General Level UP FAQs
General Level UP FAQs
What is level UP?
Level UP is a paid, project-based work-integrated learning program that connects students with employers to complete real-world projects.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning initiative, the program provides:
A 60-hour project experience
A $1,400 stipend upon successful completion
Direct collaboration with employers on real business needs
Students gain applied experience while employers receive support on clearly defined projects.
Who is eligible to participate?
Students must:
Be enrolled at an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution
Be enrolled in at least one course (current or upcoming term)
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
Be physically located in Canada for the full duration of the project
Not be an international student
Eligibility is verified and required for payment.
What is a cohort?
A cohort is a fixed program period with:
Defined application deadlines
Matching timelines
Project start and end dates
Payment timelines
All projects must follow the cohort breakdown.
How do projects work?
Employers post projects
Students apply to projects
Employers select students
Projects run for 60 hours within a fixed timeline (2-8 weeks)
Once matched, the project is final and cannot be changed.
Can project timelines be adjusted?
No.
All timelines are fixed
Projects must start and end within the cohort dates
Projects run within 2-8 weeks
Extensions are not permitted under any circumstances
Why is identity verification required?
Level UP is a government-funded program.
Confirm eligibility
Ensure compliance with funding requirements
Enable payment processing
Failure to verify identity results in ineligibility for payment.
What happens after Level UP?
Students and employers can continue working together through FuturePath, which offers:
Flexible project lengths
Cost-shared hourly work
Ongoing collaboration
Level UP Student FAQs
Level UP Student FAQs
How do I join level UP?
Students must:
Apply to projects (up to 4 at a time)
Be selected by an employer
Once accepted, the project is locked and changes cannot be made.
How many projects can I complete?
1 project per funding term (May 2026 - April 2027)
How many hours do I need to complete?
Students must complete exactly 60 hours
Minimum commitment: 8 hours per week
Maximum limits:
10 hours per day
30 hours per week
All hours must be logged on the Riipen platform.
What happens if I don’t complete 60 hours?
Level UP requires full completion.
All 60 hours must be completed
Partial completion is not compensated
Hours beyond 60 are not compensated
Failure to complete results in loss of payment eligibility.
Are deadlines flexible?
No.
All deadlines are fixed
Missing deadlines results in:
Project being marked incomplete
Loss of payment eligibility
Can I make side agreements with my employer?
No.
Any agreements outside the program structure (e.g., fewer hours, extended timelines, delayed start) are:
Not tracked
Not recognized
Not eligible for compensation
What deliverables are required?
Students must submit:
Reflection
Entry and exit surveys
Deliverables must:
Clearly reflect the work completed
Align with the 60 hours claimed
Comply with NDA requirements
Incomplete or unclear deliverables will result in loss of payment eligibility.
What happens if my employer is unresponsive?
Notify Riipen immediately
Do not wait until deadlines pass
Delays in reporting may impact eligibility for payment.
Can I use AI tools?
Yes, as a support tool only.
You must still complete the full 60 hours
Deliverables must reflect your own work
AI cannot complete the project for you
How can I keep my spot in the program?
You must:
Stay active
Meet deadlines
Complete all required steps
Failure to do so may result in removal and loss of payment.
What happens if I work more than 60 hours?
You will not be compensated for any hours beyond 60.
Level UP Employer FAQs
Level UP Employer FAQs
how many projects can I post?
Maximum of 1 project per cohort
Each project can have up to 3 students
Can I select a specific student?
No.
To ensure fairness:
Students must apply within the cohort application period
Employers must select from applicants
Pre-selection is not permitted
What is expected of me as an employer?
Define a clear project scope (60 hours)
Provide at least 5 hours of mentorship
Maintain regular communication
Support project completion
How much time does this require?
Typically:
1–3 hours per week
Minimum of 5 hours total mentorship
Can I change students after matching?
No.
Once matched, the project is final
No replacements or changes are allowed
Can I change project scope or timelines?
No.
Projects must remain within the defined scope
Projects must follow cohort timelines
Do I need to provide tools or software?
Yes.
Employers must provide any required tools or access.
Students should not incur any costs.
What happens if a student does not complete the project?
Students must complete all 60 hours to be eligible for payment
No partial payments are issued
Employers should notify Riipen if issues arise.
Can I work with the student after the project ends?
Yes.
You may continue working together outside Level UP or through FuturePath.
Level UP Payment FAQs
Level UP Payment FAQs
How are students paid?
Students receive $1,400 after successful completion.
Payment is issued directly by Riipen.
What are the requirements to receive payment?
Complete all 60 hours
Meet all deadlines
Submit all deliverables
Complete required surveys
Log hours accurately
Are partial payments available?
No.
Partial completion is not compensated
Full completion is required
How long does payment take?
Payment timelines are tied to the cohort schedule.
Students should refer to the cohort breakdown for exact dates.
Can payment be expedited?
No.
Payments follow a fixed process to ensure fairness.
What happens if deliverables are missing or incomplete?
The project will be marked incomplete.
If after submission, you are asked to provide more details you must do so within 10 days of being asked, otherwise you will be ineligible for payment.
Payment will not be issued
What happens if an employer does not provide feedback?
Riipen will follow up with the employer over the course of 5 weeks before determining that feedback is not required.
After 5 weeks, Riipen will review the project directly
Will I receive tax documents?
Riipen does not issue T4A slips.
Students are responsible for reporting income according to CRA guidelines.
Does work outside the platform count?
No.
Only work that is:
Completed after matching
Logged on the platform
Submitted through Riipen
is eligible for payment.