Student Payment and Funding Support
- Compensation for internships is not required; however, employers who pay interns typically are more successful in recruiting students.
- Compensation varies widely and can be hourly or in the form of a stipend
- As of April 1, 2024, $17.30 is the federal minimum wage
- All McGill students can apply for financial assistance through the Scholarship And Student Aid Office (SSAO)
- Eligible students (Canadian/permanent residents/refugees) can apply for wage subsidies and/or financial assistance through McGill University.
- Internship hosts can apply for wage subsidies through government programs.
For all students requiring financial support during internship
1st STEP - Apply for government student assistance, which is typically available for students from North America and for semesters of full-time study. Once you see the maximum amount of aid you are eligible for...
2nd STEP - Apply for In-Course Financial Aid, which is a program of bursaries and interest-free loans to supplement existing financial resources including government aid and/or band funding, parental resources, and part-time work. Applying for this also lets the Scholarship and Student Aid Office know what you need and they will follow up with you to tailor a financial aid package that works best for you. If you can’t complete an application, your application will be flagged by SSAO and you will be asked to schedule an appointment. Just start the process!
Wage subsidy programs for students (Canadian/permanent residents/refugees):
1. Cooperative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada)
*ONLY AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER TERM INTERNSHIPS*
Eligible U2 EDGC students doing an unpaid internship can apply for a wage subsidy for unpaid internships. Internship hosts are not able to apply for this funding.
Eligible Students:
Students must meet ALL the following criteria:
- Full-time or part-time (no age limit) registered students in the B.A.(Education) program,
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and,
- Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
- Must have secured an UNPAID internship. Underpaid internships are not eligible.
Eligible Internship Hosts:
- Canadian community or industry partner in the private, non-profit or public sector,
- If the partner is an international organization, they must have a Canadian office to be eligible,
- The internship must take place in Canada.
Ineligible Internship Hosts:
- Post-secondary institutions;
- Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal Government;
- Members of the House of Commons and the Senate;
- Organizations that engage in partisan political activities;
- Financial sector employers with 500 or more employees (includes all branches);
- Organizations for which you are paying for a service (i.e., software or training) are typically not considered as eligible partners.
Wage subsidy programs for employers in Quebec and Canada:
1. Accueillez un stagiaire Program
Funded by the Government of Canada as part of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) and in collaboration with the province's colleges and universities.
The subsidy:
- Up to 50% of the gross salary of each eligible trainee, to a maximum of $5,000 per student
- Up to 70% of the gross salary for each first-year intern or an intern from a diverse background, for a maximum of $7,000 and benefit from personalised coaching offered to companies and trainees.
Subsidy application periods:
- Winter 2025: From January 1 to April 30, 2025
- Summer 2025: From April 1 to August 31, 2025
For more information and for employers to apply for the subsidy:
FRANÇAIS - https://pratiquesrh.com/services/accueillez-un-stagiaire
ENGLISH - https://pratiquesrh.com/en/services/accueillez-un-stagiaire