establishing a mentorship program for new immigrants in the tech industry
$ 7,000
Launch a community garden initiative to promote urban agriculture
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a registered Canadian business or not-for-profit organization.
- The applicant may be located anywhere in Canada and operate in any industry sector.
- The organization must be hiring post-secondary students for work-integrated learning placements, such as co-op or internships, that are considered 'net new' positions.
- Remote work for students is permitted.
Who is eligible?
- Registered Canadian businesses located anywhere in Canada
- Not-for-profit organizations located anywhere in Canada
- Employers operating in any industry sector
Who is not eligible
- Federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal government entities.
- Organizations that are extensions of government, such as crown corporations, hospitals, public long-term care facilities, and post-secondary institutions.
- Members of the House of Commons and the Senate.
- Organizations engaging in partisan political activities.
- Major and other financial sector employers, including businesses that underwrite loans.
Eligible expenses
- Wages paid to eligible post-secondary students hired for work-integrated learning (WIL) placements.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses and organizations located anywhere in Canada.
Selection criteria
Evaluation and selection criteria for this grant program include the following:
- Placements must be 'net new' to qualify for funding.
- Employers must meet the eligibility criteria specified in the program guidelines.
- Students hired on work-integrated learning placements must be registered at a recognized Canadian college or university.
- Employers must be a registered Canadian business or not-for-profit organization.
- Funding is available on a first-come first-serve basis.
- Applications must receive conditional approval and a Recipient Agreement must be signed to reserve funding.
- There are specific exclusions for certain types of organizations and sectors.
These criteria are essential for determining eligibility and funding allocation for the Talent Opportunities Program.
How to apply
1
Verify Eligibility
- Review the Talent Opportunities Program (TOP) eligibility criteria to ensure your organization qualifies.
- Determine if the placements are 'net new' using the provided baseline calculation guidelines.
2
Register and Access Portal
- Click the link provided to access the Talent Opportunities Program application portal.
- Create an account on the portal if you do not already have one.
3
Complete Application Form
- Log into the funding application portal using your account credentials.
- Fill out the online application form with details about your organization and the student placements.
- Ensure all information is accurate and complete.
4
Submit Required Documents
- Upload all necessary supporting documents as specified by the program guidelines.
- Check that all documents are in the required format and size.
5
Review and Submit Application
- Carefully review the completed application and attached documents.
- Submit the application through the portal.
6
Acknowledgment of Submission
- Receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your application.
- Keep this confirmation for your records and tracking purposes.
Additional information
- Applications for the Summer 2024 term are currently being placed on a waitlist due to high demand and limited funding.
- Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and is only reserved once conditional approval is granted and the Recipient Agreement is signed.
- Employers need to consult the TOP Program Guidelines & FAQs for detailed information before applying.
- Remote work placements are permitted under this program.
