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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, 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.

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.

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 – 4:30 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.

Vaccinations

It is recommended that Outbound students are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. French host families have the right to refuse to host non-vaccinated students. Please be sure to note all vaccinations you have received in your application. Your Program Manager can advise if any additional vaccinations are required at the time of program acceptance.

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.

The budget allocated for flights to Europe is NZ$3,000 of the program price listed below. We may need to charge a flight surcharge if we cannot obtain a flight within this budget. For more information, please see our Flight Surcharge Policy on our Money Matters page.

Classic Program Prices for France

Program ArrivalDepartProgram fee
NZD
Application deadline
3 monthsAug 30,
2024
Nov 23,
2024
$10,450Mar 31,
2024
Academic
Semester
Aug 30,
2024
Jan 18,
2025
$12,950Mar 31,
2024
Academic YearAug 30,
2024
Jun 21,
2025
$14,950Mar 31,
2024
3 MonthsOct 25,
2024
Jan 18,
2025
$10,450Jul 30,
2024
2 MonthsNov 22,
2024
Jan 18,
2025
$9,450Jul 30,
2024
6 WeeksDec 6,
2024
Jan 18,
2025
$9,450Jul 30,
2024
Academic
Semester
Jan 17,
2025
Jun 21,
2025
$12,950Aug 30,
2024
Academic
Year
Jan 17,
2025
Nov 22,
2025
$14,950Aug 30,
2024

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
March 31, 2024: classic programs departing between October 2024 – March 2025
October 31, 2024: classic programs departing between April 2025 – September 2025
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 2024, 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.

The optional Soft Landing Camp outlined below will not be available for August 2024 arrivals due to Paris hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. An alternate camp may be arranged at a later date.

Optional Soft Landing Camp in Paris

Additional fee NZ$1,150.
This program is available for Academic Semester & Year Programs only (with the exception of August 2024, due to Paris hosting the Olympic & Paralympic Games)

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?

Please click and scroll across to see our destinations

An overview of all programs, prices and application deadlines can be found here.

ARGENTINAAUSTRALIA CANADA DENMARK FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY JAPANIRELAND ITALY NETHERLANDS NORWAYSPAINSWEDEN UKUSA
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 on 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 a 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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Please call our office if the application deadline is fast approaching & you need to get started quickly.

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LIVE Online Info Sessions

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Classic High School Programs

Traditional exchange programs in all destinations

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High School Choice Programs

Tailor your high school exchange in the USA or Canada

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