Build your workforce with student talent
The Student Work Placement Program helps employers in the bioscience and healthcare sectors hire post-secondary students through paid work-integrated learning placements.
Through SWPP, employers can access funding support to help cover student wages while giving students meaningful, hands-on experience related to their field of study. The program helps organizations bring in motivated student talent, build future hiring pipelines, and strengthen connections with post-secondary institutions across Canada.
Designed to Simplify Student Hiring
BioTalent Canada guides you through every step of the process—from verifying eligibility to fast tracking wage reimbursements.
16,186 placements
98.6% employer satisfaction
Step-by-step claims support
Student Eligibility
- Enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution
- Registered in a full-time or part-time program
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
- Position relates directly to bio-economy or healthcare studies
Employer Eligibility
- Bio-economy or healthcare organization operating in Canada
- Offers meaningful, hands-on work placement
- Comply with provincial labor laws and pay full student wage
- Position is not funded by another federal wage program
How It Works
A simple four-step process from eligibility to funding approval.
Check Your Eligibility
- Bio-economy and eligible healthcare organizations
- Student placements starting on or after April 1, 2026
- Remote, hybrid, and in-person placements accepted
Create Your Application
- Sign in or create an account
- Create an employer organization
- Enter student information
- Enter job description details
Student & Academic Verification
- Student completes profile and learning plan
- Academic contact verifies enrollment
- Track progress in your dashboard
Submit & Receive Approval
- Review and submit your application
- Receive your funding agreement
- Sign electronically
- Begin claiming eligible wage reimbursements
Real Impact for Real Employers
Discover how bio-economy and healthcare organizations across Canada scale their teams and accelerate innovation with SWPP funding.
SWPP Impact & Research Reports
Explore empirical data and findings on how the Student Work Placement Program drives talent development, ROI, and growth across Canada’s bio-economy.
Results with impact: The ROI of student talent
Examine the measurable economic return on investment and organizational benefits realized by biotech employers hosting SWPP students.
Biosciences Booster: Propelling Canada's Bio-Economy
A comprehensive review highlighting key milestones, diversity metrics, and growth outcomes achieved since the SWPP bioscience stream began in 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers regarding SWPP eligibility, funding rules, baseline requirements, and application timing.
How does the "baseline" hiring rule work for small vs. large employers?
Requirements vary based on employee count:
- Small Employers (99 or fewer employees): Are exempt from baseline rules. Placements no longer need to be net-new or incremental over previous years.
- Medium & Large Employers (100+ employees): Must prove that student placements are net-new (over and above their historical baseline of non-federally funded hires).
How can we get our SWPP application prioritized in the queue?
Employers who complete BioTalent Canada’s Building a Safer Bio-economy: Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace training are eligible to advance their application in the review queue.
Up to 5 participants per organization can complete the online courses and required pre/post assessments via their biotalent.ca account to qualify for priority review.
Can we apply for multiple placement terms or placements over 16 weeks?
Yes. Funding is capped at 16 weeks ($5,000 max) per term. If your placement extends beyond 16 weeks, you can apply for multiple terms at the same time in the online system without waiting for separate intake windows.
Are healthcare or non-biotech companies eligible for SWPP funding?
Yes, organizations and roles operating in the healthcare space can once again be considered for funding.
Which students are eligible, and can we hire international students or contractors?
Eligible Students: Must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with conferred refugee protection actively enrolled (full- or part-time) in an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution.
Ineligible Candidates: International students, contractors, and individuals not actively enrolled during the term (e.g., recent graduates awaiting convocation or students between programs) do not qualify.
What are the payroll and co-funding requirements?
- Payroll: Students must be added directly to the employer's payroll with standard federal/provincial tax deductions (CPP, EI). Independent contractors are ineligible.
- Co-Funding: Student wages cannot be stacked with other federal grants (e.g., Canada Summer Jobs, NSERC, CIHR, IRAP, Mitacs, or scholarships/stipends).
Does BioTalent Canada assist with finding or matching students?
No. SWPP does not offer direct candidate matching services. Employers must recruit and select candidate(s) prior to applying. BioTalent Canada’s national job board, The PetriDish, offers complimentary job postings to employers.
Academic Partners
