Mitacs Funding for Co-op Students

Mitacs helps Canadian organizations hire post-secondary students to work on innovation, research, and business projects. Employers receive funding support while gaining access to not only the student resources but also academic expertise and research infrastructure at MUN.

Unlike traditional wage subsidy programs, Mitacs supports project-based internships that can help organizations address business challenges, explore new ideas, improve processes, and build longer-term partnerships with academia.

 

Benefits for Employers

• Access funding to hire co-op students (50% - 75%).
• Collaborate with academic researchers and gain access to specialized research facilities, equipment, and expertise when needed.

• Advance projects related to innovation, product development, process improvement, data analysis, sustainability, and digital transformation through our Accelerate or Business Strategy Internship
• Build a talent pipeline through repeat student placements, the ability to hire recent graduates, and the option to support multiple students over multiple terms under an approved project for up to five years.

A Flexible Option for Co-op Employers

To align with co-op recruitment timelines, employers should begin the Mitacs process at least four months before the intended work-term start date. New projects typically take about six weeks to review and approve, but applying earlier allows the project to be ready when you’re ready to hire the students.

Projects can be pre-approved up to one year in advance and support multiple interdisciplinary students over multiple terms for up to five years, with no financial obligations on the companies. Once approved, adding future students and setting them up on payroll is a guaranteed, streamlined process that typically takes two to four weeks.

This makes Mitacs particularly useful for employers planning repeat student placements or longer-term innovation projects.

 

Interested in Learning More?

Mitacs Advisors can help determine eligibility, identify the most appropriate funding pathway, connect employers with academic expertise, and support the development of a project that aligns with organizational goals, co-op hiring timelines, and longer-term workforce planning. Please contact Mitacs advisors for NL Dipesh Maharjan dmaharjan@mitacs.ca or Heidi Crummell hcrummell@mitasc.ca to get started.

Eligible partners may include organizations of any size, including for-profit companies, not-for-profit organizations, hospitals, municipalities, and Indigenous governments.