Foreign exchange programs are tailored to benefit students personally at a cheaper rate.
Here is what we mean.
Becoming a foreign exchange student will improve your life for years to come.
As a student, it is difficult to organize an exchange trip directly with a local host family and school. Foreign exchange programs grant you the opportunity to study abroad at a cheaper cost.
Instead of using an expensive school or organization with platforms, you can become an exchange student and plan and create your own program.
We’ll highlight some of these programs, stating their benefits and why they are the best choice for you.
Enrolling in a foreign exchange program can greatly impact the life of any student. You can get a foreign exchange student program to study English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, or another foreign language.
Let’s show the best foreign exchange programs you can enroll in 2022. The table of content below serves as a guide to navigating this article.
What is Student Exchange Program?
According to Wikipedia, a student exchange program is a program for secondary school and university students to study abroad at any of the institutions their university partners with. While a foreign exchange program grants students the opportunity to study in different countries and states in order to experience the culture and history of those countries. Basically, a student exchange program involves international travel for students but doesn’t automatically mean that the student will study outside their own country. The word “exchange” here means that a partner institution can accept a student, but does not automatically mean that a student must find equivalent students from other institutions to exchange with. Finally, a foreign exchange student generally stays in the host country for a period of 6 to 12 months. However, exchange students may choose to stay one semester at a time.
What Is It Like to Be a Foreign Exchange Student?
Being a foreign exchange student can be extremely exciting. Also, being an exchange student abroad makes you uncomfortable, which fosters confidence like no other. It gives you more than knowledge about another country, its language, and its culture. Exchange students develop leadership skills, self-confidence, and a better understanding of the complexities of the world around them. It can seem awkward at first living in someone else’s home, and it can be difficult for you to be yourself when everyone around you is so different. As a foreign exchange student, you have the unique opportunity to experience life in a completely new culture. Some benefits you can get from this experience are:
What Are the Different Foreign Exchange Student Programs?
There are two main types of foreign exchange programs: “study abroad” and “student exchange” programs. If you are a high school student or a college student, you will need a J-1 or F-1 visa. The type of visa will depend on the program you enroll in. A study abroad program will be part of your academic credits. You will have to continue your current course at any of US high school or university, and the credits will go towards your final grades. While a student exchange program is not part of your normal studies, like summer programs. These provide you with a great opportunity to explore American culture and lifestyle.
How Long Will I Spend Abroad as a Foreign Student?
Student exchange programs last a few weeks, allowing you to experience American culture. While study abroad programs take place over one semester, up to one academic year. This means, for foreign exchange programs, you can spend from a week to a full academic year living and studying in the United States. So when deciding the length of your stay abroad, it is worth considering the time and effort required to travel to the United States. Always ask yourself: By taking the time to think about these questions, you can better understand what is right for you.
How Much Do Foreign Exchange Student Programs Cost?
The cost of a foreign exchange program can be expensive. But the providers have put this into consideration by providing means for students to pay off these costs through scholarships and aid. These scholarships are widely used by foreign exchange students to reduce the costs of studying abroad. Bills like living expenses can be high on their end, and it’s not covered in the scholarship. So, when transportation and living costs are taken into account, the College Board estimates that the annual fees for undergraduate students will be: It is important to remember that these figures are just an overview of the possible costs. The actual costs will differ based on location, institution, study program, and length of study. This list of U.S Scholarships for International Students provides helpful information and resources.
How To Become a Foreign Exchange Student
To perfect foreign language skills during your studies is the perfect way to improve your future studies and career. A student exchange program is the best way to become proficient at speaking a language. As a foreign exchange student, going abroad will give you an advantage to whatever your future goals are. Not only will your language skills improve, but you will also gain independence and return home with a whole new perspective on what it means to be a citizen of the world. Here are the best tips to take if you want to become a foreign exchange student:
How to Choose a Foreign Exchange Program
“How do I choose a foreign exchange program?”, “What does CSIET mean?”, “Does it matter if it is a non-profit or for-profit program?”, “How can you tell the difference between a good and a bad exchange program? “ If you are looking for a foreign exchange program but are overwhelmed by options, you are not alone. Choosing the right exchange program is not a simple task; there are many options and it is not always easy to distinguish “good” from “bad” programs. Not all commercial programs are the same. It is important to know what you are looking for, including what your “deciding factors” might be when choosing between programs. So what should you keep in mind when selecting an international exchange program? These are the most important things to keep in mind. Based on this list above, we have listed out the great and best foreign exchange student program you can find in 2022.
