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FSL bursaries of $3,000 promoting postsecondary studies in French
Did you know that the Bursaries for Postsecondary 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 this bursary is to help students 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 rather to be registered in a program in which at least 50 per cent of courses and related activities are offered in French.
These non-renewable bursaries, each worth $3,000, are available in many colleges and universities across Canada, which is why Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC) President and CEO Lynn Brouillette says any student thinking of studying in French should apply.
“Thanks to the FSL bursaries, these students will have the opportunity to further develop their linguistic skills in postsecondary institutions that provide French-language programs. They will also benefit from a quality environment that allows them to live in French,” she says.
IT’S REWARDING TO BE BILINGUAL!
Being bilingual offers many benefits, like better employment opportunities, higher wages and expanding your knowledge about another culture, among others. Bursary students like Jasmine Ferreira and Benjamin Morgan have experienced these benefits themselves.
“I appreciated the openness and support I was given as an Anglophone in a French postsecondary school. The students, the professors and the faculty are all extremely understanding of the challenge and often offer words of encouragement,” says Jasmine Ferreira.
“As a musician with instrumental practice, there really isn’t much time for a job. The bursary helps me enormously,” says Benjamin Morgan.
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 agrees and says, “every day, one sees an improvement.”
The Bursaries for Postsecondary Studies in French as a Second Language Program is funded by the Government of Canada and administered by the ACUFC.
In Atlantic Canada, FSL bursaries for the 2021-2022 academic year are offered in New Brunswick at Collège communautaire du Nouveau-brunswick, Université de Moncton and Collège de Technologie Forestière des Maritimes, in Prince Edward Island at Collège de l’île and in Nova Scotia at Université Sainteanne.
To find out more about eligibility criteria and all the colleges and universities offering the FSL bursary, visit Acufc.ca/fslbursaries.