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France


France is renowned for its art, literature, fashion, cuisine, and extensive history. This popularity is exemplified by its status as the world’s most frequently visited country, with an annual influx of 90 million visitors who come to explore its iconic landmarks and captivating cities. However, only a few delve deeper to truly immerse themselves in authentic French culture. Embrace genuine life in France by learning to appreciate life’s small joys, embracing the present, and transforming everyday rituals into enjoyable experiences.

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Program Summary:

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​

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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 ArrivalDepartProgram fee
NZD
Application deadline
Academic
Semester
Aug 29, 2025Jan 17, 2026$12,950Apr 15, 2025
Academic
Year
Aug 29, 2025Jun 20, 2026$14,950Apr 15, 2025
3 MonthsAug 29, 2025Nov 22, 2025$10,950Apr 15, 2025
3 MonthsOct 24, 2025Jan 17, 2026$10,950Jul 30, 2025
2 MonthsNov 21, 2025Jan 17, 2026$9,950Jul 30, 2025
Academic
Semester
Jan 23, 2026Jun 20, 2026$12,950Sept 15, 2025
Academic
Year
Jan 23, 2026Nov 14, 2026$14,950Sept 15, 2025
3 MonthsJan 23, 2026Apr 25, 2026$10,950Sept 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.

View Area choices with prices

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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.

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Arc de Triomphe

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.

Mother and teenage daughter online

Still considering where to go on exchange?

High School Student Exchange Destinations

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France
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