Program Summary:
- Program: Classic, Classic with area choice
- Program length: Short and Long programs
- Vaccinations: Yes
- Discounts and Scholarship: Yes
- Language criteria: Yes
- Language course: No
- Soft Landing Camp: Yes
Classic Program
Our Classic program will match you with a welcoming host family and place you in a nearby school. We find the host family and choose the school, and you can enjoy immersing yourself in local culture & community. These are perfect for students who:
* Flexible about location, and the academic experience
* Want to have a cultural experience
* Interested in joining sports, clubs, and activities
* Grow as a person and improve language skills
Classic Program Information
Age and eligibility
You must be between the ages of 14 and 17 and be enrolled at school when applying. An academic average of C grades over the last two years are required.
Dietary restrictions (including but not limited to food allergies, vegan/vegetarian, lactose or gluten intolerance, gluten free), medical conditions and other issues should be disclosed at the time of enquiry and application. The sooner we are aware of any special requests, the better. There may be an additional fee charged depending on the Special Dietary Requirement specified.
Program length
Programs are available for 2 or 3 months, or an Academic Semester or an Academic Year. There are also Program option requests (for Academic Semester & Year programs only).
Students applying for a short program departing in August will incur an additional fee for airport assistance.
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. The French school system has high standards. The focus is on academics and the school days are long, typically 8:30 am – 5:30/6:00 pm. Teachers are well respected, homework is expected to be completed.
Students have a fixed subject curriculum until Year 10 and, from Year 11, have 3 streams of study to choose from. There is no uniform at schools in France, even in private schools and students wear casual clothes to school. All lessons are taught in French.
Schools in France provide lunch for the students and the cost of this is not included in the program fees. Canteen fees will be invoiced by the school and should be paid at the time the invoice is issued.
Language criteria
You are required to be able to converse in basic conversation to allow adaption to school and host family life. An online language course or tutor would be beneficial.
Visa
Students require a visa for the Academic Semester and the Academic Year programs. Further information will be provided by your Program Coordinator.
Students traveling on Australian & New Zealand passports, with programs up to 90 days, generally travel as “tourists” and do not need to apply for a visa prior departure. However, for programs extending beyond the 90-day period (including Semester & Academic Year programs), students are usually required to apply for the necessary visa.
Program Coordinators will provide the essential visa documents so students can lodge their visa application. Please note that Program Coordinators are not Registered Migration Agents and cannot represent the applicant. Program Coordinators will provide “guidance” where possible, however the responsibility of lodging the visa falls upon the student/parents. Visa application requirements differ per destination and, on top of the visa documents provided by your Program Coordinator, students will need to provide additional documents such as birth certificate, bank statements, police check certificate, passport photos, letter of parental consent, etc.
Visa application fees (set by the foreign Authority) fluctuate depending on the destination and may vary from $180 to $700. These costs exclude expenses such as translations, official stamps (Notary Public stamp, Apostille stamp), national police certificate, passports photos, express post envelopes, etc. In some cases, students must attend an in-person consulate / visa agency appointment, which may incur additional personal expenses for travel such as purchasing flights (Interstate flight or international flight if no representation in your home country), petrol costs, tolls, accommodation, etc.
Canada:
Students must have received their routine childhood vaccinations appropriate for their age. In addition, Canada requires full vaccination against Meningococcal (MenACWY). The Covid-19 vaccine is recommended but not mandatory.
USA:
Students must be up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations for their age group. Additionally, your host school in the USA will require further immunisations to meet national guidelines, such as the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine and a TB test conducted within six months before arrival. While Covid-19 vaccination is recommended, it is not mandatory.
Other Countries:
Students must be up to date with their standard childhood vaccinations. While the Covid-19 vaccine is recommended, it is not compulsory.
Classic Program Prices for France
| Program | Arrival | Depart | Program fee NZD | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Semester | Aug 29, 2025 | Jan 17, 2026 | $12,950 | Apr 15, 2025 |
| Academic Year | Aug 29, 2025 | Jun 20, 2026 | $14,950 | Apr 15, 2025 |
| 3 Months | Aug 29, 2025 | Nov 22, 2025 | $10,950 | Apr 15, 2025 |
| 3 Months | Oct 24, 2025 | Jan 17, 2026 | $10,950 | Jul 30, 2025 |
| 2 Months | Nov 21, 2025 | Jan 17, 2026 | $9,950 | Jul 30, 2025 |
| Academic Semester | Jan 23, 2026 | Jun 20, 2026 | $12,950 | Sept 15, 2025 |
| Academic Year | Jan 23, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | $14,950 | Sept 15, 2025 |
| 3 Months | Jan 23, 2026 | Apr 25, 2026 | $10,950 | Sept 15, 2025 |
Each destination has a budget for flights included in the fee. If flight costs are above this budgeted amount, a Flight Surcharge may apply. Please see our Money Matters page for program inclusions, the flight surcharge policy and other important pricing information.
Program start dates are indicative arrivals in the destination & students attending the Soft Landing Camp (if available) will depart earlier. Program start dates serve as approximate arrival dates at the destination and subject to change. We will notify you of your confirmed program dates ahead of time to prevent any confusion or inconvenience.
Scholarship & Early Bird Discount Application Deadlines
October 31, 2024: classic programs departing between April 2025 – September 2025
March 31, 2025: classic programs departing between October 2025 – March 2026
Find out more about Scholarships and Early Bird Discounts.
Students applying for a Semester or Academic Year program to France have the option to choose the region they would like to live in during their exchange. Area Choices are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Once all spots are filled, we will not accept any additional requests.
France Area Choice prices are available here.
