Summer Student Program Expanded Eligibility

The Summer Student Program supports our commitment to workplace diversity and ongoing efforts are being made to remove barriers and increase representation of students from equity groups. New for spring-summer 2026 is increased program eligibility and removing barriers for students completing one-year post-secondary programs.

Expanded Eligibility Criteria:

• Priority is given to students attending post-secondary over high school;
• “Full-time” shall be defined by the educational institution the student is attending;
• Proof of student status or program completion date may be requested; and
• Full-time academic studies include a program with a minimum 32-weeks course requirement.

Anticipated Benefits to Hiring Managers

• Retention of students and ease of transition to full-time career opportunities.
• Increased diverse representation in summer student applications and hires.
• Expanded potential applicant pool.
• Strengthened community and post-secondary engagement by being inclusive to all students.
• Improved Summer Student Program reputation which helps in attracting more students.

Eligibility Criteria - Quick Reference Table:

The following table shows possible scenarios to help determine student eligibility for the Summer Student Program. These scenarios are based on the following program cycles:

• A summer student program application period of October 2025 to April 2026;
• Current academic year is the period of September 2025 to April/May/June 2026; and
• Acceptance of a student position with employment dates between May 4, 2026 to August 31, 2026.

Eligibility for Summer Student Program

Eligibility Sample Scenarios:

Eligible Criteria One - Attending school on a full-time basis and returning to school on a full-time basis in the next academic semester

Scenarios:

• Student is in their first, second or third year of a four-year academic program, seeking summer employment and will return to full-time academic studies in the Fall.
• Student is in their first year of a two-year academic program and will be returning to full-time academic studies in the Fall.

Eligible Criteria Two - Enrolled in full-time academic studies and will graduate in the current academic year.

Scenario:

• Student is enrolled in full-time academic studies, are in their final year of a multi-year academic program and will complete their program as of April 30, 2026. The student is eligible to apply to the summer student program (typical launch date is mid-October 2025) for employment in the 2026 Summer Student Program.

Eligibility Criteria Three - Recently graduated from full-time academic studies within the last year.

Scenarios:

• Student completes full-time academic studies in the months of May or June of the current year; student would be eligible to apply to the Summer Student Program for the following year.
• Student is in their final year of a multi-year academic program with a completion date of April of the current year; student would be eligible for the Summer Student Program of that same year only.
• Student is enrolled in a one-year, full-time academic program that commences in September, with a program completion date in the months of May/June of the following year. They are eligible to apply to the summer student program in their program completion year and the year after.
• Student completes their full-time academic studies in the month of December; they would be eligible for the Summer Student Program of the next year only.

For more information on Government of Saskatchewan Student Programs including Co‑op Education, Internship, or Less-Than-Full-Time to Summer Student and to hire a student, please visit the Student Employment Guide for Hiring Managers.