What our students say
“The EC Challenge offers a truly interdisciplinary research opportunity, something which isn't available in my degree, which has a more multidisciplinary focus. Solutions to the biggest challenges of our future will only be found when we come together, and bring several perspectives and specialisms to the table.”
“I joined the Entente Cordiale University Challenge to contribute to high-impact policy discussions at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and global governance.”
“I believe in the power of proposing and devising new solutions to transnational problems. Taking responsibility to reflect on the challenges and limitations of global concerns is, in my view, the essence of what students should do.”
“Beyond the academic and policy aspects, what excites me most is the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers, exchange ideas, and learn from Franco-British approaches to innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.”
What our jurors say
“I joined the Entente Cordiale University Challenge to contribute to high-impact policy discussions at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and global governance.”
Fengjie Liu, Advanced Research Fellow at Imperial College London
“Entente Cordiale Challenge represents a fantastic opportunity for students and potential future leaders to analyse live global challenges and propose credible solutions to them. This is critically important in an ever more turbulent and divided world”
Professor Peter Newell, School of Global Studies University of Sussex
“Having young people work together across borders is essential to navigating the uniquely dangerous challenges of our time. One of the most pressing is preventing global ecological collapse”
Professor Luke Kemp
Research Affiliate with the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge
Become a Competitor
The Entente Cordiale Day Association organises an annual Franco-British university challenge of a multidisciplinary nature. The competition aims to tackle global issues in a forward thinking, innovative and transformative manner. It runs from October to April.
Entente Cordiale University Challenge is inclusive and collaborative. Study groups in each country, made up of 3 students per team from the same French or British academic institution, can take part in the Challenge from October. The annual theme of research will always be a global topic and therefore, there is no condition of nationality or background for participation. Student can come from any discipline, any level of study and any academic institution.
After selection of the 10 best written studies in France and the UK at the end of February, the finalists are invited to the annual Entente Cordiale Day over April 7th and 8th for a series of prestigious events, an oral presentation before a prominent Grand Jury and a closing gala awarding the work of the 5 best study groups of each country with the Entente Cordiale Day Prizes, those bearing singular names honouring the memory of those who have furthered Franco-British friendship for over 120 years and offering a range of benefits including scholarships and private visits of Entente Cordiale Day hosting venues. Finally, the 2 winning study groups will present their work at the Élysée Palace and Buckingham Palace.
After onboarding 330 participants to the 2025 Entente Cordiale Day Challenge on the theme of ‘Climate change, biodiversity, and the developing world’ and receiving finalists in London for the Entente Cordiale Day events, we look forward to welcoming more students at the Entente Cordiale Day 2026 in Paris and at Chateau de Breteuil.
2026 Registration will open later this year.
Contact us to register interest and receive details about our next online information sessions.
Annual calendar
Register Your Interest
(September–October)
-
Recruitment campaigns in top French and UK academic institutions.
-
Registration opens for student teams, highlighting the year’s global theme (e.g., Climate Change and Biodiversity).
Become a University Partner
Initiated by the London School of Economics, who are hosting the Entente Cordiale Day 2025 for the finalists oral presentation before Grand Jury, the Entente Cordiale University Challenge is open to any academic institution based in France or the UK. Every year, our university partners are invited to the Entente Cordiale Day Closing Ceremony on
April 8th and to the Alumni Day later in the year.
Contact us to register interest
We are proud to count participating students from the following 12 academic institutions below
UK Universities
Oxford University
Cambridge University
The London School of Economics
University College of London
King's College London
Imperial College of London
French Universities
Sorbonne University
Sciences Po Paris
Centrale Supelec Paris
EDHEC Business School
University Paris Dauphine PSL
ESSEC Business School
Become a Juror
We have been overwhelmed by the support of our 2025 Entente Cordial Day Challenge jurors and are looking for additional experts ahead of our 2026 edition.
The theme will be announced at the 2025 Closing Ceremony in Hatfield House.
Contact us to register interest
Every year, we welcome all jurors to our events on April 7th and April 8th to meet the Entente Cordiale University Finalists and connect with a network of academic, economic, political and cultural players in France and the UK.