How to Design an Eligible Internship or Youth Placement Program (Level UP by Riipen)

Many Canadian businesses want to hire students or recent graduates but are told their placement is not eligible, often due to program design. To get funding through Level UP by Riipen or similar youth wage subsidy programs, your internship or youth placement must meet very specific rules.

This guide explains how to design an eligible internship or youth placement program that meets the requirements of Level UP by Riipen and other federal and provincial youth hiring grants.

What Funders Look for in an Eligible Internship or Youth Placement

To design an eligible internship, focus on structure, clear learning outcomes, and proper supervision. Most youth wage subsidy programs in Canada fund structured work-integrated learning, not short-term labour. Level UP by Riipen follows this principle. Your placement must be intentional, paid, and skills-focused.

Across comparable programs like Science Horizons Youth Internship (BioTalent Canada) and provincial youth initiatives, funders consistently require the following core elements.

1. A Paid, Time-Bound Placement

Your placement must:

Be paid employment, not volunteer or unpaid work
Run for a defined duration (often 4–12 months)
Meet minimum weekly hours (commonly 30 hours per week)

For example, Science Horizons internships must last 4 to 12 months at 30+ hours per week. Level UP placements have defined start and end dates tied to a project scope and deliverables.

Tip: Open-ended roles or “trial periods” are a common reason applications are rejected.

2. Meaningful, Skill-Building Work

An eligible internship or youth placement program must provide:

Clear learning outcomes
Hands-on tasks related to the participant’s field of study or career path
Progressive responsibility over time

Funders want to see that the youth is developing new skills, not just covering routine operations. Under Science Horizons, employers must offer work that builds environmental or STEM-related skills, supported by supervision and mentoring.

When designing your role description, include:

Technical or professional skills gained
Tools, software, or methods the youth will learn
How the role prepares them for future employment

3. Formal Supervision and Mentorship

Every eligible youth placement must include:

A named supervisor
Ongoing feedback and check-ins
Access to mentorship or coaching

Programs like Science Horizons explicitly require employers to provide supervision, mentoring, and a safe, inclusive workplace. Level UP by Riipen also evaluates whether a business has the capacity to properly support a student or graduate.

Avoid assigning interns to work fully independently without guidance. That signals risk to funders.

4. Eligible Youth Participants

While exact criteria vary by program, most youth wage subsidies require that participants:

Are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or legally entitled to work in Canada
Are under a certain age (often 30 years or younger)
Are not already employed by your business at the time of application

Science Horizons, for example, only funds new hires and does not allow interns who were already on payroll.

Always confirm participant eligibility before submitting an application. Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by age, education level, and province in seconds.

5. No Double-Dipping on Federal Funding

One of the most common disqualifiers: stacking federal money.

Science Horizons explicitly states that internships cannot be funded by another federal program. Level UP by Riipen applies similar rules.

You may be able to combine:

A federal program with a provincial wage subsidy
But you generally cannot combine:
Two federal wage subsidy programs for the same wages

If you’re unsure, check the funding agreement carefully before accepting multiple offers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using interns as general labour
If the role looks like a standard entry-level job with no learning plan, funders may deny it.
Hiring someone already on payroll
Most youth placement programs require a net new hire.
Missing supervision details
Applications often fail because employers don’t name a supervisor or mentoring plan.
Applying after the intern starts
Many programs require approval before the placement begins.

For more pitfalls, see Common Mistakes Employers Make When Applying for Wage Subsidy Grants.

Tips for Writing a Strong Application

A well-prepared application can help your application succeed:

Use clear, specific language when describing job duties and learning outcomes.
Include a detailed training plan showing how the intern will be supported and supervised.
Highlight the participant’s fit for the role and their eligibility under program requirements.
Attach supporting documents such as a job description or mentorship outline if allowed.

These steps show funders that your organization is prepared to deliver a high-quality placement.

Eligibility Checklist

Before submitting your application, review this checklist to confirm your internship or youth placement meets common requirements:

Paid employment with a defined start and end date
Minimum 30 hours per week (unless otherwise specified)
Clear learning outcomes and skill-building tasks
Named supervisor and regular feedback/mentorship plan
Participant is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or legally entitled to work in Canada
Participant is under the program’s age limit (often 30 or under)
Participant is a new hire, not already on payroll
Funding is not combined with another federal wage subsidy

Using a tool like GrantHub can help you quickly compare program requirements and eligibility before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does an internship have to be full-time to be eligible?
Most youth placement programs require full-time hours, commonly 30 hours per week or more. Part-time placements are usually ineligible unless the program explicitly allows them.

Q: Can a youth placement be remote or hybrid?
Some programs allow remote or hybrid work, but you must still show supervision, mentorship, and meaningful work. Always confirm delivery rules before designing the role.

Q: How much wage funding can employers receive?
Funding varies by program. Science Horizons covers up to 80% of wages to a maximum of $25,000 per intern. Level UP by Riipen provides a stipend per project, paid directly to the student after successful project completion.

Q: Can non-profits or public institutions apply?
Yes. Programs like Science Horizons are open to for-profits, non-profits, governments, post-secondary institutions, and Indigenous organizations.

Q: Are wage subsidies considered taxable income?
Yes. Funding is generally treated as government assistance and must be reported appropriately in your financial records.

Next Steps

To design an eligible internship, focus on structure, clear learning outcomes, and proper supervision. When your role is organized and meets these requirements, funding becomes much easier.

GrantHub tracks hundreds of active youth wage subsidy and internship programs across Canada — including Level UP by Riipen and similar options. Checking which programs match your business profile is a fast way to confirm eligibility before you hire.

See also:

Wage Subsidy Grants in Canada: Federal and Provincial Programs Compared
How to Use Wage Subsidy and Student Hiring Programs to Reduce Staffing Costs

How to Design an Eligible Internship or Youth Placement Program (Level UP by Riipen)