Timeline
How does the Entente Cordiale Day Challenge take place?
15th November
Early Application Window Closes
The application window is open from 1 November to 15 November on a rolling basis. If all ten teams for an institution are full, then the application window will not reopen.
Late November
Formal beginning of competition research
In the event of more applications per team, the Entente Cordial Day Association will aid the Challenge in selecting participants based on the three application questions. ​ All teams will know their status in the competition to begin research by late November.
31st January
Reports Deadline
Each team is expected to submit their report by the end of January. A preliminary jury will evaluate these reports and shortlist the top ten in the country.
21st February
Top 10 Announcement
The preliminary jury in the UK and France will announce their top ten university teams and their reports.​​
8th April, 2025
The Final Round
The final round, or The Challenge, will be held on April 8th, 2025, the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale Day. Team finalists present their analyses before a Grand Jury.
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Each team has 10 minutes to present, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. The annual location for these presentations rotates among participating universities. The Grand Jury will judge these presentations on the same criteria used for the written reports, with an additional focus on the clarity of the oral presentation.
At the end of Entente Cordiale Day, five winning teams from each country will be selected. Winners are celebrated at the prestigious Annual Gala Dinner on 8th April, 2025.
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This gala, held alternately at Hatfield House in the UK and Château de Breteuil in France, brings together Franco-British leaders to honour academic achievements and cross-cultural collaboration. Winning teams receive scholarships, certificates signed by the selected universities, and exclusive visits to significant cultural venues. In June, winning teams also would have the opportunity to present their findings to the Private Secretary to His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace and to the Chief of Staff to the President of France at Élysée Palace.