ECO Canada — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Wage subsidy for Canadian employers hiring post-secondary students into environmental-sector placements: 50% of the student's salary reimbursed, up to $5,000, for 6-16 week placements related to the student's STEAM or Business program. ECO Canada delivers this on behalf of the federal Student Work Placement Program (ESDC).
Eligibility Requirements
- Employer must be Canadian-owned or a Canadian subsidiary; open to businesses and non-profits of all sizes
- Municipalities, governments, and post-secondary institutions are excluded as the employer
- Student must be currently enrolled in an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution (no age restriction)
- Student must hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or Canadian refugee status
- Placement must be directly related to the student's post-secondary program in STEAM or Business
- Placement must be 6-16 weeks with a minimum of 180 hours worked
- The student is not required to be in a formal co-op program with the post-secondary institution
- Priority given to female students in STEAM, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous students, first-year students, and recent immigrants
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- 50% wage reimbursement, up to $5,000 per student placement
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Placement dates April 1, 2026 - February 15, 2027; placements are 6-16 weeks, minimum 180 hours; slots currently open
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win SWPP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 4-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipApply early — funding is a limited pool released in slots and the placement window closes February 15, 2027. Note there is no enhanced rate for priority groups on this program; priority-group students get preference in selection, not a larger subsidy.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application steps not yet documented.
Required Documents 4
Deadline Notes
Placement Dates: April 1, 2026 - February 15, 2027. Placement Duration: 6-16 weeks, full-time or part-time, with a minimum of 180 hours. Slots are currently open and funding is limited.
Applying for SWPP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Unknown RiskHow SWPP Compares
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