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Get a jumpstart on broadening your horizons! Experience the real world before college and gain new perspectives.

High school, for many, is a period of concentrated self-development, a time where the realization begins to take place that there is a great big world around us. In fact, there’s nothing that can put into perspective your own high school experience like going abroad! In uprooting from familiarity and venturing out to experience life in another culture, you will realize many valuable lessons about yourself and wherever it is that you call home. Are youth travel programs the right move for you? Start looking for the best high school program abroad now!

Can you study abroad in high school?

You can absolutely study abroad in high school! Your best options for participating in teen travel programs are to either go abroad during a school break, like summer or spring break, or to go on an exchange program for a full academic year. The right choice for you will depend on your budget, how old you are, and your GPA.

Doing high school study abroad during a school break is considerably cheaper than studying abroad for an entire year, and there aren’t as many logistics to consider, like making sure you’ll get the school credit you need. However, if you have serious academic goals for yourself in college, a high school exchange program will leave college admissions officers impressed!

The requirements to study abroad in high school are usually:

A GPA of 3.0 or higher
Permission from your parents and/or school
Financial capability
A certain level of maturity and sense of responsibility

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can study abroad in high school! There are numerous exchange and study abroad programs around the world that are geared towards teen travelers, like Travel For Teens and Abbey Road Programs.

Common ways to study abroad in high school are to participate in programs abroad during summer, winter, and spring breaks. You can become a long-term exchange student through programs like AFS and Nacel International.

For Americans, there are opportunities to be a foreign high school exchange student through the Department of State. Additionally, you can go through private companies like AFS and Nacel International.

Latest Program Reviews

An incredible online learning experience!

January 08, 2026by: Louey Nacer Boumediene Merouane - Algeria

Program: Your Online Pathway to Global Education

My experience with Smart Schools International’s online program has been truly rewarding. Despite the distance, the support from the staff and instructors was exceptional from day one. The curriculum is highly interactive and engaging, providing practical skills that go far beyond traditional learning methods. I especially appreciated the flexibility of the platform and the opportunity to connect with students from all over the world in a global virtual classroom. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a high-quality, flexible, and well-organized online education.

An incredible online learning experience!

January 08, 2026by: Louey Nacer Boumediene Merouane - Algeria

Program: Your Online Pathway to Global Education

Oui

December 30, 2025by: Mia Palomino - United States

Program: The Experiment: France: Cultural Discovery

I had so much fun on this trip abroad and felt that I fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams which was to go and explore France. This was something I never would’ve expected I’d do in high school but its truly an unforgettable experience.

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Latest Interviews

Sandra Monk

Alumni

I wanted to experience a culture that contrasted with our own and have the opportunity to learn firsthand about that culture and language.

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Brittany Hall

Alumni

I love the French culture and the language, but I was having a hard time speaking it even after taking French class in school. I could read it fairly ...

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