Advance Ontario Program: Key Dates
Advance Ontario connects students across Ontario with real-world employer projects, allowing them to gain hands-on experience while supporting organizations in various industries. This article details important dates for both students and employers depending on which cohort you are participating in.
Visit deadlines for actions to learn more about how to keep your spot in Advance Ontario and avoid missing deadlines.
What is a Cohort?
A cohort refers to a group of students who participate in a specific term of the Advance Ontario program. Each cohort operates within set dates, during which students engage with employer projects. This structure allows for organized timelines and ensures that students and employers can collaborate effectively. Students may only participate in one cohort per funding cycle, while employers can engage in multiple cohorts. Projects will start and end on the following dates for the two cohorts:
February Cohort: (February 23 - April 10 2026)
April Cohort: (April 27 - June 19 2026)
February Cohort Key Dates
January 5, 2026:
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.January 1, 2026:
Cohort open for Employer Projects
Employers are invited to request to match their projects to the February 2026 Cohort. Visit Getting Started with Advance Ontario: Employers for more details.February 6, 2026:
Last Day for Employers to Request a Project Match
Employers must submit their requests for student matches by this date to participate in the final project matching period. This includes signing the program agreements and confirming the match to the experience.February 2–February 6, 2026:
Final Employer Project Matching Period
During this period, employers will finalize their project details if needed, based on the Advance Ontario team’s proposed changes.February 9, 2026:
Students Invited into February Cohort
Students who are successful in the application process will receive their official invitations to join the cohort.February 9–20, 2026:
Student Application Period
Students will apply to projects during this window. Students must submit all applications before the deadline. Visit 3. How to Apply for Advance Ontario Projects for more details.February 20, 2026:
Last Day to Apply to Projects
This is the final date for students to apply to available projects. Make sure to submit your application before 12:00PM EST on February 20th.February 22, 2026:
Last Day for Employers to Accept a Student Application
Employers must accept student applications by this date to confirm participation. A reminder that students will no longer be able to apply as of 12:00PM EST on February 22nd, giving employers the weekend to accept final applications.February 23, 2026:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students and employers should start their collaboration from this date, and students must complete the onboarding survey and hit “Start Project” in the platform in order to confirm the project's participation in the cohort.March 20, 2026:
Midway Check-in
Midway through the project, there will be a check-in to ensure both students and employers are progressing smoothly.April 10, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing an Advance Ontario Project for more details.April 10, 2026:
Exit Survey & Feedback
Once projects are submitted, both employers and students need to complete the exit survey and provide feedback for one another on the platform. A reminder that student payment will be withheld up to 5 weeks or until employers have provided their feedback.April 20, 2026, Onward:
Payment Period
After the project completion, the payment process will begin for eligible students. Visit Advance Ontario - Payments for more details.
April Cohort Key Dates
February 9, 2026:
Cohort open for Employer Projects
Employers are invited to request to match their projects to the April 2026 Cohort. Visit Getting Started with Advance Ontario: Employers for more details.March 2, 2026:
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.April 10, 2026:
Last Day for Employers to Request a Project Match
Employers must submit their requests for student matches by this date to participate in the final project matching period. This includes signing the program agreements and confirming the match to the experience.April 6–April 10, 2026:
Final Employer Project Matching Period
During this period, employers will finalize their project details if needed, based on the Advance Ontario team’s proposed changes.April 13, 2026:
Students Invited into April 2026 Cohort
Students who are successful in the application process will receive their official invitations to join the cohort.April 13–24, 2026:
Student Application Period
Students will apply to projects during this window. Students must submit all applications before the deadline. Visit 3. How to Apply for Advance Ontario Projects for more details.April 24, 2026:
Last Day to Apply to Projects
This is the final date for students to apply to available projects. Make sure to submit your application before 12:00PM EST on April 24th.April 26, 2026:
Last Day for Employers to Accept a Student Application
Employers must accept student applications by this date to confirm participation. A reminder that students will no longer be able to apply as of 12:00PM EST on April 26th, giving employers the afternoon to accept final applications.April 27, 2026:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students and employers should start their collaboration from this date, and students must complete the onboarding survey and hit “Start Project” in the platform in order to confirm the project's participation in the cohort.May 23, 2026:
Midway Check-in
Midway through the project, there will be a check-in to ensure both students and employers are progressing smoothly.June 19, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing an Advance Ontario Project for more details.June 19, 2026:
Exit Survey & Feedback
Once projects are submitted, both employers and students need to complete the exit survey and provide feedback for one another on the platform. A reminder that student payment will be withheld up to 5 weeks or until employers have provided their feedback.June 29, 2026, Onward:
Payment Period
After the project completion, the payment process will begin for eligible students. Visit Advance Ontario - Payments for more details.