Program Summary:
- Program: Classic program
- Program length: Short and Long programs
- Vaccinations: Yes
- Discounts and Scholarship: Yes
- Language criteria: Yes
- Language course: No
- Soft Landing Camp: Yes
Classic Program
Classic Program
Our Classic program will match you with a welcoming host family and place you in a nearby school. We find the host family and choose the school, and you can enjoy immersing yourself in local culture & community. These are perfect for students who:
* Flexible about location, and the academic experience
* Want to have a cultural experience
* Interested in joining sports, clubs, and activities
* Grow as a person and improve language skills
High school exchange – Classic Program
Age and eligibility
- Applicants are eligible to apply from 14 – 17 years of age.
- Students with special diets (including personal preferences) or health conditions must be disclosed at the time of application. Students with special dietary requirements should be open to buying or preparing their own meals, and may be required to pay an additional fee.
Language criteria
You are required to be able to converse in basic Spanish.
Program length
Academic Semester program duration can vary between 4 ½ to 5 months, depending on the academic year you will be enrolled in.
Academic Year program duration can vary between 9 to 10 months, depending on the academic year you will be enrolled in.
January Academic Year Programs: Students may be placed in 3+ host families for the duration of the exchange program.
Short programs are available for 2 or 3 months. Area choice options are not available in Spain.
Schools
As a student in Spain, you’ll experience everyday life alongside Spanish teenagers. The education system consists of four stages, with primary and secondary school being compulsory. As an exchange student, you’ll likely attend Bachillerato or the final years of ESO. You’ll have a timetable in one of three high school programs: Science, Social Science, or Humanities. Core subjects include Spanish, English, Spanish literature, Physical Education, and Philosophy. Depending on your program length, you may choose one or two elective courses.
While extracurricular activities may vary, some schools have soccer and basketball teams. Outside of school, you can join local clubs for specific sports with the help of your Local Coordinator.
Visa
Students from Australia or New Zealand who are applying for Classic Academic Semester or Year programs will have apply for a student visa. For short programs, students will travel on a tourist visa. Further information will be provided by your program coordinator.
Students traveling on Australian & New Zealand passports, with programs up to 90 days, generally travel as “tourists” and do not need to apply for a visa prior departure. However, for programs extending beyond the 90-day period (including Semester & Academic Year programs), students are usually required to apply for the necessary visa.
Program Coordinators will provide the essential visa documents so students can lodge their visa application. Please note that Program Coordinators are not Registered Migration Agents and cannot represent the applicant. Program Coordinators will provide “guidance” where possible, however the responsibility of lodging the visa falls upon the student/parents. Visa application requirements differ per destination and, on top of the visa documents provided by your Program Coordinator, students will need to provide additional documents such as birth certificate, bank statements, police check certificate, passport photos, letter of parental consent, etc.
Visa application fees (set by the foreign Authority) fluctuate depending on the destination and may vary from $180 to $700. These costs exclude expenses such as translations, official stamps (Notary Public stamp, Apostille stamp), national police certificate, passports photos, express post envelopes, etc. In some cases, students must attend an in-person consulate / visa agency appointment, which may incur additional personal expenses for travel such as purchasing flights (Interstate flight or international flight if no representation in your home country), petrol costs, tolls, accommodation, etc.
Canada:
Students must have received their routine childhood vaccinations appropriate for their age. In addition, Canada requires full vaccination against Meningococcal (MenACWY). The Covid-19 vaccine is recommended but not mandatory.
USA:
Students must be up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations for their age group. Additionally, your host school in the USA will require further immunisations to meet national guidelines, such as the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine and a TB test conducted within six months before arrival. While Covid-19 vaccination is recommended, it is not mandatory.
Other Countries:
Students must be up to date with their standard childhood vaccinations. While the Covid-19 vaccine is recommended, it is not compulsory.
Classic Program Prices for Spain
| Length | Arrive | Depart | Price AUD | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Semester | Sep 6, 2025 | Jan 24, 2026 | $13,450 | Please contact us |
| Academic Year | Sep 6, 2025 | Jun 27, 2026 | $16,950 | Please contact us |
| 3 Months | Oct 25, 2025 | Jan 17, 2026 | $10,950 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| 2 Months | Nov 22, 2025 | Jan 17, 2026 | $9,950 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Academic Year | Jan 31, 2026 | Mid Dec, 2026 | $16,950 | Aug 31, 2025 |
| Academic Semester | Jan 31, 2026 | Jun 27, 2026 | $13,450 | Aug 31, 2025 |
| 3 Months | Jan 10, 2026 | Mar 28, 2026 | $10,950 | Aug 1, 2025 (students born in 2010/2011 only) |
Each destination has a budget for flights included in the fee. If flight costs are above this budgeted amount, a Flight Surcharge may apply. Please see our Money Matters page for program inclusions, the flight surcharge policy and other important pricing information.
Program start dates are indicative arrivals in the destination & students attending the Soft Landing Camp (if available) will depart earlier. Program start dates serve as approximate arrival dates at the destination and subject to change. We will notify you of your confirmed program dates ahead of time to prevent any confusion or inconvenience.
Scholarship & Early Bird Discount Application Deadlines
October 31, 2024: classic programs departing between April 2025 – September 2025
March 31, 2025: classic programs departing between October 2025 – March 2026
Find out more about Scholarships and Early Bird Discounts.
Soft landing camp in Barcelona
This program is only available to some September programs. Your Program Coordinator will confirm if this is an option available.
5 days/4 nights arrival camp in Barcelona, at an additional cost (AU$1,095/NZ$1,195). Only available to students departing on exchange in September.
The Soft Landing Camp in Barcelona is an exciting way to kick-start your Academic Year or Semester exchange adventure. Over a span of five days, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the highlights of this vibrant city while also preparing yourself for your new life in Spain. The camp is open to exchange students from Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world, ensuring a diverse and engaging experience.
Learn more at a LIVE Online Information Session
Information evenings run for about an hour. This is a great way to hear all about our exchange programs, destinations, latest offers and more.
They are friendly, free and are the best way for us to address your specific questions in person. We look forward to seeing you online!
Worldwide High School Online Brochure
For an overview of our programs, our team will send you our Worldwide High School Online Brochure.
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Please call our office if the application deadline is fast approaching & you need to get started quickly.
Education & Training Directorate, ACT Government
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NSW Department of Education
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Northern Territory Department of Education
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Queensland Department of Education & Training
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South Australia Department for Education
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Tasmanian Assessment, Standards & Certification
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Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority
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Western Australia Department of Education
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Student Exchange Australia New Zealand Ltd is a fully registered not-for-profit student exchange organisation in all Australian states and territories, ensuring compliance with both state legislation and national student exchange guidelines.
