The Bursaries for Post-secondary Studies in French as a Second Language (FSL) Program aims to encourage young Canadians whose first official spoken language is English to study in French.
The goal of the bursary is to encourage students who are entering their first year of college or university to perfect their bilingualism while studying in their field of interest.
It is not mandatory to study French per se, but registered in a program where at least 50% of courses and related activities are offered in French.
These non-renewable bursaries, each worth $3,000, are available in several colleges and universities across Canada.
“Thanks to the FSL bursaries, these students will have the opportunity to further develop their linguistic skills in post-secondary institutions that provide French-language programs. They will also benefit from a quality environment that allows them to live in French,” explains Lynn Brouillette, President and CEO of the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC).
It’s rewarding to be bilingual.
Being bilingual offers many benefits, including better employment opportunities, higher wages, expansive knowledge about the French culture, and much more.
“I appreciated the openness and support I was given as an Anglophone in a French post-secondary school. The students, the professors, and the faculty are all extremely understanding of the challenge and often offered words of encouragement,” shares Jasmine Ferreira, bursary recipient.
“As a musician with instrumental practice, there really isn’t much time for working at a job,” adds Benjamin Morgan, bursary recipient. “The bursary helps me enormously.”
What would these two bursary recipients say to those who want to pursue their studies in French?
According to Jasmine, “the decision to pursue your studies in a second language takes courage and requires adaptability, but sometimes you must step out of your comfort zone to achieve success.”
Benjamin adds that “every day, one sees improvement.”
The Bursaries for Post-secondary Studies in French as a Second Language Program is funded by the Government of Canada and administered by the ACUFC.
In British Columbia, FSL bursaries for 2021-2022 are offered at Collège Éducacentre, Simon Fraser University (Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs), University of British Columbia (Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies) and University of Victoria (Department of French).
To find out more about eligibility criteria and all the colleges and universities offering the FSL bursary, visit ACUFC.ca/FSLbursaries.
