Francophone Research at SFU
French-Language Research Support Service (SARF)
OFFA is proud to have facilitated the renewal, for an additional three years (2025–2028), of the agreement between Simon Fraser University and Acfas regarding the French Research Support Service (SARF), a pan-Canadian interuniversity service that supports research conducted in French. This initiative reflects the importance that SFU and OFFA place on fostering French-language research in British Columbia and across Canada.
Strengthening French-Language Research in Minority Contexts
The French-Language Research Support Service (SARF) is a pan-Canadian research support initiative that assists with the preparation and review of grant applications submitted in French to the federal granting councils. Developed by and for the research community, SARF aims to address the structural barriers faced by researchers in francophone minority settings, particularly those related to preparing and submitting research funding applications in French.
Information Session
Watch the latest information session to learn more about SARF
Testimonials
“SARF was very responsive and provided detailed feedback and comments that helped me improve both the content and presentation of my research proposals and scholarship applications. The feedback allowed me to clearly identify the strengths and weaknesses of my submissions. [...]”
Adria Diallo-Lecompte, Master’s student in Political Science at Simon Fraser University
Opportunities in French for Researchers
« Ma thèse en 180 secondes » Competition
Are you a master’s or doctoral student? The Ma Thèse en 180 secondes competition offers a unique opportunity to develop your communication skills while sharing your research with a broader public audience.
Baxter & Alma Ricard Foundation
Through its scholarship program, the Baxter & Alma Ricard Foundation supports Canadian francophone students living in minority-language contexts, regardless of discipline, graduate program, or language of study. Applicants must demonstrate strong leadership potential within their community and an outstanding academic record.
Call for Papers: Éducation et francophonie
Learn more about the current call for papers: Professional Development of Teaching Personnel: Contemporary Reconfigurations, Tensions, and Innovations
- Expression of Interest Deadline: January 15, 2027
- Full Paper Submission Deadline: March 30, 2027
Researchers are invited to submit proposals that contribute to a renewed reflection on the professional development of teaching personnel. Interested authors are encouraged to review the issue’s background and submit an expression of interest to Charlotte Van der Elst, the journal’s editor, by January 15, 2027.
94th Acfas Conference: Call for Proposals Now Open
Acfas invites members of the Francophone scientific community to submit a proposal for the 94th Acfas Conference, which will take place May 10-14, 2027, at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). As the leading French-language scientific conference, the Acfas Congress provides a unique opportunity to share research findings, explore new avenues of inquiry, and engage with peers from a wide range of disciplines.
The theme of this year's conference, Questioning Assumptions, highlights the importance of embracing uncertainty throughout the research process. Unlike beliefs or opinions, the scientific method does not seek to confirm certainties, but rather to test them. Scientific progress is driven by questioning, the exchange of ideas, the verification of results, and the willingness to revise conclusions in light of new evidence.
Proposal submission deadline: October 9, 2026.
Omilia: 2026-2027 Call for Contributions
Omilia – Communication, Literature and Language Sciences has issued a call for contributions for its third edition, dedicated to showcasing the work of graduate students in the fields of communication, literature, and language sciences. This edition is open to members of Canadian universities and welcomes submissions on any topic within the represented disciplines.
Key Dates
- October 19, 2026 – Deadline to submit an extended abstract (approximately 500 words) via the submission form.
- December 21, 2026 – Deadline to submit the full manuscript for selected abstracts.
Interested in Graduate Studies in French?
Visit our graduate programs section to explore SFU’s French-language graduate offerings, including master’s programs (MA, MEd) and a doctoral program (PhD) offered entirely in French.