Foreign Exchange Programs for High School Students

The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) is a great place to start if you're considering participating in a foreign exchange program.  The CSIET Advisory List contains information about 75 international youth travel and exchange organizations. Each organization's listing includes: countries served, brief program descriptions, cost estimates, financial aid opportunities, and complete contact information.

AFS Intercultural Programs is one of the world’s largest community-based volunteer organizations dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through international student exchange. More than 10,000 students, young adults and teachers participate in AFS programs each year.

The ASSE International Student Exchange Program has opportunities for high school students to study in one of 31 countries.

School Year Abroad (SYA) is the only secondary level school in which American students live for a full year in a European or Chinese family while earning U.S. graduation credits and receiving rigorous preparation for top U.S. colleges and universities.

IIEPassport offers a comprehensive search for study abroad programs. You can search for these international education opportunities by country, language, subject and many other criteria. After conducting a search, you will receive a list of study abroad programs that match your needs specifically as well as a list of other education abroad programs in which you may be interested.

GlobalQuest offers twelve-week semester programs in international settings. The program was established in 1999 and initial semester offerings are based in Thailand. As GlobalQuest grows, they plan to offer semesters throughout the world.

ITHAKA offers a rigorous experiential and academic work/study immersion in Greek culture. Our study is inter-disciplinary, covering the main areas of culture and learning from ancient times to the present day. It is accessible to the broadest range of students, with varying interests, abilities, and training. Purpose and excitement, vigor and curiosity are brought back to learning. 

Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a non-profit educational organization which offers opportunities for young people around the world to spend a summer, semester or year with a host family in another culture.

Congress Bundestag is a unique program provides 300 full scholarships for American high school students to live with a host family and attend school in Germany for a year.