There’s something truly magical about being an exchange student. Whether it’s for a few weeks or a whole school year, teens get the opportunity to be fully immersed in a new culture. The benefits, lessons, friendships, and memories can last a lifetime. If you’re considering a school partnership, researching international programs for American students, or considering becoming a host family, here some of the best exchange student programs available right now.
What Are Exchange Student Programs?
Exchange student programs provide a fantastic opportunity for students to spread their wings. These programs encourage teens to broaden their educational and cultural horizons as they attend classes in a different environment, live with host families or in dorm settings, and immerse themselves in the local culture. This is a great way to improve target language skills and learn to express themselves in new ways.
Ranging from a few weeks to an entire academic year, exchange student programs offer a flexible yet profound way for students to engage with the world. Yes, some culture shock can (and likely will) occur, so exchange programs are most ideal for students who are open to challenging themselves in unique settings. Beyond academic growth, these exchanges enhance career opportunities through international experience and help build enduring friendships worldwide. Imagine if we all could graduate high school with global connections!
Benefits of Exchange Student Programs
Exchange student programs offer a wealth of benefits that can transform students’ personal and academic lives both for the exchange students themselves and the native students in their host schools. Here are some of the key advantages.
Cultural exchange and diversity
Exchange students bring with them their unique cultures, languages, and perspectives, which encourages the cultural awareness and sensitivity of the entire school community.
Cultural immersion
Students gain firsthand exposure to new customs, traditions, and ways of life. We also know that immersive learning also can promote empathy and a greater appreciation for diversity.
Language skills
There’s no better way to learn a new language than living in a country where it is spoken. These programs take language acquisition outside of the classroom, giving students real-life experience with speaking, reading, and body language. Additionally, students in host schools have an opportunity to practice their world language skills with native speakers.
Educational enrichment
Participants will almost certainly witness different teaching styles and educational systems. They’ll also gain insight into the dynamics between teachers and students and how that may differ from what they experience at home.
Personal development
Navigating the challenges of living in a new country fosters independence, resilience, and adaptability. Kathy Yanes Perez, an exchange student who went to South Korea, says that studying abroad boosted her “confidence by tenfold.”
Global networking
Students meet peers, educators, and professionals from around the world, which can enhance their global network after graduation. These connections can lead to future academic, career, and personal opportunities that they would have never had if they hadn’t participated in a student exchange program.
Career opportunities
International experience is valuable, giving students who have studied abroad a competitive edge in the job market.
Lifelong memories and friendships
Exchange programs often result in lasting memories and friendships that span the globe and bridge cultures.
Overall, exchange student programs are a wonderful way for students to enrich their education, develop key life skills, and build a global network, all while embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.
Best Exchange Student Programs for Americans to Study Abroad
If you’re an educator, teacher or student searching for study-abroad opportunities for American students, the options below are some of the best exchange student programs to explore.
Not quite ready to go overseas? Check out these domestic exchange programs for American high school students.
Aspect Foundation Study Abroad
Program Details
- Length of program: A full academic year, a semester, or participate in summer language immersion programs.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: A partial scholarship may be available. See program details for more information.
- Insurance: Comprehensive medical and travel insurance is included in the cost of the program.
Eligibility
- Typically for students ages 15 to 18 with good academic standing.
Testimonial
“My exchange has been the most life-changing experience I have ever had, and I wouldn’t take it back for the world. What has occurred here has been extraordinary 🙂 I’m beyond grateful for everything.” —Levi, Italy academic year returnee
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a German high school for a full academic year.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: Yes. For specific information, visit the program page.
- Insurance: Medical benefits.
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. high school students ages 15 to 18 at the start of the program. No previous German language experience is required as the program provides necessary language training.
Testimonial
“It is not what I have experienced, but who I have met that I will remember the most.” —Katie McAuliffe
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad
Program Details
- Length of program: Students and recent graduates (ages 15 to 18.5) live and study for an academic year in select countries with significant Muslim populations.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: Yes. For specific information, visit the program page.
- Insurance: Secondary medical benefits.
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. citizen high school students and recent graduates ages 15 to 18.5.
Testimonial
“I got to help others organize their own events, assist in running the library, and meet outstanding people. One of these outstanding people was James Rubin, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs under the Clinton Administration. … Even though I was completely intimidated, I used the skills of taking initiative that I had accumulated over my exchange, mustered my courage, and introduced myself.” —Abby T.
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
Program Details
- Length of program: Students choose from intensive summer or academic-year programs.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family or in a dormitory.
- Critical languages offered: Includes Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian, and Turkish.
- Scholarships: Yes. For specific information, visit the program page.
- Insurance: Secondary/supplementary health coverage for accidents and sickness.
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. high school students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.
Testimonial
“Over tea, they would tell me stories about their lives growing up in the Soviet Union, or how it has changed since the collapse. For me, it was fascinating to hear these personal accounts because I had learned so little about this period of history in school. Their personal accounts allowed me to understand what had happened from their perspective.” —Anna Sklenar
Rotary Youth Exchange
Program Details
- Length of program: Long-term exchanges last a full academic year. Short-term exchanges last from several days to three months. They are often structured as tours, camps, or homestays when school is not in session.
