France

Please note that

• Students applying for France will need to have a basic knowledge of French to allow easy adaption to school and Host family life. A language course is strongly recommended.
• Some program arrivals include an orientation in Paris at an additional cost.
• Optional Program Extras such as tours and language camps are available at additional cost.
• 2 week Language courses in Angouleme at an additional cost. Please contact our office for further information.

Pick your preferred location in France

Students applying for France have the option to pick the region they would like to live in during their exchange. Students can select up to 3 regions.

If applicants are successfully placed in one of their preferred regions, then an additional location fee will be applied to the normal program price.

Providing you meet our usual eligibility criteria, your placement on one of these limited spots will be confirmed when your application is received by our office, accepted and your deposit paid. 

Location selection options are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. You can view the Location Options and applicable fees by clicking here or below.

We have a limited number of FREE regional spots available for students wanting to go on exchange in January 2020 for 5 or 10 months.  Please note they are available on a 1st come 1st serve basis.

Regions Available

• Hauts de France, Grand Est, Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Occitanie, Centre Val de Loire - 2 free spots left
• Metro Spot - Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Rennes, Nantes, Reims, Nancy, Toulouse, Perpignan - 1 free spot left

Please note that these spots range from being placed in a particular region or city with the following additional options available.

• Metro spots will guarantee you are placed within 15-20 km from the city centre by public transport.

Providing you meet our usual eligibility criteria, your placement on one of these limited regional spots will be confirmed when your application is received by our office, accepted and your deposit paid. 

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, make sure you act quickly and send us your application form ASAP. These spots are limited and we anticipate they will be filled up quickly.  

The 2WayExchange Experience involves you in a unique exchange program where students from Australia and New Zealand are ‘matched’, with a student in either France, Canada, Italy or Spain. You choose which country and spend 3 months with each other’s families and attend school. It amounts to twice the experience and at a fraction of the usual cost of a 3 month exchange program. Click here to find out more.

Schools

You will be enrolled in a local school - College or Lycee - depending on your age. The school year starts in early September and goes through to the beginning of July.

Students have a fixed subject curriculum until year 10 and, from year 11, have 3 streams of study to choose from. There isn't any school uniform in France, even in private schools and students wear casual clothes to school.

Age and Eligibility

You must be between the ages of 15 and 18 and be enrolled at school when applying. Gap year students are eligible and need to depart no more than 3 months after completing their final year. Ideally, students will have studied French for 2 years before departure but there is flexibility with this requirement so please talk to us.

Visas

Aussies and Kiwis will travel on a tourist visa for short programs lasting 2 to 3 months.

Students on a long program will need to lodge their application in person and attend a face to face interview at the Consulate in Sydney or Wellington (with a parent if under 18).