Want to travel during high school, to explore, have an adventure, and gain great (resume worthy) experiences. An exchange program is perfect for you! Learn culture, education and life experiences through an exchange program abroad.
You get to be immersed in the culture of another country by staying in a host families home. Sometimes you’ll get to live there with another exchange student. And sometimes you don’t even stay with a host family, but you can stay in a dorm. Some exchange programs allow you to participate for the entire year, or even just a few weeks.
Here is a list of the best exchange programs for high school students.
- Greenheart Travel
- Yes Canada
- Youth for Understanding
- National Geographic
- Rotary Youth Exchange
- Where There be Dragons
- Experiment in International Living
- The Council on International Educational Exchange
- EdOdyssey
Though there are many great high school exchange programs, theses are my top 9. But why are they the best exchange programs, and which ones are right for you? Keep reading to find out.
Greenheart Travel
Greenheart Travel is a company for student exchanges, and more, that believes travel is the way of life. They are known for their eco friendly mission and believe that anyone can change their global perspective through travel. Greenheart travel has programs for high schoolers, and adults. For teens aged 15 to 18, you have the option to do summer camps, high school abroad and language camps. The exchange program for high school students has 14 locations to choose from.
Greenheart Travel is full of support and guidance, and they want to make sure that the students are more than tourists, but that they’re world citizens. They provide over $12,000 of scholarships each year for people who are considered first time travellers.
They have great exchange locations like Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, France, Japan and Sweden. Their prices range depending on the location you choose. For a trimester in Ireland it costs around $17,000, in Australia it costs around $10,950 and for a trimester in Argentina prices are even lower, costing $7,000. Some locations require that you speak the language, but in some countries you do not need to have any experience.
On their website you can find tons of information about the program you are interested in. They have a section about costs and inclusions, academic info, host families, orientation, activities and excursions, an FAQ section and more. Greenheart Travel is the company to choose for an exchange program, if you want to gain independence, confidence while getting to explore a country and language of your interest.
YES Canada
YES Canada is a Canadian company for high school students aged 15 to 17 who want to do exchange programs. They are a unique company that is built on family. Their first exchange trip was back in 2008, so they have been operating successfully with good results for over 10 years!
YES Canada gives you over 23 countries to choose from. One unique thing about them is that they do home to home stays, where you can stay with another student your age in a different country, then after a few months, that student goes to your country with you and stays in your home. It is an incredible way to make a new friend. They also have the option for you to spend 1 to 10 months studying abroad, go to a boarding school abroad or to a group exchange. The prices for all of these range a lot.
During the Lead Up to your exchange, YES Canada walks you through the application process, has an interview with you and your family, they match you with a host family, provide you with medical insurance for the trip and you spend a day with the orientation team. Once you arrive in the country of your choice, a YES Canada representative or your host family will meet you at the airport.
YES Canada give you the option to live with a host family or stay in a dorm, and they both have their perks. Staying with a host family allows you to be immersed in the culture and you will learn how your host family lives in your chosen destination. Staying in a dorm allows you to meet other travellers your age who are part of the same program, and are going to the same school as you. YES Canada’s trips focus on fun, learning languages and gaining unique experience that you can’t get through other types of travel.
Youth for Understanding
Do you want to go on a life changing challenge? Well, then Youth for Understanding is for you! Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a company that focuses on cultural exchange programs. They do exchanges in over 50 countries around the world, in unique locations. YFU has been around for over 64 years and has had over 250,000 exchange students.
A few of their adventures include watching the Northern lights in Sweden, hiking in the Alpes, or celebrating at a Brazilian festival. YFU continues to develop their educational aims. Their education opportunities and activities are non-formal and intercultural that give students the chance to be open minded. Most of their programs are for students aged 15 to 18. YFU also have a page about funding your exchange. There they talk about how to afford your exchange program, and how to set your goal.
