French for the Future officially launches the 20th edition of its National Essay Contest, inviting 10, 11, and 12 grade students from across Canada to write a 750-word essay in French by December 19, 2025, for a chance to win one of the scholarships totaling $388,000.
This year, 100 scholarships, ranging in value from $1,000 to $28,000, will be awarded to deserving students in the two categories of the contest: “French as First Language” and “French as a Second Language.” The scholarships will enable the winners to pursue their studies partially or entirely in French at one of our 15 partner post-secondary institutions across the country, including 1 from Québec.
How to Apply
- Eligibility
- Application
- Judging
This Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada (Canadian citizens, permanent residents or a person who has been granted refugee status) who at the time of entry are enrolled in a Canadian high school in Grade 10, 11 or 12 (Secondary IV, Secondary V, or in CEGEP in the province of Quebec).
At the time of entry each entrant must indicate on their entry form into which of the two categories below he or she best fits. The entrant’s essay will be judged against essays of other entrants in the same category.
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:
- whose first language is French;
- who speak, write and comprehend French with native fluency;
- who regularly speak French at home with one or both parents.
- who attend or have attended a French First Language school for more than 3 years within the past 6 years.
Essays must be written in French.
- 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.