WIN ONE OF 102 SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH UP TO $28,000

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST?

If you are a student in grades 10, 11, or 12 (Secondaire IV, Secondaire V, or Cégep in Quebec), you could win one of 102 scholarships to continue your studies completely or partially in French after high school! In total, $413,000 will be distributed between two categories: French as a first language and French as a second language.

Enter the National Essay Contest for a chance to win a scholarship between $1,000 and $28,000 to study at one of our 16 partnering post-secondary institutions all over the country. It's your chance to invest in your future, en français!

Win a scholarship

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

“What makes a good friend?”

In this 750-word essay, we’re asking you to reflect on what friendship means to you. This is a unique opportunity to think deeply about what you truly value in a friendship; whether it’s trust, loyalty, shared moments, or something else. What makes a good friend is different for everyone, so tell us what’s most important to you.

Be creative, be yourself! Essays with the most personality always stand out.

Submit your essay by December 20th using the form below.

Happy writing!

Resources

We strongly encourage you to read the Rules and Regulations as well as the Evaluation Grid before you start writing your essay.

In addition, a plethora of resources can help you get started: 

"WHAT MAKES A GOOD FRIEND?"

750 words to a scholarship

CATEGORIES

At the time of entry, each participant must indicate on the entry form which of the two categories below they best fits:  

Category 1: French Second Language (“FSL”): students whose first language is not French or students who are currently enrolled in Core French, Extended Core French, Basic French, French Immersion, or any other version or type of FSL program, available in their province or territory of residence, and who do not match any of the French First Language criteria.

Category 2: French First Language (“FFL”): students who satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

  • Their first language is French;
  • They speak, write and comprehend French with native fluency;
  • They regularly speak French at home with one or both parents.
  • They attend or have attended a French First Language school for more than 3 years within the past 6 years.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The University or College of my choice is not on the list, can I still participate and win a scholarship to attend that University or College?

No. The scholarships are distributed by our partnering post-secondary institutions. If your choice is not in the list, we do not have a partnership with them, and thus have no scholarship. Each year, we add new scholarships and new partners, come back next year to see if your choice is in the list. For more information about which schools are participation and the value of their scholarships, check out our rules.

Common questions about word counts.

My essay has more, or less, than 750 words, is that okay?

We accept all essays between 700 and 800 words in length without penalty. However, essays having 699 words or less, or 801 words or more, will be automatically disqualified regardless of the quality of your work.

Do I need to include the word count in my essay?

No, it is not necessary to include your final word count in your essay. We calculate it ourselves.

Are the essay title or bibliography included in the final word count?

No, your essay title and bibliography are not included in the final word count.

How will the essays be graded?

The evaluation sheet that the judges will use to grade your essays is available here. Make sure to read over the criteria before you start writing.


Each essay is read by a panel of four (4) judges, and the average score will serve as final grade.

 

Do I have to answer the question?

Yes, all essays must answer the question or respect the theme. Failure to do this will lead to the immediate disqualification of your essay, regardless of the quality of your work.

Do I need to write my name on my essay?

No. The essays must be anonymous for the judges. You must therefore avoid including any identifying information in your essay, such as; your name, your teacher’s name, or your school’s name.

I've already won a scholarship in a previous year, can I enter again?

Yes, if you've won a scholarship, you can enter again this year, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. 

If you win again, you'll have the option of keeping the scholarship of your choice. Please note that scholarships are not cumulative. 

Formatting your essays, bibliographies, and in-text citations

There is no formatting requirement for your essay. We recommend that you avoid any unnecessary formatting, like double spacing, footnotes, and so on. These can cause technical difficulties when submitting essays.

However, remember to structure your essay with clear paragraphs, as indicated in the evaluation grid.

Bibliography

While bibliographies are permitted, they do not count towards your final score. They are not included in your final word count either.

In-text citations

It is not necessary to cite your sources in the text. Unlike for bibliographies, in-text citations are included in your final word count. Furthermore, in order to avoid any technical difficulties, we ask that you do not use footnotes. If you wish to cite your sources, it is in your best interest to do so with the help of a bibliography or a works cited list at the end of your essay.

Technical problems while submitting

It is possible that you might encounter a technical issue while submitting your essay. Here are some things to try and might solve the issue for you. Please try these before contacting us, these are the first steps.

Your browser:

  • Delete your browser history and try again.
  • Use a different browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
  • Use private/incognito mode on your browser.

