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High School Study Abroad Programs

Get a jumpstart on broadening your horizons! Experience the real world before college and gain new perspectives.

High school, for many, is a period of concentrated self-development, a time where the realization begins to take place that there is a great big world around us. In fact, there’s nothing that can put into perspective your own high school experience like going abroad! In uprooting from familiarity and venturing out to experience life in another culture, you will realize many valuable lessons about yourself and wherever it is that you call home. Are youth travel programs the right move for you? Start looking for the best high school program abroad now!

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How to Study High School Programs Abroad

Overview

Can you study abroad in high school?

You can absolutely study abroad in high school! Your best options for participating in teen travel programs are to either go abroad during a school break, like summer or spring break, or to go on an exchange program for a full academic year. The right choice for you will depend on your budget, how old you are, and your GPA.

Doing high school study abroad during a school break is considerably cheaper than studying abroad for an entire year, and there aren’t as many logistics to consider, like making sure you’ll get the school credit you need. However, if you have serious academic goals for yourself in college, a high school exchange program will leave college admissions officers impressed!

The requirements to study abroad in high school are usually:

A GPA of 3.0 or higher
Permission from your parents and/or school
Financial capability
A certain level of maturity and sense of responsibility

Finances

How much does it cost to study abroad in high school?

The cost of studying abroad in high school will depend on your program duration. If you’re only going abroad for spring break, you can probably expect programs to be $2000-$3000 (not including airfare). Summer programs will be a bit pricier, and probably start at around $5000. Full academic years will be a serious investment, and cost $10000 or more. Is it possible to study abroad in high school for free? Kind of. If you apply for the right scholarships and grants, you could get a decent amount of your tuition covered.

Getting Started

How to study abroad in high school

If you have your mind set on studying abroad in high school, here are some vital steps to take towards making your dreams a reality:

Figure out why you’re interested in high school travel programs. Studying abroad in high school sounds awesome (and it is!), but that shouldn’t be your only reason for pursuing teen travel programs. Do you have academic goals, like taking an extra class you can use for college? Or personal goals, like learning a new language? Figuring out why you want to study abroad in high school will not only make your experience more fulfilling—it’ll also make it a lot easier to sell the idea to your parents.
Decide where you want to go. You might already have a destination in mind, but don’t forget that this is one of the most important decisions you can make prior to high school study abroad. Do you want to stay somewhat close to home, or head to the complete opposite side of the world? Is there a culture you’ve always wanted to experience firsthand, or are you open to anything? Deciding where to go will obviously shape your entire experience!
Talk to your parents or guardians. This might be the hardest step to studying abroad in high school, but it’s one you can’t skip—especially since your parents will most likely be the ones funding your trip. Luckily, if you prepare and anticipate their reactions or questions, there’s no reason the conversation can’t go well!
Apply for high school study abroad programs. Once you know where you want to go, what you want to do, and you’ve secured your parents’ permission, it’s time to start applying! There are hundreds of high school travel programs out there, so you may need a bit of help finding the right one for you.

Benefits

What are the benefits of studying abroad in high school?

The benefits of studying abroad in high school are many. There’s no denying that traveling abroad can open your eyes to the world and give you perspective on what really matters. You’ll mature faster, gain confidence in yourself earlier, and maybe find that your goals for the future have completely changed! The culture shock can be challenging to cope with, and it may be difficult leaving your comfort zone, but trust us when we say those feelings are always 100% worth it.

Locations

Where are the best places to study abroad in high school?

The best place to study abroad in high school for you will depend on your goals and budget. If you’re not interested in learning a new language, maybe the United Kingdom, Australia, or South Africa are the destinations for you. Or, if you’re trying to stay within a reasonable budget, maybe you’ll want to stay closer to home and head to Canada, Mexico, or Central America. Truly, there’s no wrong place to go for youth travel programs—but there are some destinations that will fit you better than others.

When

What is the best year to study abroad in high school?

Most likely, you’ll want to study abroad later in high school. Being 16-18 years old will afford you a bit more freedom and independence during your teen travel program. However, the best year to study abroad in high school is any year! There’s no wrong time to study abroad as long as you have clear intentions and focused goals for your experience abroad.

And don’t forget that after high school travel programs also exist! You can go abroad during the summer after high school, take a full gap year, or even wait to study abroad in college. The latter is sometimes the better option, since there’s a chance you can apply your financial aid or student loans to cover part of your study abroad tuition.

Popular Providers

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can study abroad in high school! There are numerous exchange and study abroad programs around the world that are geared towards teen travelers, like Travel For Teens and Abbey Road Programs.

Can You Study Abroad in High School?

Common ways to study abroad in high school are to participate in programs abroad during summer, winter, and spring breaks. You can become a long-term exchange student through programs like AFS and Nacel International.

8 Student Exchange Programs for Teens | GoAbroad.com

For Americans, there are opportunities to be a foreign exchange student through the Department of State. Additionally, you can go through private companies like AFS and Nacel International.

8 Popular Types of High School Study Abroad Programs

Latest Program Reviews

Life changing experience!!

June 04, 2025by: Christopher Sylvester - United StatesProgram: TOCA in Spain High School Study Abroad Program

This program gave me one of the best summers I have ever had! We were assigned to houses with host families with other students from the program; the living conditions were great and the family was very nice. We had very fun and interactive classes with our Spanish teacher: Juan Alberto everyday. We also had fun and beautiful daily excursions that were led by our guide Paula Cano. Overall, I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to start studying abroad and wants to experience what it’s like living in another country.

What an experience!

June 01, 2025by: Skye Sowden - CanadaProgram: GLA Bali Programs for Teens

I arrived curious. I left clearer, more grounded, and deeply connected to something bigger than myself. From the community projects to the cultural immersion, every day challenged me to lead with more empathy, more humility, and more presence. I learned that leadership isn’t about being loud it’s about listening. Showing up. Staying open. Bali gave me beauty, yes but it also gave me perspective. And I’ll carry that with me long after the flight home.

Life changing experience!!

June 04, 2025by: Christopher Sylvester - United StatesProgram: TOCA in Spain High School Study Abroad Program

What an experience!

June 01, 2025by: Skye Sowden - CanadaProgram: GLA Bali Programs for Teens

Latest Interviews

Megan Frye

AFS-USA

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My mother went abroad with AFS when she was my age, and I grew up hearing stories and listening to her read me some children's books in Danish. I've a...

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Selina Ranade

AFS-USA

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I have a lot of family who live abroad, specifically one who goes to uni in Amsterdam. After being confined to my home for two years due to Covid-19 m...

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