The Bursaries for Postsecondary Studies in French as a Second Language Program (FSL), funded by the Government of Canada and administered by the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC), aims to encourage students whose first official language spoken is English, to pursue their postsecondary studies in French. The objective is simple: Allow a greater number of English-speaking Canadians to become bilingual.

If your first official language spoken is English and you are pursuing your postsecondary studies in French in Canada, you could be eligible for a non-renewable $3,000 bursary!

To be eligible for a bursary for postsecondary studies in French as a second language, one must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
• Have English as the first Canadian official language spoken.
• Have completed their high school studies in an English or non-official language (neither French nor English) institution, and graduated from said institution.
• Be enrolled full-time in a college program (minimum duration of one year) or university program (minimum duration of two years*) delivered in French by a postsecondary entity that participates in the Program.
• Take at least 50% of their courses and participate in related activities (placements and training activities in the community) in French.

*Some one-year university programs are also eligible.

Special consideration will be given to students facing financial challenges and those who come from under-represented groups.

For more information email languages@mun.ca 

A.C. Hunter Travel Award in French This award has a value of not less than $600.00 and is awarded annually. It has been established in memory of Dean A.C. Hunter through the generosity of Mrs. Hunter, the Provincial Government of Newfoundland, the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Dean Hunter's former students and friends. The award shall take the form of a travel grant to a student, in second year or beyond, majoring or minoring in French who wishes to pursue a program of study of one or more semesters' duration, in French language, literature or culture, at a recognized institution in metropolitan France. Eligibility for this award requires a minimum of clear academic standing (as defined by the University) in the previous scholarship year. The award shall be made by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards, on the recommendation of the Department of French and Spanish.

One prize in French and one in German are awarded annually to graduating students who have majored in these languages. The prize in French is awarded on the recommendation of the Head, Modern Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and the prize in German on the recommendation of the Head, Modern Languages, Literatures, Cultures.

The Council of Ministers of Education Canada launched the Financial Aid Initiative aimed at increasing accessibility to the Explore Program in Summer 2027 for low-income Canadians. Participants receiving funding through the Financial Aid Initiative will have their registration fee covered, their transportation to and from their institution of choice paid for, their optional cultural activities paid for, as well as receiving additional spending money to use throughout the course of the program. The goal is to allow participants to fully engage in the Explore program without any financial concerns.

To apply, please submit the following via email to languages@mun.ca with the subject line “Explore Bursary” by 4 p.m. December 5th, 2026.

1. A fully complete and signed Explore Bursary application form.
   ▪ Forms can be physically or digitally signed
   ▪ Forms can be accepted without a signature if sent directly from your @mun.ca email
2. A statement of motivation (300-400 words in English or French)
   ▪ Examples include: your motivation to attend Explore; the timeline to fulfill your milieu requirement; improving your French language skills; how Explore will enhance your personal and/or professional skills, etc.
   ▪ The statement of motivation will be shared anonymously with the funding body if selected

During the selection process, preference will be given to majors and/or minors in French. If you are planning to major/minor in French and have not declared your program, you may do so by emailing registrar@mun.ca from your @mun.ca email. Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received financial aid for the Explore program, and/or who have not previously participated in Explore.

University Medals for Academic Excellence are given in the graduating year to candidates for Bachelor's degrees who are recommended by the appropriate Dean/Director/Department Head of each of the following: Anthropology, Archaeology, Behavioural Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biochemistry (Nutrition), Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Classics, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Criminology, Earth Sciences, Economics, Education (Intermediate/Secondary, Music, Post-Secondary, Primary/Elementary), Engineering (Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Ocean and Naval Architectural, Process), English, Folklore, French, Gender Studies, Geography, German, History, Human Kinetics and Recreation (Cooperative), Kinesiology, Law and Society, Linguistics, Maritime Studies, Mathematics (Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, and Statistics), Medicine, Medieval Studies, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Police Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Recreation, Religious Studies, Russian, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, and Technology

Dr. Grenville R. Robinson Award in French award was established in memory of the late Dr. Grenville Robinson, a former professor of the Department of French at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Valued at a portion of the income on the endowment, it will be awarded to a student on the basis of their performance in French courses at the 3000 level. The successful recipient must be registered as a full-time student and have completed between 60-90 credit hours towards a Bachelor of Arts degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Major in French. Preference will be given to a student who has made a contribution to the general activities of the Department. This award will be granted by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards upon the recommendation of the Head, Department of French and Spanish.