You can find the list of locations for exchanges that are available to you by clicking the YFU in your country button. Then select your country, and you will be taken to a website where you can find opportunities available to you. By connecting with YFU in your country you can get more details as to which programs are available for you. At YFU you have the chance to experience a new place, discover new things about yourself, learn a new language, and grow your confidence.
National Geographic Student Expeditions
National Geographic is doing everything from magazines, to research projects, to learning about the environment and animals, to being an educational resources, so of course they also have teen travel adventures. They are inviting the next generation of explorers to explore and learn about the world. National Geographic Student Expeditions have different types of trips, like community service trips, photography workshops and high school expeditions. Their expeditions are during the summer and their prices have a big range from $5,000 for a 2 week expedition, learning about the rainforest conservation in Costa Rica to $9,000 for 20 days of exploring Australia.
Students doing Nat Geo student expeditions get to combine learning with adventure, culture, languages and one specific assignment that is assigned for the trip. You can choose your trip based on what your interest is, and normally you will have a project to do based on it during your adventure. Nation Geographic student expeditions has a place for every teen ages 13 and up. Community service expedition groups will normally stay in a village to be immersed in the culture and language, and spend some time meeting and getting to know locals.
They have trips in tons of destinations around the world, some expeditions include; community restoration in Fiji, learning about photography in Iceland, wildlife conservation in Botswana and learning about creative writing while exploring Bhutan. Nat Geo gives students unique opportunities if they are looking to learn a specific skill, or lead the next generation of explorers.
If you want to spend you summer with National Geographic team members, and learn about many things including photography, wildlife conservation and journalism, then Nat Geo student expeditions are for you! National Geographic’s team is full of adventurers, photographers and writers, and they want to train the youth to learn how they can lead the future of Nat Geo.
Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary International is an international service company that has been around for over 100 years. Their purpose is to bring together communities and businesses to help provide humanitarian service and advance peace around the world. Rotary Youth Exchanges is an homestay exchange for students age 15 to 19 who are members of the rotary club. Students get to stay in the homes of rotary club families. They offer the chance for students to stay for a few weeks to an entire year.
During long term exchanges, from several months to a year, students get to stay with a host family and go to the local school. And for short term exchanges, students normally go during the summer, or when there is not school in session. Families who’s teen is going on an exchange can also volunteer to host a student while their teen away, which is strongly encouraged. Costs for the exchange include, room, board and school fees, but students need to manage airfare, travel insurance, travel documents and additional costs on their own.
Rotary International is looking for students who are leaders in their communities, to be part of an exchange. You can find out what exchange opportunities are available from your local rotary club. At the Rotary Youth Exchanges, students will have the opportunity to learn a new language, discover a new culture, and unlock their true potential.
Where There be Dragons
Where There be Dragons is a company for students who love to travel and explore. They offer study abroad programs in 19 countries around the world. Where there be dragons has earned expertise in planning learning adventures. Where There be Dragons has a goal of “nurturing empathy and understanding across boarders through authentic cultural exchange“.
They have summer programs for students all high school ages, they have different programs for different ages. There is an age filter on their website so you can put your age in and see what programs are available. The youngest age they have programs for is 14 years old, which is a summer program in Guatemala. Most of their high school exchanges are during the summer. Students who go on a Where There be Dragons adventure get to live like locals, live with families, and learn from scholars, artists, farmers, and community leaders. Students at Where There be Dragons learn how to travel consciously and responsibly, while also learning to be conscious about the environment.
Each of the programs are specially crafted and led by expert instructors. A typical group exchange group will have around 12 students and 3 instructors. Where There be Dragons also does gap year programs, and independent experiences for older students along with their summer exchange programs for high schoolers. Overall where there be dragons is the right exchange program for anyone looking at having a one of a kind summer adventure with other like minded adventurers.
Experiment in International Living
The Experiment in International Living has been around for 87 years teaching students about the world, through cultural and immersive programs, while also making long lasting friends. Their company offers international summer programs for high school students on five continents, and students participating in these programs get to have hands on experience in local communities.
