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.

Financing terms and conditions

Wage subsidy of up to 50% of student wages, to a maximum of $5,000 per eligible placement.
Wage subsidy of up to 70% of student wages, to a maximum of $7,000 per eligible placement for under-represented groups (including Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, first-year students, visible minorities, and/or women in STEM), subject to a limited pool of funds.

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

Launch a community garden initiative to promote urban agriculture

$ 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Creating a digital archive for local historical documents and photographs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

Setting up a tutoring program for high school students in mathematics and science

$ 7,000

Establishing a mentorship program for new immigrants in the tech industry

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Review and Submit Application

Carefully review the completed application and attached documents.
Submit the application through the portal.

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.

Documents and links

Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program. 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 Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program?

Who is eligible for the Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program program?

To be eligible for the Talent Opportunities Program — Student Work Placement Program program, you must: Must be a registered Canadian business, not-for-profit, or organization (excluding government entities and major financial sector employers). Must hire post-secondary students for 'net new' work-integrated learning placements. Cannot be a federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal government or their extensions.