The Fry Family Foundation Undergraduate Leadership Award is part of the Fry Family Foundation Awards program, which was established to recognize and encourage tomorrow’s great leaders. The Fry Family Foundation was founded by Darryl and Marlene (nee Sellars) Fry, who were born, raised and educated in Newfoundland and Labrador. They are alumni of Memorial University and have a passion for both the university and the province. The Foundation helps to build stronger communities by investing in the development of young talent, as well as supporting health, social causes, nature and the arts. Valued at $5,000, this leadership award recognizes an undergraduate student who has been selected as Memorial University of Newfoundland’s most outstanding undergraduate student leader. It is presented at convocation to the recipient of the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Award. This award will be granted by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards.

Gladys Deutsch Travel Bursary for Arts was established through a bequest by Gladys Deutsch, a retired employee of the QEII Library and a supporter of the arts. It is valued at a portion of the income from the endowment and will be awarded annually to a full-time, undergraduate student who is participating in one of the overseas Field Schools or study abroad programs in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The recipient must meet the minimum academic requirements for a bursary as defined by the University and have demonstrated financial need. The bursary will be awarded by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards upon the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Three Governor General's Medals are awarded at Convocation: two Gold Medals to the graduate students who achieve the highest academic standing in their graduate degree program; and a Silver Medal to the undergraduate student obtaining a first degree who stands highest in the graduating class and has an average of first-class standing.

Graham Family Scholarship was established by Mrs. Kathleen Birchall and Dr. David Graham, is valued at a portion of the income on the investment. It will be tenable at Memorial University of Newfoundland and will be awarded to an outstanding student majoring in French with preference given to students enrolled in the Honours program. It will be awarded by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards upon the recommendation of the Head, Department of French and Spanish

St. John’s Port Authority Scholarship in French Studies was established by the St. John’s Port Authority to promote and support French language and culture and to encourage language duality in the St. John’s region. Valued at $2,500 annually, the scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student, majoring in French, with a preference for a student entering their second year with the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Students must have graduated from a high school in Newfoundland and Labrador. The recipient must meet the minimum academic requirements for scholarship standing as defined by the University. The scholarship will be awarded by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards on the recommendation of the Department Head, Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

The Senator Gerald R. Ottenheimer Language Scholarship is valued at the annual interest on the initial endowment, has been established via The Opportunity Fund in memory of Senator Ottenheimer through the generosity of White Ottenheimer & Baker, Barristers & Solicitors. It will be awarded on a rotating basis to students majoring in one of the language programs or the English programs at Memorial University of Newfoundland (graduate or undergraduate). At the undergraduate level it will be awarded on the basis of scholarship standing to a student in second year or beyond who plans to pursue one of the above noted areas of specialization. In the case of graduate students it will be awarded to a full-time student doing the Masters of Arts in one of the disciplines noted. If the successful candidate is an undergraduate, the scholarship will be awarded by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards. If the winner is a graduate student, it will be awarded by the Dean, School of Graduate Studies. In both cases it will be awarded on the basis of a recommendation from the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Tony and Kathy Duarte Award was established by generous donations from family, friends and colleagues of Antonio (Tony) Duarte and Henriqueta (Kathy) Duarte, a husband and wife who worked for many years with Memorial University of Newfoundland. Tony was Supervisor of Laboratories for the Engineering Department. Kathy was a Lecturer in Spanish language for the Department of French and Spanish. They both loved working at Memorial University and built many lasting friendships among their colleagues. This Award reflects the special connection that Tony and Kathy had with Memorial. Valued at a portion of the income on the endowment, it will be granted annually on a rotating basis to students in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures. In years where the award is granted to students in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, recipients may be in any year of study in any undergraduate engineering program, and preference will be given to those that demonstrate interest in the application of engineering solutions to real world social inequality problems (e.g., clean water, affordable housing, environmental remediation, etc.). In years where the award is granted to students in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, recipients may be in any year of study in the undergraduate Spanish program. In both instances, preference will be given to a student with demonstrated financial need. The recipient must meet the minimum academic requirements for an award as defined by the University. This award will be granted by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards on the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science or the Head, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures as appropriate.