Major bursaries announced for French language learners at UVic
English-speaking Canadians looking to boost their bilingualism with a post-secondary education in French as a second language (FSL), rejoice — the department of French at the University of Victoria has just announced a total of $90,000 in new bursaries for the 2021/22 academic year.
Up to thirty first-year students will be eligible to receive bursaries valued at $3,000 each.
“These bursaries are very significant for removing financial barriers for students pursuing a bilingual post-secondary education,” says professor and current Chair of the French department, Marc Lapprand. “While Canada begins to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, we are very happy to be able to offer students the financial support they need to succeed.”
As an official language of Canada, as well as of global organizations such as the United Nations and the International Red Cross, French opens up new employment opportunities that are available only to Canadians proficient in both English and French.
“Being bilingual is immensely important in Canada at the moment,” says Lapprand. “In addition to the cultural and cognitive benefits of learning French as a second language, our students gain a strong national and international competitive edge in a number of job markets.”
With an active and close-knit community, the department of French at UVic offers undergraduate and graduate-level programs, as well as a unique Certificate in Language and Cultural Proficiency. Students also gain hands-on, practical experience through French-language co-op placements, annual field schools in Paris, or a five-week summer language program in Québec.
“Bilingual education is flourishing at the elementary and secondary levels in BC,” says Lisa Surridge, Associate Dean Academic of the Faculty of Humanities. “These bursaries will enable students to carry their French-language skills with them to postsecondary level, as French majors or in other fields.”
Funding for the Bursaries for Postsecondary Studies in French as a Second Language Program is generously provided by the Government of Canada and the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne.
For more information about the bursaries, including application details and deadlines, visit: