Saskatoon Explore Program

About Explore

Accredited by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC), Explore is a French Immersion program specifically designed for students to study French as a Second Language. 

In level-specific classrooms, students learn themes, vocabulary, and grammar taught with communicative and experiential methods, participate in group projects and activities, and focus on conversation, discussions, and debates. Instruction in all levels includes the study of the short story Le Petit Prince.

Learn about Saskatchewan's tourist destinations here!

How to Apply

Both full-time and part-time students in post-secondary institutions may be eligible for a bursary that covers most of the tuition fees. Please note that in order to be admitted, you must have completed Grade 12 and be 19 years old prior to the beginning of the program.

If you have been a part-time or full-time student for at least one term during the current school year in post-secondary institutions, and are a Canadian citizen or have permanent residency status, you may qualify for the Explore bursary. The bursary covers your tuition, PDF books, miscellaneous materials, and excursions, activities, and workshops.

Please note that a non-refundable registration fee of $275 is not covered by the bursary. For in-person students who wish to reside in residence for the duration of the program, there is a $150 refundable deposit that is payable upon registration.

For admission into Explore, you will first apply for the bursary. Approval is granted by your home province. Once you get an email from CMEC that you have been granted a bursary, you will register for the University of Saskatchewan's Explore Program within five days.

To apply for the bursary, you will need to submit a Confirmation of Enrolment from your home institution. USask students can get that through MyCreds. Please upload the link to your page from MyCreds to your Explore application.

Obtaining Credit

You may choose to have this 5-week French Immersion program recognized as 6-credit unit course at the University of Saskatchewan or at your home university. 

All students, who are not currently USask students, and who wish to receive credit for the Explore French Immersion Program must obtain a letter of permission from the appropriate department and faculty at their home institution.

It is highly recommended that the letter of permission:

  • Be obtained prior to the beginning of the program.
  • Outlines exactly what your home institution requires in order for credit to be granted, i.e. level of study in French, final grade percentage, person and address where the official transcript is to be sent, and student number at your home institution.
  • Be sent directly to Gisèle Piché at gisele.piche@usask.ca. 

Absences

Our program is based on mastery of language over a period of intensive study, particularly the speaking and listening components. Permissions to be absent from the program are not given. As a condition of the bursary, students must be 100% available for the program at all times. Students can be absent up to a maximum of 10% of class time. If a student exceeds 10% for example if illness continually prevents a student from attending class, activities or workshops, they will be asked to discontinue.

Special diets, meal supplements, pre-existing medical conditions

Unfortunately, only those persons with severe food allergies or health conditions that are considered a barrier to learning will receive reimbursements for the costs of supplemental foods. The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) will require a doctor’s note specifying the medical condition. Once approval is granted, these students are also responsible to purchase these foods during the course of the program or to bring these with them, and to present receipts to Ms. Piché for reimbursement. 

All vegetarians or vegans or persons who require special diets due to religious, cultural, athletic, etc. reasons will have to bear the costs of meal supplements themselves.

Bursary recipients are responsible for expenses related to pre-existing medical conditions and they should have insurance coverage before participating in the program.

Contact Us

Gisèle Piché
Director, Immersion Programs
gisele.piche@usask.ca
306-966-4355
202-221 Cumberland Avenue North
Saskatoon, SK S7N 1M3

Transcripts

Are you a current or past Explore student? You can order a transcript for $10.