Federal Student Work Experience Program

Looking for a job? Explore the possibilities in the federal public service

Discover the many career paths that the Government of Canada has to offer across the country. Gain meaningful experience working on projects and initiatives that impact the lives of Canadians. Join the top student employer in Canada: we’re committed to diversity and inclusion!

Curious about how much you could earn? Find out about rates of pay.

You’re eligible if you meet these 3 criteria:

• you’re registered as a full-time student in a secondary or post-secondary accredited academic institution
  • this includes persons with disabilities considered to have full-time status by their academic institution, and participants in adult secondary-level education and retraining programs under the authority of an accredited academic institution
• you meet the minimum age requirement in the province or territory of work
• you’ll return to full-time studies in the next academic term, or if you’re in your final year of studies, you must have been previously employed under either the Federal Student Work Experience Program, the Co-op/Internship Program or the Research Affiliate Program

Learn more about student eligibility.

Note: Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet the job requirements.

Apply here

Ongoing Student Recruitment Inventory

Our largest student inventory is open year-round, and available to over 200 departments and agencies. It offers full-time and part-time work opportunities in a wide variety of fields including sciences, trades, administration, information technology, finance and more!

Specialized inventories

Looking for something specific? These opportunities may be of interest to you. Apply before the closing date!

Women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities 

Be part of a public service that represents and includes the diverse identities, cultures, perspectives and experiences that make up Canada. Some student jobs and programs are only open to people who have self-declared as a member of an employment equity group. When you apply, you can indicate (self-declare) if you identify as a woman, an Indigenous person, a member of a visible minority, or a person with a disability. 

For more information, visit canada.ca/self-declare.

How it works

• Your application will be included in the student inventory
• Throughout the year, managers will request applications that match their job requirements
• You’ll be notified by email if you’re matched with a job opportunity, or if your application status changes
• If your application is selected for further consideration, you’ll be contacted by a manager for a test and/or interview
• Update the information in your application regularly to make sure you continue to be matched with the right job opportunities for you

If you have accommodation needs, inform the person who invited you for a test or an interview as soon as possible. This information will be kept confidential. 

Learn more about accommodation measures and how they work.

Once you're hired

As a student working for the federal public service, several networking, training and mentoring opportunities, and tailored support services are available to you. Be sure to talk to your manager to learn how to register!

Contact us

Contact us at [email protected] for more information about the Federal Student Work Experience Program.

Other opportunities for students

• Find a student research job in the Government of Canada
• Government of Canada Co-op placements and internships
• Apply to job opportunities and inventories for graduates
• Start a career as a policy leader
• Government of Canada jobs for Indigenous people
• Other Government of Canada opportunities for students and graduates

Useful links

• Top ten reasons to join Canada’s public service