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The Daily Horizon

Are there foreign exchange students in high school?

Author

Jessica Hardy

Published Jan 20, 2026

The U.S. Department of State offers merit-based scholarships for American high school students to study abroad from three weeks to an academic year. Students live with host families, engage with local schools, and gain skills to be competitive in the global workforce.

What is a foreign exchange student in high school?

A foreign exchange student is usually a high school or college student who travels to a foreign country to live and study abroad, as part of a foreign exchange student program. Exchange students will attend classes at a local high school or university, usually as part of their current course of study.

Should I be a foreign exchange student?

Exchange students, not only gain benefits for themselves, but bring in different ideas and perspectives to business, education, society, etc. People need to become more aware of different cultures, world issues, communication, and internationally connected, and being an exchange student does just that.

Do foreign exchange students get to pick where they go?

Students are allowed to choose a country, but may live at any spot within that country. The home country organization will contact a partner organization in the country of the student’s choice. Students accepted for the program may or may not be screened by the organization in their home country.

Can you be an exchange student at 14?

How old do I have to be in order to become a foreign exchange student? Different programs have different age limits, but generally you have to be between 14 and 17 (roughly). I want to be a foreign exchange student more for the experience and culture, and not so much the language.

Is studying abroad in high school worth it?

Studying abroad while in high school is a great thing to be able to include on your resume and college applications. Studying abroad shows independence, motivation, and a desire to have new experiences and meet new people, all qualities that employers and college admissions officers like to see.

What does it cost to be an exchange student?

You can expect to pay about $600 per week for an exchange program. Add to that the cost of your travel, which can be equal to the cost of the exchange itself, your visa expenses (if any), and insurance. You’ll also need some pocket money and may have to pay for some meals.

How can I study abroad for free?

Study abroad for free – Nordic Countries Nordic nations such as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden all offer opportunities to international students to study abroad for free or at a low cost. In Norway, university study is available free of charge to all students, regardless of study level or nationality.

Why You Should Be a host family?

Hosting is an excellent way to learn about the world without leaving home. Host families can learn Japanese phrases, get personal insight into the world beyond their backyards, learn to do origami, and even become excellent international cooks! Living with a student from another culture is an education in itself.

Are there any exchange programs for high school students?

There are plenty of high school exchange scholarship programs to help line your pockets while abroad. Sure, having to budget while you’re abroad is tough, but it teaches you invaluable lessons on prioritizing your time and being careful with money.

Do you have to study abroad for high school exchange?

In reality: You have to put the study in study abroad. If we were to believe all the movies, a summer foreign exchange for high school students involves no learning and an endless number of afternoons on the beach.

Do you get paid for hosting foreign exchange students?

Foreign exchange programs used to be the norm, where there was an actual one-to-one exchange of students across borders – one student goes to study abroad and another comes here to the U.S. These exchange programs utilized unpaid homestays, and even today, families who host exchange students on a J-1 visa are not permitted to be paid.

What to expect in a foreign exchange program?

For many high school foreign exchange students, a somewhat exciting part of their trip abroad is the fact that they might be able to legally drink alcohol in the country they are studying in. You may find that the drinking age and laws in your chosen host country are different from back home, and you are suddenly able to purchase your own drinks.