15 Best Foreign Exchange Student Programs in 2022
Taking part in foreign student exchange programs abroad will open you to a world of opportunities. This automatically means you will become an international student. And you know the benefit you stand to gain as an international student; scholarships, internships, fellowships, grants, and so on. We’ve got a list of the Best Foreign Exchange Student Programs in 2022. These foreign exchange student programs range from one-year exchanges to a full university program, including your degree, at one of our accredited schools. All you need to do is to make your choice and enroll in one immediately. We recommend you go for the first 5 in the list because we consider them as the best based on our ranking. Whichever student exchange program you choose, try not to forget everything you learned while studying in a foreign country.
#1. International Student Exchange (ISE) – iseusa.org
Are you curious to know how to become an exchange student? ISE Study Abroad program is for American students seeking a short-term, summer, college, or gap year program abroad. They offer a twelve-month, ten-month, first semester, or second-semester high school exchange program for foreign students. Once students have been carefully assessed for their English proficiency, grades, and general aptitude for the program, they offer public or private high school placement upon written request. During our program, exchange students live with a volunteer host family and attend their local high school. They assign each student a personal representative from ISE to provide supervision and assistance during their stay.
High School Study Abroad Programs
Their high school abroad program is designed to bring many benefits of cross-cultural educational experiences to American students. As participants, students will live as local residents in the country of their choice, attend high school, and immerse themselves in a new culture. Below is a list of country offerings for the high school program abroad by ISE.
Summer and Short-Term Programs
The Cultural Family Stay Programs allow participants to discover a new way of life by living with a host family in the country of their choice. The goal of this program is to provide authentic cultural immersion and hone language and communication skills. The Language Camp Programs at ISE offers participants a more structured opportunity to experience a new culture and take their communication skills to the next level. Students often participate in scheduled language courses and activities, as well as scheduled cultural excursions. The Summer High School Program provides students the opportunity to attend high school in one of the southern hemisphere countries. Since the school year is the opposite of theirs in the United States, students will have the opportunity to study there during their summer vacation in the United States. The only way to know if you really appreciate something is to experience it firsthand, this includes your university and/or professional area of interest. Going beyond high school with the sense of clarity of a gap year abroad will make your future decisions more focused and intentional.
Gap Year Abroad Programs
The Gap Year Abroad program at ISE provides participants with the opportunity to explore their interests and develop valuable skills after graduating from high school. It’s a great way to cultivate your interests, motivate your studies, and build confidence in your future academic and career decisions. Whether your interests are the environment, health, and medicine, education, language learning, animal activism, etc., there are programs available that suit your needs. ISE Gap Year Abroad program is open to participants over the age of 18. If you are still in high school and under the age of 19, they invite you to explore their high school abroad option. Below is a list of country offerings for the Gap Year Abroad program abroad by ISE. For more information on ISE Foreign Exchange Student Program, click the link below.
Study Abroad Scholarships
To make exchange programs even more accessible to students, ISE has introduced the ISE Student Ambassador scholarship. See below for eligibility criteria and a list of additional scholarship opportunities from unaffiliated sources.
