Student Work Placement Program

Important notice: the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is nearing capacity for 2024-2025 fall term applications. Applications that have been started may be placed on a waitlist. We encourage employers who have not submitted their applications to do so before the program reaches capacity.

As we are nearing capacity, only fall-term placements that have already been initiated for BioTalent Canada’s 2024-2025 Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) will be considered for funding. New applications for the fall term can no longer be started. 

We are making every effort to fund as many fall placements as possible before they are completed. However, funding for fall applications submitted now is not guaranteed. 

We strongly recommend that employers who have initiated applications complete those submissions. Applications for placement must be completed by all parties involved – employer, student, and academic contact — and the employer must submit the final package online. 

NEW as of August 1, 2024 – Due to the overwhelming demand for SWPP funding, there is no guarantee that all applications will be approved. At this time, priority is being given to Bioscience employers. Healthcare organizations that overlap with the bio-economy may be considered for funding.   

Deadlines:

• No longer accepting applications: Spring/Summer 2024 term placements with the earliest start date of April 1, 2024 and  latest end date of August 30, 2024. The submission deadline was August 15, 2024.
• Fall 2024 term placementswith the earliest start date of August 1, 2024, and the latest end date of December 31, 2024. The application intake will be between August 1, 2024, to December 6, 2024. Please note: only fall-term placements that have already been initiated for BioTalent Canada’s 2024-2025 Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) will be considered for funding.
• Winter 2025 term placements with the earliest start date of December 1, 2024, and the latest end date of March 31, 2025. The application intake will be between December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

Please note: If the placement falls between two terms, please submit the application in the term where the placement starts, and the system will adjust accordingly. For example, if the placement runs from July 20 to October 31, 2024, please apply during the Spring/Summer 2024 term.

Please contact Colleen at [email protected] if you have any questions.

What could your organization achieve with up to $7,000 in wage subsidies?

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Program description

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is an initiative to increase the job-readiness of students registered in STEM, healthcare (with an overlap into the bio-economy), business, and all other programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions.

The program gives employers the freedom to:

• Gain access to funds to hire students
• Leverage a pool of workers eager to enhance their skills
• Develop new talent for future recruitment needs

The program’s wage subsidies help knock down cost barriers, by covering the cost of a student’s salary by 50% up to a maximum of $5,000 and 70% up to a maximum of $7,000 for first-year students and under-represented groups including: women in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM); indigenous students; persons with disabilities; members of a visible minority; and newcomers.

The program enables you to bring on an eager-to-learn student for a special project – and at the end of the placement end up with a skilled candidate already oriented to your company who could meet your future recruiting needs.

As a SWPP participant, you get the added benefit of free access to BioTalent Canada’s new training programs—“Essential Skills Fundamentals Training Program” and “Technical Skills Fundamentals Training Program”.  Access will be provided to you once your placement is approved.

Get the BioReady™ Edge by completing these programs and have a competitive advantage as you begin your career journey. A strong command of all the basics enables you to onboard easily, contribute quickly, and impress immediately.

Need help with your recruiting? Connect to our academic partners for student talent

Long success record

BioTalent Canada has issued a new report detailing the success of its national Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) and its positive impact on the severe Labour Market Shortages affecting Canada’s Bioscience industry.

This comprehensive report, titled “Biosciences Booster: Student Work Placement Program propelling Canada’s bio-economy forward,” highlights the remarkable success that has been achieved since the bioscience and healthcare SWPP program began in 2017.

Download the biosciences booster

Eligibility 

Update: As of April 1, 2022 – Post-secondary institutions (universities, colleges and polytechnics) are no longer eligible to participate in SWPP as the employer of record.

Wage subsidies are available to all employers creating a work-integrated learning opportunity and meeting the program criteria. Biotechnology or healthcare organizations (with an overlap into the bio-economy) can hire students from any post-secondary institution across Canada through BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program.

NEW as of August 1, 2024 –Due to the overwhelming demand for SWPP funding there is no guarantee all applications will be approved and at this time priority is being given to Bioscience employers. Healthcare employers may be considered only if there is an overlap with the bio-economy, such as with Clinical Trials or other research. This overlap should be identified in the SWPP application in the organization or job description. 

To qualify for the program, either:

1. the position needs to have a biotechnology or healthcare focus (with an overlap with the bio-economy) or
2. the employer needs to have a biotechnology or healthcare focus (with an overlap with the bio-economy).

Participant/ Student must be:

• Enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at a Canadian post-secondary education institution. Including CEGEP, College, undergrad, Masters, PhD or post-graduate students.
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred and legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
• Studying in fields related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), business and/ or any other program

Please also see the Participant information page for participant eligibility.

Participant/ Student can not be:

• International students or
• Students between programs (e.g. Graduated in the Spring from one program and starting another in the Fall.)

Placement criteria:

• Provide full- or part-time work opportunity at a minimum of 10 hours/week, for a minimum of 4 weeks up to a maximum of 16 weeks.
• Must be with a bio-economy employer or healthcare employer (with an overlap into the bio-economy) and/or fulfilling a bio-economy or healthcare job function (with an overlap into the bio-economy).
• The student placement being funded must be over and above (i.e. net new) your organization’s baseline number of students previously hired. This baseline number is on file with BioTalent Canada, or it will be requested if this is your organization’s first application for SWPP funding.
  • To show the impact of this funding program, BioTalent Canada is required to track the number of students an employer hired in the past, before they receive BioTalent Canada SWPP funding. Please provide the lower number of students hired in the 2023 calendar year for which you received no government funding. If you did not hire any students in 2023 please enter 0.
• The wages for the placement must not be funded by other Federal grants such as CIHR, NSERC, Canada Summer Jobs, or by another federally-funded program such as IRAP, Mitacs etc. Placements funded through a stipend, scholarship and/or bursaries do not qualify.
• The student must be added to the employer’s payroll which includes Federal/Provincial tax deductions (CPP, EI, etc.). Participants are not eligible for the program as contractors.
• Should the placement be longer than 16 weeks, please contact us as you could be eligible to apply for another funding term.

Submit Wage Subsidy Application

Employers, uncertain if your job qualifies?

Apply online for SWPP funding in three easy steps:

1. Sign in to your BioTalent Canada user account;
2. On your dashboard, click on the “My Applications” under Wage Subsidy Applications; and
3. Click on the “Submit new wage subsidy application” button to get started

Detailed Application Instructions 

To access our online submission tools, please log into your biotalent.ca account. If you do not have an account, you can create one.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program.