Updated May 2026 · Verified against Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement
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,...
Three intakes per year: Summer (Dec 15–Jan 15), Fall (Apr 15–May 15), Winter ...
Visit Official Program →
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. Three intakes per year: Summer (Dec 15–Jan 15), Fall (Apr 15–May 15), Winter (Aug 15–Sep 15). (As of May 2026, verified against Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration program guidelines)

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
Nova Scotia
Industries
Technology Manufacturing Life Sciences Clean Technology All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Expansion Mature

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
Est. Hours
2h
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

Hybrid
Competition
Low
Effort
~2 hours
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 — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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Applying for Nova Scotia Co-op Education Incentive? 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) →

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Apply within the first week of the intake window — budget is allocated first-come, first-served and popular intakes (Summer especially) can fill quickly. If you hire students in multiple NS counties, you must submit separate applications per county. The $9.50/hour diversity stream applies when the student identifies as a member of a designated diversity group — confirm with the student before applying for the higher rate. The minimum $18/hour wage floor must be met by the employer; the subsidy offsets part of that cost but does not replace the employer's wage obligation.

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Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • Application submitted outside the intake window for the relevant work term season
  • Student is not enrolled in a Nova Scotia co-op education program
  • Position does not pay minimum $18/hour plus vacation pay
+3 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

A Nova Scotia technology company, manufacturer, or research organization that regularly hires co-op students from local universities (Dalhousie, NSCC, Acadia, Cape Breton University, etc.) for 3–4 month work terms. Pays students competitive wages ($18–$28/hour range) and has an established co-op coordinator relationship with one or more institutions. Particularly strong fit for small-to-medium NS tech firms that employ 2–10 co-op students per year.

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Evaluation Criteria

Non-competitive eligibility-based assessment. Applications are reviewed for: (1) employer organization type (must be private sector, NPO, charity, municipal, social enterprise, or government-funded organization), (2) student co-op enrollment at an NS institution, (3) position meeting $18/hour minimum, (4) work term length (12–16 weeks), and (5) application within the correct intake window. All qualifying applications are approved subject to budget availability.

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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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.
2 Submit application within the intake window Apply during the relevant intake window (Summer: Dec 15–Jan 15; Fall: Apr 15–May 15; Winter: Aug 15–Sep 15). Provide organization description, CRA/Registry number, and detailed position description including learning outcomes and hourly rate.
3 Receive approval and sign funding agreement Await approval decision (approximately 2 weeks). Upon approval, sign and return the funding agreement/contract with the Nova Scotia government.
4 Hire the co-op student and run the work term Confirm the student's co-op enrollment with their institution. Have the student sign the waiver. Run the 12–16 week work term, paying at least $18/hour plus vacation pay.
5 Submit post-placement documentation for reimbursement After the work term ends, submit payroll documentation, student ROE, enrollment confirmation, signed waiver, and feedback surveys. Wage subsidy reimbursement processed within 4–6 weeks of complete claim.

Required Documents 10

✓ LaMPSS account (online application portal — create account if new)
✓ Registry or CRA business number, or legal documentation of organization
✓ Organization description
✓ Position description (role details, learning outcomes, full-time status)
✓ Upon approval: signed contract with Nova Scotia government
✓ Post-placement: payroll documentation (proof of student wages paid at ≥$18/hour)
✓ Student enrollment proof (letter or confirmation from institution confirming co-op enrollment)
✓ Signed waiver from student
✓ Student Record of Employment (ROE)
✓ Post-placement feedback surveys

Eligible Expenses 2

  • Student wages for co-op work term (up to 640 hours, minimum $18/hour)
  • Vacation pay on top of hourly wages

Ineligible Expenses 4

  • Positions already subsidized by Canada Summer Jobs or other government wage programs
  • Work terms shorter than 12 weeks or longer than 16 weeks (standard terms)
  • Positions paying below $18/hour
  • Non-co-op student placements (internships outside formal co-op programs)

Intake Periods

Three intake windows per year: Summer placements (Dec 15–Jan 15), Fall placements (Apr 15–May 15), Winter placements (Aug 15–Sep 15). Budget allocated first-come, first-served within each window.

Deadline Notes

Three intake windows per year. Summer 2026 placement window: apply Dec 15, 2025–Jan 15, 2026. Fall 2026 placement window: apply Apr 15–May 15, 2026. Winter 2027 placement window: apply Aug 15–Sep 15, 2026. Work term periods: Summer (Apr 1–Aug 31), Fall (Sep 1–Dec 31), Winter (Jan 1–Apr 30). Apply during the intake window before the work term begins.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Federal government departments and agencies
  • Employers receiving other government wage subsidies for the same position
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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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... Up to $50 million Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Next deadline: May 29,...
Innovative Solutions Canada up to $150,000 Hard Milestone-Based Challenge-specific — new...

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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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