Clean Leadership Summer Internships: How to Apply in Nova Scotia and PEI

Clean Leadership Summer Internships: How to Apply in Nova Scotia and PEI

Hiring summer students can be expensive, especially for small teams working on climate or clean economy projects. The Clean Leadership Summer Internships program helps by providing wage support for eligible employers in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Clean Foundation runs the program. Its main goal is to help students gain early-career experience in the clean economy.

This guide explains how the Clean Leadership Summer Internships work, who can apply, and what to expect from the application process.

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What Are Clean Leadership Summer Internships?

The Clean Leadership Summer Internships program offers wage support to organizations that hire post-secondary students for clean economy projects. The aim is to provide meaningful, paid work experience and help employers deliver projects with environmental impact.

There are two streams:

• Nova Scotia Clean Leadership Summer Internships
• PEI Clean Leadership Summer Internships

Both streams are managed by Clean Foundation and have similar rules. Eligibility depends on where your organization operates.

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How Much Funding Can You Get?

For both Nova Scotia and PEI:

• Funding provides up to 60% wage support for eligible project costs, mostly student wages
• The contribution is repayable. According to Clean Foundation guidelines, repayment may be required if you do not follow the terms of your funding agreement—for example, if you do not complete the internship as planned, use funds for ineligible expenses, or fail to submit required reports).
• Funding is available only for approved internship positions and periods

The exact funding depends on the student’s wage, internship length, and project scope.

Internships usually last 9 to 15 weeks, which fits summer hiring plans.

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Who Is Eligible to Apply?

You may qualify if your organization:

• Is a business, non-profit, association, or community group
• Operates in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island
• Can offer a paid internship tied to a clean economy project
• Can supervise and mentor a student

Eligible project areas include:

• Climate change mitigation
• Conservation
• Waste management
• Clean technology
• Active transportation
• Applied research linked to the clean economy

GrantHub’s eligibility matcher lets you find internship and wage subsidy programs by province and project type.

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Eligible Students and Internship Roles

Internships are usually meant for:

• Post-secondary students or recent graduates
• Roles that build skills in sustainability, environmental management, or clean tech
• Positions where students have real project responsibilities, not just administrative tasks

Make sure your job description clearly connects the student’s work to environmental or clean economy outcomes.

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How to Apply for Clean Leadership Summer Internships

The application process is led by employers and includes these steps:

1. Define your project
   Describe the clean economy problem and how a student will help.

2. Create an internship plan
   Include the duration (9–15 weeks), wage rate, learning goals, and supervision details.

3. Submit your application to Clean Foundation
   Clean Foundation reviews applications for project fit, environmental impact, and student experience.

4. Hire after approval
   Wait for confirmation before hiring. Costs before approval may not be reimbursed.

Application windows can be competitive. Preparing your project scope early improves your chances.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting a vague project description
  Projects must clearly connect to clean economy outcomes, not general business tasks.

• Hiring before approval
  Wage costs before written approval may not be reimbursed.

• Not planning enough supervision
  You must show the student will get mentorship and meaningful work.

• Missing repayment terms
  The funding is repayable. Review the agreement carefully before accepting funds. If you do not meet the program requirements, you may need to repay the funding.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Clean Leadership Summer Internships program?
It’s a Clean Foundation program offering wage support for summer student internships focused on clean economy projects in Nova Scotia and PEI.

Q: How much of the student wage is supported?
The program provides up to 60% wage support for eligible costs, based on your approved budget and internship structure.

Q: Are non-profits eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-profits, community groups, and associations can apply if their projects support clean economy priorities.

Q: Are the funds repayable?
Yes. The contribution is repayable if you do not meet the program’s requirements, such as completing the internship as planned or submitting required reports. Details are outlined in your funding agreement.

Q: What types of projects qualify?
Projects like climate mitigation, conservation, waste management, clean tech, active transportation, and applied clean economy research are eligible.

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Related Topics You May Find Helpful

• What Counts as a Clean or Low-Carbon Project? Eligibility Rules Explained
• How Repayable Contributions Work for Energy, Environment, and Clean Technology Funding in Canada
• How Non-Tech Businesses Can Access Technology, Internships, and Advisory Support

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Next Steps

If you plan to hire summer students for climate or sustainability work, the Clean Leadership Summer Internships can help reduce payroll risk and build future talent. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and wage subsidy programs across Canada, including student internship funding. This makes it easier to find programs that fit your business, location, and project goals before you apply. For more tips, check GrantHub’s guides on internship funding and clean economy grants.