Supporting French programs and pedagogical innovation across the U.S.

As the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, French is an asset for understanding diverse communities, excelling in international business, and tackling the global challenges of tomorrow.

French in Higher Education initiatives support university language departments in developing new programs and outreach to inspire the next generation of students to learn French.

Call for Proposals

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy offers seed funding to French and Francophone Studies programs at higher education institutions in the U.S. to adapt their program offerings to evolving higher education and professional landscapes.

An annual call for proposals supports higher education institutions that strive to bring a new dimension to the instruction of French or experiential learning opportunities, including interdisciplinary programs, faculty workshops, internship opportunities for American students in France, student mobility initiatives, and regional curricula partnerships.

Grants range from $2,000 to $20,000 and are awarded depending on the needs and quality of the project.

Grant Criteria

Funding must be used to initiate mid-to-long-term changes through innovation and/or to implement best practices at the program, department level, or beyond.

In order to better reflect and serve the full diversity of US students and French learners, the development of equity, inclusion, and social justice in French and Francophone Studies is particularly important. Universities and programs must report on the success of the projects and implement systems for continued engagement with the relevant communities even after the project’s conclusion.

Applications should be submitted by the project coordinator and include supporting documentation, e.g. a letter of support from a university dean or department.

To learn more, please consult the Program Guidelines and FAQs.

Internships and Experiential Learning

The Internships and Experiential Learning Program is a gateway for advanced French speakers to embark on transformative internships in France or Francophone countries. Starting in the fall of 2023, the program will empower students to expand their skills, enhance language fluency, and develop their global network:

A national call for projects will allow universities to receive funding to develop their own internship programs.

A selection of internship opportunities in France or Francophone countries will be made available online.

Scholarships will be offered based on student merit.

Webinars

The Cultural Services hosts French in Higher Education webinars, creating a space for professors and administrators to share best practices and offering resources to make French and Francophone Studies more attractive and dynamic. These informative sessions cover various subject areas, including a comprehensive webinar on the grant program as well as insights into our internship program. To learn more, please contact us here.

This program is part of French for All, a new comprehensive initiative to support equity in access to French language education in the United States.