- Accommodations: Long-term exchange students will live with multiple host families.
- Scholarships: Yes, but it is more limited than the other programs we’ve discussed. Room and board, as well as school fees, are covered, but the student is responsible for everything else (including airfare).
- Insurance: Not included.
Eligibility
- Students must be between the ages of 15 and 19 years old.
Testimonial
“The thing that surprised me most was how different my host families were from each other, yet how welcoming and loving they all were.” —Ava Minocherhomji
U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program
Program Details
- Length of program: A three-week immersive experience in countries across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: Yes. For specific information, see program FAQs.
- Insurance: Accident and sickness insurance while abroad.
Eligibility Requirements
- High school students ages 15 to 17 at the start of the exchange with at least one semester of school remaining after the program.
Testimonial
“This program has taught me many valuable lessons that will help me advance in my personal and professional life. I have vivid memories of every day, even the one when I was exhausted and couldn’t comprehend what my hold family was saying. Their treatment was so warm and soothing that it made me feel better.” —Dasha
Youth for Understanding (YFU)
Program Details
- Length of program: Students can study abroad for a summer, semester, or a school year.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: 200 merit-based scholarships and limited needs-based financial aid.
- Insurance: Worldwide emergency assistance.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be from 15 to 18 years old and enrolled in high school.
Testimonial
“My time in Uruguay gave me deep empathy, and even greater thirst to travel, and new pieces to my identity. My study abroad was far from easy for me emotionally, yet I would not hesitate to tell you to dive in and study abroad with YFU because whatever you find will change you in impossible ways.” —Aidan
Best Exchange Student Programs for International Students
If you’re considering becoming an American host school or host family, check out these programs for international exchange students who want to study in the United States.
Aspect Foundation US Programs
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a full academic year at a U.S. public or private high school.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
Eligibility
- Typically for students ages 15 to 18 with good academic standing.
Ayusa
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a U.S. public or private school for 5 or 10 months.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
Eligibility
- Must be between the ages of 15 and 18.
- Must meet English proficiency and grade requirements.
- Should not have completed more than 11 years of schooling in their home country.
BridgeUSA Secondary School Student Program
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a U.S. public or private school for a semester or full academic year.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family or at their boarding school.
Eligibility
- Must be at least 15 years of age but not more than 18.5 years old as of the program start date.
- Should not have completed more than 11 years of primary and secondary education, excluding kindergarten.
- Must not have previously participated in a secondary-school academic year or semester exchange program or attended school in the United States in either F-1 or J-1 status.
CETUSA High School Exchange Program
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend one semester or a full academic year at a U.S. public school.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
Eligibility
- International students ages 15 to 18 in good academic standing with a solid command of English.
CIEE High School USA
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a German high school for a full academic year.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Insurance: In-house travel health insurance provides extensive coverage against typical risks to international travelers such as accidents, sudden illnesses, and more.
- Visa support: CIEE offers personalized guidance throughout the application process, including visa application support to handle the J-1 visa requirements.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be from 15 to 18 years old and enrolled in high school in their home country, with basic English skills.
Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a U.S. high school for a full academic year.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: This is a merit-based scholarship program funded by the U.S. Department of State that operates in Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Eligibility
- Candidates must be high school students from the participating countries in Europe and Eurasia.
Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm for High School Students
Program Details
- Length of program: Students attend a U.S. high school for a full academic year. This is the counterpart of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program mentioned in the section for American students.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships: The scholarship covers travel and program costs.
- Insurance: Emergency insurance is included.
Eligibility
- Open to high school students in Germany. The program may have specific requirements about the age range of participants, so it’s best to confirm on the official site.
TechGirls
Program Details
- Length of program: For approximately three weeks, participants will split their time between Washington, D.C., Virginia Tech, and a major U.S. city such as Austin, Chicago, Denver, or Seattle, where they participate in community immersion activities and further explore STEM careers.
- Accommodations: Students stay in double-occupancy dormitory and hotel accommodations.
- Scholarships: Yes. For specific information, visit the program page.
- Insurance: Emergency health insurance is included.
- Visa support: The TechGirls program covers the visa fee.
Eligibility
- Open to young women ages 15 to 17 from the United States and select countries across six global regions, including the Western Hemisphere, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South and Central Asia.
- Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in STEM and a commitment to leadership and community service.
Youth Ambassadors Program
Program Details
- Length of program: The program typically spans three weeks during the summer, with participants traveling from countries like Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Chile, and many others to the United States. Each group engages in a tailored thematic program focusing on civic education, leadership development, and community service.
- Accommodations: Students will live with a host family.
- Scholarships/Insurance: Contact program administrators for details.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be high school students ages 15 to 18 at the start of the exchange and citizens and residents of the participating country. They must have at least one semester of school remaining after the program. Students are expected to have sufficient language proficiency (English, Spanish, or French) to fully participate in exchange activities.
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