#2. EF Student Exchange Programs – ef.com
EF offers a wide range of educational programs, from study abroad and student exchanges to educational trips and language learning courses. Here are the various EF Student Exchange Programs in 2022
Language Year Abroad Program
EF LANGUAGE YEARS ABROADAge Group: 16+ yearsDuration: 6, 9, or 11 months Combine linguistic and academic studies in a school abroad. Prepare for an official language test and get work experience. Destination: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Malta, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, Korea EF LANGUAGES ABROAD Age Group: 16-25 years Duration: 2-24 weeks Learn a language faster at any of the accredited EF school. Choose from 10 languages in 50 destinations. Destination: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Malta, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, Korea EF LANGUAGES ABROADAge Group: 25+ yearsDuration: 1-24 weeks This program will help you boost your global career with personalized language courses in one of the world’s leading cities. Designed for adults and professionals. Destination: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Malta, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, Korea
High School Abroad Program
EF Academy is an international high school student to study abroad. They implant their academic philosophy in experiential, immersive, and intercultural learning. An EF Academy education is exceptional because of the internationalism built into every part of the experience. EF ACADEMY – International Internships Age Group: 14-19 years Duration: High school diploma abroad You can earn your IB or A-Level degree from EF Academy (International Internship) and secure your way to one of the best universities. Destination: UK, USA
University Abroad Program
EF university abroad program will help you gain valuable skills that will increase your chances of getting a job after graduation. Some of their university abroad programs guarantee admission to our partner universities, while others grant their own diplomas. By completing any of these university studies abroad, you’ll build up your academic vocabulary, get used to learning a foreign language, and spend some time in a new country. EF UNIVERSITY PREPARATION Age Group: 16+ yearsDuration: 6 or 9 months Gain admission to university in an English-speaking country with a comprehensive preparation program abroad at EF Academy. Destination: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOLEducation: Bachelor, Masters, MBA, and Executive Education EF HULT business school will aid you to earn a business degree at Hult, an independent award-winning business school with campuses around the world. Destination: United Kingdom, USA, China, U.A.E.
EF Language Training for Companies and Governments
EF LANGUAGE TRAININGFor companies and governments This course focuses on language training for business and government to ensure results. Destination: Online training or in-company training wherever you are located. For more information on EF Student Exchange Programs, click the link below.
#3. International Foreign Exchange Students Programs – Cambridge Network
Cambridge Network is a one-stop turnkey service for international students seeking a high school education in the USA. This platform has professional service and great expertise, making them one of the best and top leaders in the education industry. They represent over 240 leading private high schools in the USA and 19 public high schools in the state of Massachusetts. Hence, Cambridge Network conducts student recruitment in 10 cities within four countries (USA, United Kingdom, France, Canada).
College Preparation, Language, and Culture (CPLC) Program
This program is designed to suit the specific need of international high school students while simultaneously preparing them for college admissions. At the same time, it helps enhance students’ academic outcomes, and strengthen social communication skills. This program is conducted Online and On-site. CPLC programs all focus on five primary goals:
Tutoring Service Program
This program is designed by Cambridge Network veteran educators. Each of the courses is custom-made to strengthen the international student’s specific learning skills. Also, the program will enhance student’s English reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and communication skills. They achieve this through their personalized lesson planning and support to develop study skills. And subject-specific support (such as ELA, Algebra, U.S. History, AP classes, and more). For more information on Cambridge Network International Foreign Exchange Students Programs, click the link below.
#4. AFS Exchange Programs
For years, AFS exchange programs empowers young people from all backgrounds with essential global skills—and the passion for making a difference. They offer secondary school students the opportunity to participate in their foreign exchange programs. Basically, teens (high school students) have the option to take part in varieties of programs ranging from those that last the entire school year to few months during summer. The organization has programs in over 50 countries including Francs, Canada, New Zeland, United Kingdom, and Japan. To enroll in any AFS Intercultural program, students must submit an application that includes a letter of recommendation and a doctor’s report. They will also complete an interview with an AFS volunteer. To apply for the program, students must have at least a 2.8 GPA, and depending on the country, may need to have language fluency. Unlike many foreign exchange companies, AFS actually has employees and offices in every country that students travel to, making it easy for them to get the support they need. AFS Foreign exchnage Programs covers the following: For more information on AFS Foreign Exchange Students Programs, click the link below.