The submission form:

  • Make sure that all fields are completed adequately.
  • In the text box where you write your essay, remove any unnecessary formatting that is not required by the evaluation grid.
  • Some school email addresses can be the source of the problem, you can try submitting your essay with a different email address. 

Help! I am still having problems despite trying everything above!

In some rare cases, the issues cannot be resolved immediately and the technical problems persist. Do not worry, write to us at info@french-future.org and we will help you.

It is important to note that the office is open from 8 am to 4 pm EDT from Monday to Friday. We will only answer questions during working hours.

We strongly recommend that you submit your essay before 4 pm EDT on the last day of the Essay Contest. This way, we will be able to help you in time if a technical issue arises then. The office closes for the holiday season after 4 pm on the last day of the submission, and we will only return the following January.

Reminder : As stated in the rules and regulations, we cannot be held responsible for any system failures.

I didn’t receive my confirmation email.

Check your spam or junk folders, the confirmation email might have been sent there by mistake. If you still have not received a confirmation email, contact us at info@french-future.org to check if your submission went through.

For this reason, make sure you don’t wait until the last minute to submit your essay. Office hours are from 8 am to 4 pm EDT, Monday to Friday.

Do I really need to submit my essay file in addition to writing it in the text box?

Yes, you must both write your essay in the text box and submit the file in a Word (or word processing) format. Doing this allows us to have a secondary copy of your essay should any technical problems arise on our end. It is in your best interest to submit both essays properly.

AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR ESSAY

  • Essays will be marked by a panel of French teachers using the Evaluation Grid.
  • National Essay Contest winners will be contacted by email from mid-February to early March. Check your inbox and spam folders for any communication from us so you can answer back before the deadline.
  • Winners will be announced at the beginning of March following the Contest.

Note for teachers: If you teach French in Canada and you would like to be a part of our panel of judges for 2024-2025, please reach out to us by filling out this form.

PROMOTE THE CONTEST

If you'd like to help us get the message across to young people, several resources are available:

 

Discover 98 winners of the 2023-2024 National Essay Contest!

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST?


The National Essay Contest, it’s 98 bursaries to be won, for a grand total of $377,000!

Are you in Grades 10, 11, or 12 (secondaire IV, secondaire V or Cégep in Quebec) and registered in a French program?

Do you need a little boost to continue your education in French after high school?

Take part in the National Essay Contest for the chance to win a scholarship ranging between $1,000 and $20,000 to study in French in one of our participating post-secondary institutions.

Shortcuts

 

Our partnering institutions

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

  • In 2023, the contest’s theme was:

    Convince the 2024 Olympic Committee that your “incredible talent” should be selected as a new Olympic discipline!

The Olympic Committee is seeking new discipline to add to the next Olympic Games. The Committee is open to all possibilities, including “incredible talents” like moving your eyes, playing multiple instruments at once, or even drinking a bottle of maple syrup in less than a minute. You submitted a proposal based on your own “incredible talent” and you are now a finalist before the committee selecting the new disciple. So:

Convince the 2024 Olympic Committee that your “incredible talent” should be selected as a new Olympic discipline!

We strongly encourage you to read the Rules and Regulations as well as the Evaluation Grid before you start writing your essay.

You have questions! Visit our FAQ

Discover the essays of the winners of the 2023-2024 contest!



CATEGORIES


At the time of entry each participant must indicate on their entry form into which of the two categories below he or she best fits:

Category 1: French Second Language (“FSL”): students whose first language is not French or students who are currently enrolled in Core French, Extended Core French, Basic French, French Immersion, or any other version or type of FSL program, available in their province or territory of residence, and who do not match any of the French First Language criteria.

Category 2: French First Language (“FFL”): students who satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

– Their first language is French;
– They speak, write and comprehend French with native fluency;
– They regularly speak French at home with one or both parents.
– They attend or have attended a French First Language school for more than 3 years within the past 6 years.



WHAT’S NEXT?


  • Essays will be marked by a panel of French teachers and our spokesperson, using the Evaluation Grid.
  • Winners will be announced at the beginning of March following the Contest.

If you teach French in Canada and you would like to be a part of our panel of judges for 2023-2024, please reach out to us by filling out this form.

DISCOVER THE LIST OF WINNERS OF THE 18TH EDITION OF THE CNR!


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DISCOVER OUR OTHER PROGRAMS FOR FRENCH-SPEAKING YOUTH