General Information

Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)

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About FSWEP

The prime objective of FSWEP is to provide full-time students with work experience related to their field of study and to provide them with learning opportunities. The program is also designed to give full-time secondary school, CEGEP, college, technical institute and university students employment opportunities that will:

• enrich their academic programs;
• help fund their education and encourage them to complete their studies;
• develop their employability;
• improve their ability to find good jobs after graduation;
• offer insights into future employment opportunities; and
• help them evaluate their career options within the federal public service.

Through FSWEP, students obtain:

• fair and equal access to student jobs offered by the federal public service;
• opportunities to learn about the federal government; and
• valuable work experience while developing and improving their employability.

How does FSWEP work?

The core of the program is a computerized national inventory of students seeking a job with the federal public service. This inventory is managed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Canada, the agency that administers various federal government staffing programs.

Students who would like to find a job within the federal government must first complete the FSWEP application form, which is available only on-line.

After you submit your job application

• The form is sent electronically to a computerized database containing all the applications of students who applied during the current campaign (about 70,000 applicants per year);
• Federal departments and agencies offering student jobs submit a request to the PSC;
  
• The PSC conducts a search in the database based on departmental requirements (e.g. year/level of education, field of study and skills). The system identifies all the students who meet the search requirements and randomly selects at least five candidates to refer for each position;
• The PSC or the hiring organization contacts the selected candidates by e-mail or by phone to check their interest and availability;
• The organization or, department or agency making the request must assess the referred candidates and appoint the successful candidate.

Recruitment period

FSWEP campaigns normally run from October of one year to September of the following year.  The exact date of the beginning of the next campaign will be posted on our site at the appropriate time.

At the end of each campaign, the PSC deletes all the data from its computerized inventory, so students who wish to be considered for jobs must complete a new application for each campaign.

There is no cut-off date for FSWEP applications.  Students may complete and submit an application at any time during the campaign.  Student jobs in federal departments and agencies are filled throughout the year. 

Please note that the period from March to June is the peak recruitment time for summer jobs. 

Compensation

Students are paid an hourly rate based on their educational level and experience. 

To find out more about student pay rates, see the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Students or contact the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada at student.etudiant@tbs-sct.gc.ca.

Related sites:
Student Employment Policy
Student Employment Programs in the Federal Government

Re-employment

Re-employment is a means by which a student may be re-hired at a later date.

The PSC can authorize the re-employment of a student in an identical or similar job in the same or another department if that student:

• was initially selected through FSWEP, the Co-op Program or the Research Affiliate Program (RAP);
• meets all the job requirements;
• still meets the FSWEP eligibility criteria; and
• submitted an FSWEP application during the current campaign.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for FSWEP you must be studying in Canada or be a Canadian student studying abroad and:

• a full-time secondary or post-secondary student in an accredited institution;*
• currently recognized as having full-time student status in the academic institution in which you are enrolled;*
• returning to full-time studies in the next academic term;**
• at least the minimum required age to work in the province or territory where the job exists.

* Part-time students recognized by their academic institution as having a disability are permitted to apply. 

** For example, assuming a three-term academic year (fall, winter and summer):

1. A person who is a full-time student during the fall 2006 and winter 2007 terms and is returning to full-time studies for the fall 2007 term meets the FSWEP eligibility criteria;
2. A person who is a full-time student during the winter 2007 and summer 2007 terms and is returning to full-time studies for the winter 2008 term meets the FSWEP eligibility criteria.
   
   Note: Students who are in their final year of academic study and are not intending to return to full-time studies are only eligible to work part-time until they complete their last term of full-time studies.

Departments will ask you to provide proof that you meet the above requirements. 

Part-time students

Part-time students are not eligible for the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP).

However, you may wish to visit the Jobs Open to the Public pages to access a host of other job opportunities available within the federal Public Service. 

Distance learning

Full-time students may attend a traditional academic institution or may be registered in an on-line or distance education program.  Students engaged in distance education must be considered full-time students by their academic institution. 

Non-Canadian residents

Although non-Canadians may apply for jobs under FSWEP, priority will be given to Canadian citizens.

Bridging Mechanisms

Bridging mechanisms facilitate hiring into the federal public service those individuals who have participated in the Co-op, Federal Student Work Experience or Research Affiliate Programs and who are currently completing their studies.

Managers are not obliged to bridge former students, but having invested in their training, they may find it advantageous to allow them to continue their employment and training.

Merit-based bridging mechanisms exist in all departments and agencies of the federal Pubic Service, except the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.  

Find more information about student employment, including bridging mechanisms.

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