#5. CIEE
CIEE is a non-profit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization that transforms lives and builds bridges between people and nations by sponsoring a wide variety of opportunities for the exchange of ideas and ideas. The CIEE has offered programs that allow students to study abroad. The organization places students in around 40 different countries, including Germany, Chile, France, Ireland, Japan, Spain, and New Zealand. Also, CIEE focuses on providing students with a lot of information to travel successfully. This requires that students attend pre-trip orientation sessions and organize in-country orientation once students arrive. The company is also trying to book students traveling to the same country on the same flight to help them enjoy the experience together and make it less stressful. Once abroad, students connect with local coordinators who make regular visits and help with emergencies. With CIEE, you can study abroad at USA as a high school student, get internships, gain job opportunities, and research and professional training.
#6. Youth for Understanding Intercultural Exchange Programs – yfuusa.org
Youth for Understanding (YFU) has a life-changing program, not just an exchange program. YFU offers students aged 15-18 the opportunity to study abroad for a year, a semester, a summer, or as part of an ‘other specialized program such as sport, nature, or theater. Through the program, students can participate in an exchange in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, and 35 other countries around the world. Most of the countries do not require the student to speak the language, and sometimes, students may even have the option of staying with an English-speaking host family. A program through YFU ranges from $6,495 to around $20,000 and includes: To help reduce the cost of the programs, YFU also offers 200 government and business scholarships to students. Students can learn about these scholarships by attending a virtual information night or by creating an account on the organization’s website.
#7. Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary International offers the Rotary Youth Exchange as a catalyst for service, cultural understanding, and lifelong connections to Rotary. It’s an opportunity for approximately 8,000 students per year to experience another culture. Since this is a smaller program sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, it does not offer as many amenities as the larger study abroad programs, but it gives students the opportunity to study in approximately 100 different countries. The structure of the program allows students to spend up to a full year studying abroad, during which they can live with several host families. Based on the nature of the program, students may select a list of top destinations or a general region, but the final destination will vary based on host families’ availability. Despite the inability to choose exactly where to go, many students have posted favorable reviews of the program online. To apply for a Rotary Youth Exchange, students should contact a local Rotary club. These clubs select students on the basis of qualities such as:
#8. SPI Language Immersion – spiabroad.com
Many of SPI’s overseas high school programs have received outstanding ratings from former participants. Although the program has only existed since 1996, it has become a popular option for students, allowing them to study in France, Spain, Costa Rica, Italy, or through a personalized experience. Through the program, students have the opportunity to experience: The programs generally run during the summer and range from $3,700 to $7,000, which does not include airline tickets or spending money. During the Academic Year (Visit Our High School Programs Page for Specific Dates)1. Short Term Option (1-2 months)2. Trimester and Semester Options3. Full Year OptionsDuring the Summer (Visit Our Summer Program Page for Specific Dates)Program options from 1-8 weeksPost-High School Gap Year (Visit Our Gap Year Page for Specific Dates)12-month program option To attend a high school you must be sufficiently proficient in the native language of the country you would like to visit, but you don’t have to be fluent. Your language skills will improve quickly once you are culturally immersed! Don’t speak another language? Don’t worry – a lot of organization offer several programs in English-speaking countries. “The summer abroad experience does lend itself to some very important essays that students write.” Deputy director of admissions for the University of Texas“A lot of schools, including ours, are looking for a diverse perspective, and international experiences lend themselves to that.” – Admissions Advisor, University of California“Anything that makes your application stand out is a good thing.” – Admissions officer, University of Chicago“Not only does studying outside the United States help build necessary language fluency for all college-bound students, it shows those headed to elite institutions will go outside their comfort zone and expand to meet the challenge. Nothing speaks to the ethics of those institutions quite like a commitment to that kind of excellence and personal achievement.” – Admissions Advisor, New York University
In Conclusion
By becoming a foreign exchange student, you will begin to truly understand what it means to enrich your life with another culture. This is the perfect first step towards embarking on your own adventure to study abroad. Here lies the best foreign exchange student program for both high school and university students.