Program Options
Area Choices
Students applying for a Semester or Academic Year program to France have the option to choose the region they would like to live in during their exchange. Students can select up to 3 regions. If applicants are successfully placed in one of their preferred regions, then an additional location fee will be applied to the normal program price.
Area Choices are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Once all spots are filled, we will not accept any additional requests.
Unlock France
Short Program Offer
If you apply for a Short program (2-3 months) in late 2025, your caring host family comes with a guaranteed host sibling and you will attend a local private school, at no extra cost.
Your host sibling will be of a similar age (+/- 2 years). Please understand that due to the potential age difference of up 2 years, you may not be in the same school, but you will be placed in another local private school. Spots are limited, please contact our team with any questions.
On Arrival
Students will be welcomed by our French partner organisation at Charles de Gaulle Airport and will assist them with their train transfer to their host community. Students will then have an individual orientation with their Local Coordinator.
Optional Soft Landing Camp in Paris
Additional fee NZ$1,150.
This program is available for Academic Semester & Year Programs only
If you want to see more of Paris before you head to your host family, students departing for August (only) Academic Semester & Year programs have the option to spend their first four days in Paris with other exchange students from around the world.
Included in Soft Landing Camp:
• Four nights at in shared hostel rooms with breakfast
• Staff supervision throughout the stay
• Transfer from CDG airport to the hotel
• Domestic transfer to Host Family placement location
• Meals when at the hostel
• Arranged sightseeing entry fees and metro tickets
Not included in Soft Landing Camp:
• Personal expenses and meals out of the hostel
Agenda (example only):
Tuesday:
Arrival at CDG early afternoon. Meet & greet at CDG airport.
Check-in at the hotel
Site seeing and free time for dinner
Wednesday:
Breakfast at the hostel
Guided tour in Montmartre & Sacre Coeur
Free time for lunch
Visit the Eiffel Tower
Dinner at hostel
Sightseeing
Thursday:
Breakfast at the hostel
Walk around the 9th arrondissement: Pompidou Centre, Grands Magasins, Opera Garnier
Free time for lunch
Visit the Louvre Museum
Bateaux Mouches river cruise on the Seine
Dinner at hostel
Friday:
Breakfast at the hostel
Visit
Lunch at the hostel
After lunch, we start our orientation meeting. This is a compulsory meeting for all students.
Free time for dinner
Students will travel to meet their host family on Saturday
LIVE Online sessions
If you would like to find out more information on our programs, please attend one of our free LIVE Online Information Sessions to:
- Meet our staff
- Hear comprehensive information on all aspects of exchange
- Ask questions
- See questions asked by other students and parents
Information evenings run for about an hour.
They are friendly, free and are the best way for us to address your specific questions in person.
Still considering where to go on exchange?
An overview of all programs, prices and application deadlines can be found here.
Please click and scroll across to see our destinations
Canada
Enjoy your exchange experience at an excellent high school in warm, welcoming and diverse Canada, the most multicultural country on earth! Extraordinary nature, vibrant cities and respected academic achievements for your future!
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France
Your high school exchange will show you why France is the world’s top tourist destination: rich historical sites, stunning nature, fantastic food and a vigorous debating tradition in a world language spoken by almost 100 million people!
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Argentina
Argentina is well-known for its natural scenery, modern cities and fashion but also for tradition and hospitality. It is an ideal destination for exchange.
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Denmark
Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life. Enjoy the hospitality along with an outstanding education system.
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Finland
There’s something pure in the Finnish air and spirit that’s incredibly vital and exciting; with the trendsetting modern capital of Helsinki counterbalanced by vast forested wildernesses in the north and east. Try something different on exchange in Finland.
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Germany
Your high school exchange in Europe’s economic powerhouse is a great opportunity to invest in your future while discovering rich German language and culture, an open, welcoming society and many stimulating experiences!
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Ireland
The Emerald Isle welcomes you in English and in Gaelic, to great schools, warm families, dynamic cities and close-knit small towns. Ireland has become a hotbed of innovation but remains rooted in rich traditions you will love!
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Italy
Spend your high school exchange in astonishing Italy, from beautiful medieval towns to mountains and seashore; discover capital cities of design; enjoy fabulous farm-to-table food, and learn the world’s most romantic language!
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Netherlands
Who hasn’t heard of Amsterdam, the capital of culture, coffee houses and canals? Its mesmerising beauty is hard to overestimate, and yet a surfeit of stunning metropoles are only hours, or even minutes, away by train.
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Australia
Experience the adventure of a lifetime with your neighbours! Australia beckons with its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and world-class education. Discover a both similarities and differences, make lifelong friends as a high school exchange student in Australia.
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Norway
Norway is, by any standards, one of the most beautiful countries on earth – discover Norwegian traditions and culture on exchange in Norway
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Spain
Open doors by studying a great world language in a country with mountains, ocean and medieval villages all within reach, and a laid-back culture where you can learn and enjoy at the same time!
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Sweden
Sweden’s progressive society also provides an ideal climate for innovation and economic advancement. Your high school exchange here will also reveal why the country is consistently among the world’s happiest!
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United Kingdom
Some of the world’s best schools are in the UK. Combine rich culture and history, beautiful countryside, enthusiastic sports clubs and exciting excursions during your exchange in the UK.
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USA
Being a high school exchange student in the USA is like embarking on an adventure filled with new friendships, diverse cultures, and a world of educational opportunities. It’s an experience that broadens horizons and creates lasting memories.
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Japan
Immerse yourself in the captivating blend of ancient traditions and modern innovation. Engage in authentic cultural experiences, attend Japanese high school, and build lasting friendships. This program offers a unique opportunity to broaden your horizons, enhance language skills, and gain a global perspective that will undoubtedly shape your future.
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Worldwide High School Online Brochure
For an overview of our programs, our team will send you our Worldwide High School Online Brochure.
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