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France

Savour the art in the shining capital on the River Seine. See glorious pasts blaze forth at Versailles. Travel south for Roman civilisation and the sparkling blue Med. Ski the Alps. Sense the subtle infusion of language, music and mythology in Brittany brought by 5th-century Celtic invaders. Smell ignominy on the beaches of Normandy and battlefields of Verdun and the Somme.

You'll experience highs & lows, develop a love for a new culture & come to further appreciate your own. Knowing this experience & its challenges are growing you into a stronger human-being makes this so much more than a holiday!

Rhys Schofield - Year to France

Most rewarding part of the exchange experience? Meeting such great people ! Learning French, the culture … and coming home as if we have achieved something.

Chris Jacek – Semester to France

Short Programs Long Programs Language Criteria Immunisation Gap Year Online Video Scholarships Discounts
Short Programs✔ Long Programs✔ Language Criteria✔ Immunisation✔ Gap Year✔ Online Video✔ Scholarships✔ Discounts✔

Next available departures for France

Length Departure Fee Application deadline Early Bird deadline Scholarship deadline
Length5 months DepartureAug 2019 FeeAU $9300 Application deadline09/04/2019 Early Bird deadline31/10/2018 Scholarship deadline31/10/2018
Length10 months DepartureAug 2019 FeeAU $10300 Application deadline09/04/2019 Early Bird deadline31/10/2018 Scholarship deadline31/10/2018
Length3 months DepartureOct 2019 FeeAU $7450 Application deadline09/08/2019 Early Bird deadline31/03/2019
Length2 months DepartureNov 2019 FeeAU $6950 Application deadline25/08/2019 Early Bird deadline31/03/2019
Length5 months DepartureJan 2020 FeeAU $9300 Application deadline10/09/2019 Early Bird deadline31/03/2019 Scholarship deadline31/03/2019
Length10 months DepartureJan 2020 FeeAU $10300 Application deadline10/09/2019 Early Bird deadline31/03/2019 Scholarship deadline31/03/2019

Important Program Information

Please note that

  • Students applying for France will need to have a basic knowledge of French to allow easy adaption to school and Host family life. A language course is strongly recommended.
  • Some program arrivals include an orientation in Paris at an additional cost.
  • Optional Program Extras such as tours and language camps are available at additional cost.
  • 2 week Language courses in Angouleme at an additional cost. Please contact our office for further information.

2WayExchange Program

The 2WayExchange Experience involves you in a unique exchange program where students from Australia and New Zealand are ‘matched’, with a student in either France, Canada, Italy or Spain. You choose which country and spend 3 months with each other’s families and attend school. It amounts to twice the experience and at a fraction of the usual cost of a 3 month exchange program. Click here to find out more.

Programs available

You can choose a 2 or 3 month program departing in November, or a 5 or 10 month program departing in either January or August each year.

Click here to find out more about our 2WayExchange program.

Placements

You will stay with a volunteer French host family. Host families come in all different shapes, sizes and backgrounds, and could live just about anywhere in France.

All host families undergo a Criminal Background Check, are interviewed in their home and reference checked before they are approved to host.

Schools

You will be enrolled in a local school - College or Lycee - depending on your age. The school year starts in early September and goes through to the beginning of July.

Students have a fixed subject curriculum until year 10 and, from year 11, have 3 streams of study to choose from. There isn't any school uniform in France, even in private schools and students wear casual clothes to school.

Age and Eligibility

You must be between the ages of 15 and 18 and be enrolled at school when applying. Gap year students are eligible and need to depart no more than 3 months after completing their final year. Ideally, students will have studied French for 2 years before departure but there is flexibility with this requirement so please talk to us.

Visas

Aussies and Kiwis will travel on a tourist visa for short programs lasting 2 to 3 months.

Students on a long program will need to lodge their application in person and attend a face to face interview at the Consulate in Sydney or Wellington (with a parent if under 18).

Application deadlines

Application deadlines for the longer programs are typically 4-5 months prior to departure and early August for the short programs departing in November. But don’t leave it to the last minute to apply. Check our website for details or give us a call. You may like to take advantage of our scholarships or early bird discounts and secure your spot even earlier! For details on the deadline for our 2WayExchange Experience, please click here.