Grant
Provincial
Active
Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive
Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
Maximum Funding
$8/hour (up to 640 hours per placement, max ~$5,120);...
Three intakes per year: Summer (Dec 15–Jan 15), Fall (Apr 15–May 15), Winter ...
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive provides up to $8/hour (up to 640 hours per placement, max ~$5,120); $9.50/hour for diversity group students (max ~$6,080). Wage subsidy program providing Nova Scotia employers $8 per hour (or $9.50/hour for designated diversity group students) for co-op student placements of 12–16 weeks, up to 640 funded hours per placement, to offset the cost of hiring co-op students from Nova Scotia universities and colleges. Three intakes per year: Summer (Dec 15–Jan 15), Fall (Apr 15–May 15), Winter (Aug 15–Sep 15).
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Wage subsidy program providing Nova Scotia employers $8 per hour (or $9.50/hour for designated diversity group students) for co-op student placements of 12–16 weeks, up to 640 funded hours per placement, to offset the cost of hiring co-op students from Nova Scotia universities and colleges.
Eligibility Requirements
- Private-sector businesses, non-profits, charities, government-funded organizations, social enterprises, and municipalities
- Student must be enrolled in a co-operative education program at a Nova Scotia university or college
- Work term must be 12–16 weeks in duration (32-week placements available in some programs — verify with institution)
- Position must pay the student at least $18/hour plus vacation pay
- Position must be full-time and aligned with co-op program requirements of the student's institution
- Apply separately per county if hiring students for positions in multiple counties
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- $8/hour (up to 640 hours per placement, max ~$5,120); $9.50/hour for diversity group students (max ~$6,080)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Deadline
- Three intakes per year: Summer (Dec 15–Jan 15), Fall (Apr 15–May 15), Winter (Aug 15–Sep 15)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 10-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipApply within the first week of the intake window — budget is allocated first-come, first-served and popular intakes (Summer especially) can fill quickly.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Application submitted outside the intake window for the relevant work term season
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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6 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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5 steps
10 docs
Application Steps
1
Create or log in to LaMPSS account Access the Labour Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS) at novascotia.ca. Create an account if this is your first application — allow a few days if you need CRA/Registry number verification.
Required Documents 10
✓ LaMPSS account (online application portal — create account if new)
✓ Registry or CRA business number, or legal documentation of organization
Eligible Expenses 2
Ineligible Expenses 4
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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3 partners
Compatible Programs
Canada Summer Jobs (federal)
Nova Scotia Graduate to Opportunity (GTO)
NRC IRAP (Technical Co-op / R&D student stream)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive | $8/hour (up to 640 hours per... | Easy | Reimbursement | Three intakes per year:... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive
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Do we need to be a tech company to qualify?
No — the Co-op Education Incentive is open to private-sector businesses, non-profits, charities, municipalities, and social enterprises across all industries in Nova Scotia. Any organization that can offer a legitimate co-op position paying $18+/hour qualifies.
What is the diversity group student rate and who qualifies?
The enhanced rate of $9.50/hour applies to students from designated diversity groups. The student self-identifies — confirm with them before applying for the higher rate through the LaMPSS system.
Can we use this program for the same student multiple terms?
Yes — a student can be eligible for multiple co-op placements across different work terms if they remain enrolled in their co-op program. Apply during each relevant intake window.
How long does approval take and can we hire the student before approval?
Approval takes approximately 2 weeks. You should apply within the intake window before the work term starts and ideally before finalizing the student hiring — the application must be submitted and the funding agreement signed before the work term begins to be eligible for reimbursement.
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Full Playbook: Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive
5 steps · 10 docs · reviewer insights