How to Apply for the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

How to Apply for the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

Hiring early-career talent for climate and environmental roles can be costly. The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program helps Canadian employers by covering up to $25,000 in intern wages. This support makes it easier to grow your team and train the next generation of clean economy professionals. If you are planning to hire a young graduate for an environmental or STEM role, this program can help lower your payroll costs.

This guide focuses on the Clean Foundation — Science Horizons Internship Program, with clear steps on eligibility, funding, and how to apply.

---

Program Overview

The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program supports Canadian organizations that hire young graduates for jobs in the clean economy. The program is funded by the federal government and delivered by several organizations, including Clean Foundation in Nova Scotia. Each delivery partner has its own intake process, but the main rules are similar.

The program aims to:

• Support youth employment in STEM and environmental sectors
• Help employers create new, meaningful internships
• Promote diversity by offering higher subsidies for hiring youth from employment equity groups

---

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program: Eligibility and Funding Basics

Funding Amount

Through the Clean Foundation stream, eligible employers can receive:

• 50% of an intern’s salary, up to $25,000
• Up to 80% of wages (maximum $25,000) when hiring youth from employment equity groups
• Internships must be paid and full-time

Other delivery partners, such as ECO Canada and BioTalent Canada, also offer up to 80% wage coverage, capped at $25,000, and may include an extra $5,000 for participant supports depending on the stream.

Employer Eligibility

To apply through Clean Foundation, your organization must:

• Work in a clean economy or climate-related sector
• Be legally operating in Canada
• Create a new internship position (not replacing an existing role)
• Provide supervision, mentoring, and a safe workplace

Eligible employer types include:

• For-profit businesses
• Non-profits and NGOs
• Indigenous organizations
• Public-sector and municipal employers

Intern Eligibility

The youth you hire must:

• Be 15 to 30 years old at the start of the internship
• Be a post-secondary graduate
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada

---

Key Dates and Deadlines

The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program accepts applications on a rolling basis until all funding is allocated for the year. This means:

• There is no single deadline, but funding is limited
• Early applications have a better chance of being approved
• Some delivery partners may close intakes once their funds run out

Check the Clean Foundation website or other delivery partners for the most up-to-date intake status.

---

How to Apply for the Clean Foundation Science Horizons Internship Program

The application process is employer-led. You apply first, then recruit and hire an intern once approved.

Step 1: Confirm Your Role Qualifies

Your internship must be:

• Environmentally focused or climate-related
• Connected to STEM, clean technology, sustainability, or environmental services
• Full-time (typically 30+ hours per week)
• Between 6 and 12 months in length

Step 2: Prepare Your Internship Plan

Before applying, you will need:

• A detailed job description
• Internship start and end dates
• Wage rate and total salary cost
• Description of training and mentorship provided
• Confirmation the role is new and incremental

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly check if your role and organization align with Science Horizons criteria by province and sector.

Step 3: Submit Your Application to Clean Foundation

Applications are submitted directly through Clean Foundation’s Science Horizons intake. You will be asked to upload your internship details and employer information. Funding is limited and assessed on a rolling basis, so earlier applications have better odds.

Step 4: Receive Approval and Hire Your Intern

Once approved:

• You can formally hire your intern
• You must sign a funding agreement
• Wage reimbursements are typically paid after proof of employment and payroll records are submitted

Do not hire or start the intern before receiving written approval, as costs incurred early are usually ineligible.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Hiring the intern before approval
   Wage costs incurred before funding confirmation are usually not reimbursed.

2. Submitting a vague job description
   Roles must clearly connect to environmental or climate-related outcomes. Generic admin roles are often rejected.

3. Missing employment equity documentation
   If applying for the higher 80% subsidy, you must properly document eligibility for employment equity groups.

4. Overlapping federal funding
   The same internship cannot be funded by two federal wage subsidy programs at once.

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

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much funding does the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program provide?
Employers can receive up to $25,000 per intern, covering 50% to 80% of wages depending on the stream and candidate eligibility.

Q: How long must the internship last?
Internships must run between 6 and 12 months and be full-time.

Q: Can non-profits or Indigenous organizations apply?
Yes. Non-profits, Indigenous organizations, and public-sector employers are eligible under the Clean Foundation stream.

Q: What types of jobs qualify?
Roles must be environmentally related and connected to STEM, climate action, or the clean economy.

Q: Is the wage subsidy taxable?
Yes. Science Horizons funding is considered government assistance and must be reported appropriately in your financial records.

---

Next Steps

The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program offers generous wage subsidies for employers in Canada’s clean economy. If you are planning multiple hires or want to compare Clean Foundation with other Science Horizons delivery partners, GrantHub tracks hundreds of active youth wage subsidy and internship programs across Canada to help you find the best fit for your business.

You may also find these guides helpful:

• Federal vs Provincial Wage Subsidy Programs in Canada: Key Differences
• Youth and Green Jobs Funding: Environmental STEM Eligibility Explained
• How to Use Wage Subsidy and Student Hiring Programs to Reduce Staffing Costs