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.
• Students applying for a short program departing in August or January will incur an additional fee for airport assistance.
• Some program arrivals include an orientation in Paris at an additional cost. (for August/September departures only)
• 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.
• Please be aware that France now requires specific pages to be completed for the Medical and School information. The French application form is on our downloads page or please ask our office.

It's not too late to apply for a Scholarship or Early Bird Discount

Reduce the cost of your exchange program departing April-September 2021

If you are planning to go on exchange and want to reduce the price of your program, then we have some good news for you! The deadline for Scholarship and Early Bird Discount applications is to Saturday 31st October 2020 for our standard programs departing between April - September 2021. 

If you are applying for one of our exchange programs the easiest way to get started is by completing your pre application form. You should allow yourself at least 3 weeks to complete all sections of your full application form.

Apply for a grant from the Give Back Exchange Fund

The Give Back Exchange Fund will provide 120 exchange students across Australia and New Zealand with a grant that will dramatically reduce their program fee. Students will pay only for their flights, insurance, visa application fees and any required airport assistance fees. All other fees will be covered by the Give Back Exchange Fund.

The final deadlines for applications are listed below. There are a limited number of grants available, so don't leave asking your school for a nomination until the last minute.

• 1st March 2020 for August - September 2020 departures
• 31st March 2020 for January 2021 departures

Click here to find out more information and to download the required forms

Pick your preferred location in France

Students applying for a Semester or Academic Year program to 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.

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 or  Italy. 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).

Find out more - Attend one of our Info Sessions

If you would like to find out more information on our programs, please attend one of our free LIVE Online sessions. 

• Meet our staff
• Hear comprehensive information on all aspects of exchange
• Ask questions
• Listen to questions asked by other students and parents
• Meet other students who are considering going on exchange

Information evenings run for about an hour. They are friendly and free and are the best way for us to address your specific questions in person.