Fully Funded Shopify Dev Scholarship Degree Program in Canada, 2026
The cost of higher education and the challenge of gaining real-world experience remain major barriers for many aspiring software engineers around the world. Traditional university degrees often focus heavily on theory, while industry roles demand hands-on skills and practical experience. To bridge this gap, Shopify introduced an innovative initiative known as the Shopify Dev Degree Program—a fully funded, work-integrated undergraduate degree program in Canada that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree while working as paid developers at Shopify.
The Shopify Dev Degree is widely regarded as one of the most unique and valuable technology education programs globally. It combines academic study, professional software engineering experience, mentorship, and full financial support, making it a life-changing opportunity for students who want to build a strong career in tech without accumulating student debt.
This article provides a detailed and structured explanation of the Shopify Dev Degree Program, covering its structure, benefits, eligibility, application process, partner universities, learning experience, and long-term career impact.
What Is the Shopify Dev Degree?
The Shopify Dev Degree is a fully funded, work-integrated learning program offered in partnership with Canadian universities that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field while working as paid software engineering interns at Shopify. It blends classroom learning with real-world developer experience, giving participants both a degree and substantial professional experience by the time they graduate.
This scholarship is not a traditional scholarship, it’s a combination of academic and work experience program in which students attend university while working on real engineering teams at Shopify.
Who Can Apply?
Dev Degree is open to students from around the world, but there are some requirements:
Eligible Applicants Include:
- High school (Grade 12) graduates
- First-year undergraduate CS or related field students
- Mature students or career switchers
- International applicants eligible to study in Canada under a valid permit
- No prior computer science experience is strictly required — applicants are assessed more on potential, curiosity, and ability to grow than on past coding expertise.
You must also apply separately to one of the partner universities (Carleton or York) — Dev Degree offers are conditional upon acceptance into one of these programs.
What the Program Pays For
Dev Degree includes a comprehensive financial support package worth over CAD 160,000+:
Tuition Covered: Shopify pays 100% of your university tuition for the duration of the program.
Paid Work Salary: Students receive a competitive intern salary while working at Shopify, meaning you earn while you learn.
Paid Vacation: Paid vacation days are part of the compensation package.
Tools & Resources
- A MacBook Pro for your work at Shopify
- Access to mentorship, professional growth resources, and wellness stipends
Note: Accommodation & living costs are not covered by Shopify, but the salary can help you cover living expenses.
Program Design & Structure
The Dev Degree model is different from traditional co-op programs:
Parallel Study and Work
Instead of alternating between semesters in school and work terms, Dev Degree students:
- Take university courses at a partner institution.
- Work ~25 hours/week at Shopify throughout the entire program.
That means students balance academic study and professional development simultaneously, building both conceptual knowledge and real software engineering skills.
Typical Duration: 3–4 Years
The Dev Degree spans roughly 3–4 years, depending on how credit requirements are structured with the university partner. During that time, students accumulate over 3,800 hours of hands-on work experience on real Shopify teams.
Developer Skills Training First
The first year focuses on developer skills training at Shopify to prepare students for meaningful contribution. This typically includes:
- Command line usage, version control (Git & GitHub)
- Front-end: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React
- Back-end: Ruby, Ruby on Rails, TypeScript
- Databases and other modern technologies
Students then move into team placements where they:
- Join a development team
- Rotate between different tech disciplines
- Work alongside professional developers and mentors
University Partners
Dev Degree collaborates with academic institutions to tie work experience to an accredited degree curriculum. Current partners include:
Carleton University (Ottawa)
- Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
- Students live and take courses on campus while concurrently working at Shopify.
York University (Toronto / Markham)
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Technologies (work-integrated)
- Students take theory blocks on campus and spend the rest of the time working on Shopify teams.
Note: International students can attend Carleton University under a study permit.
Application & Selection Process
The Dev Degree application process typically follows these stages:
- Submit Your Dev Degree Application
- Applications run December 1, 2025 to February 13, 2026.
- Computational Thinking Questions
- Early screening involves problem-solving questions to assess readiness.
- Personal Statements
- A chance to explain your motivations, goals, and interest in software development.
- Interviews
- Craft Assessment interviews with current Dev Degree interns and Shopify developers.
- Followed by a Life Story interview focusing on personal background and growth mindset.
- Offers
- Successful applicants receive conditional offers — pending university acceptance.
Visit the official scholarship website to apply.
Career Outcomes and Long-Term Impact
Graduates of the Shopify Dev Degree program enter the job market with a significant advantage.
Employment Readiness
By graduation, students have:
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- Several years of real engineering experience
- A strong professional network
- Exposure to large-scale production systems
Career Opportunities
Many Dev Degree graduates:
- Secure full-time software engineering roles quickly
- Receive return offers from Shopify or other top tech companies
- Progress faster in their early careers due to experience
The program significantly reduces the “experience gap” that many new graduates face.
Why Dev Degree Is Unique
The Shopify Dev Degree program stands out because it:
- Pays students to work instead of cost-sharing tuition
- Provides mentored experience on real product teams
- Integrates work and study rather than separating them
- Builds a pipeline of prepared software engineers for the tech industry
In essence, it’s one of the most compelling ways to graduate with a degree, practical experience, and financial support all at the same time.
Conclusion
The Shopify Dev Degree Program in Canada is one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking education pathways available in the tech industry today. It eliminates many of the barriers that prevent talented individuals from entering the tech field by combining a fully funded university degree with paid professional software development experience.
For students who are motivated, curious, and ready to commit to both learning and working, the Shopify Dev Degree offers an education and a powerful foundation for a successful and sustainable career in software engineering.