Their accommodation includes a homestay where you have the chance to get to know a family in the country of your choice. They have homestays in 25 countries around the world with very unique themes. Experiment in International Living follows 4 steps to have a successful adventure, first is orientation where you spend a few days adapting to the new country, the second is homestay where you spend some time with your local host family and get to know their culture. The third step is the Thematic focus where you learn about the specific theme you chose when you picked your program and the last step is a reflection where students reflect on what they learned and gained from the experience abroad.
Experiment in International Living has a wide variety of programs. They have community service and outdoor adventures, an anime and manga program in Japan, and a program for students interested in international relations. The Experiment in International Living even has specific a program for LGBTQ+ students in the Netherlands.
The Council on International Educational Exchange
The Council on International Educational Exchange is a non-profit exchange program for many types of students. Their prices are little bit less scary than other programs. Not only does CIEE have summer exchanges, but they also have semester exchanges and gap years for students going into post secondary. They have semester programs for high schooled students in many places in Europe, Brazil, China, Australia and New Zealand. And there are 30 destinations for their 1 to 4 week summer programs.
Students can earn college credits at the Council on International Educational Exchange, and they can gain fluency in one in seven languages depending on the country of their choice. During their semester stay, students get to do a homestay, staying with a local family, which will help them adapt to the culture and learn the language. From the semesters students will gain an understanding of culture, international perspective and they will get to experience everyday life in a new high school abroad.
CIEE also gives out scholarships for those who will need financial aid. Having been around since 1947, they have had lots of experience with their exchanges. The CIEE’s goal is to prepare students to be college ready, independent citizens of the world.
EdOdyssey
EdOdyssey makes custom designed trips and exchanges based on what students would like. Their primary destinations available are Peru, China, Spain, Italy and the USA. Their goal is to make their trips authentic by designing their adventures and making sure that they include many local experiences. EdOdyssey offers financial aid and scholarships, so every student can have the chance to travel with them.
EdOdyssey has custom trips for middle school and high school students. They work with high schools and educators from around the world and help design trips for their students. You get to request which locations you would like to visit, in one of the optional countries. EdOdyssey has study abroad programs during school year semesters and over the summer, but these are for graduated highs chool students.
Their current summer abroad program takes place in Lima, Peru because it offers natural beauty along the coast, and has incredible culture and traditions. Students will get to stay in local families’ homes, and enjoy being immersed in new language, foods and traditions, while getting to go on feild trips with EdOdessey.
Overview
| Ages | What? For Who? | |
| Greenheart Travel | 15-18 | For students who want to learn about eco friendly traveling, while staying with a host family and attending local school. |
| YES Canada | 15-17 | Students who want to do an exchange program from 1 to 10 months, and stay in the homes of locals, while attending high school. |
| Youth for Understanding | 15-18 | For students looking for a unique, life challenging adventure abroad. |
| National Geographic | 12-18 | Student looking to do a few weeks abroad during summer learning about a specific passion that you have. |
| Rotary Youth Exchange | 15-19 | Students wanting to do a two way exchange, and stay with a local family abroad, or for member of the Rotary club. |
| Where There be Dragons | 14-19 | For students looking to spend a summer abroad, in a unique location, learning from locals. |
| Experiment in International Living | 14-18 | Students wanting to travel abroad for a summer and have a unique specific theme in their location of choice. |
| The CIEE | 14-18 | For students looking to earn College credits over the summer or have a semester abroad. |
| EdOdyssey | 12-18 | Students interested in a custom summer program that you can take part in planning out. |
A lot of these adventures and exchange programs can be quite pricey, which is why most of the companies offer financial aid. Sometimes prices still can be high even if you have that financial aid, so why not try doing an exchange on your own?
If you don’t want to choose any of these companies, you can consider doing an exchange program on your own. Ask around to see if anyone you know has friends or family abroad who would like to have an exchange student. Maybe you have family abroad who is willing to let you stay with them for a few months, then you will know the people you’re staying with. It is not as hard as you think.