Study Abroad in High School
With ASSE You’re Not Just Part Of A Program, You’re Part Of A Family
Welcome to ASSE!
High school study abroad programs through ASSE provide students aged 15–18 with the opportunity to live in another country and experience daily life from a completely new perspective. Participants stay with local host families, attend high school, and become part of a new community—not just for a week or two, but for a full semester or academic year.
Becoming an exchange student gives you more than knowledge about another country, its language, and culture. A year abroad teaches you about building friendships, taking responsibility for yourself, respecting differences, and tolerating the beliefs of others.
WHY STUDY ABROAD?
These programs are designed for full cultural immersion. Whether it’s enjoying local traditions in France, learning a new language in Japan, or discovering daily life in Argentina, students build real connections, develop independence, and grow in ways that go far beyond the classroom.
As you experience the rhythms of everyday life in another culture, learning happens constantly—often without you even noticing. You might find yourself in a walkable French town, where narrow cobblestone streets wind between centuries-old buildings you can touch on both sides. Or you may live in a quiet Spanish village with castle ruins just steps from your door. In Germany, your homestay town might even include a “living castle”—a historic residence still occupied today. These unforgettable experiences bring history and culture to life in ways no textbook ever could.
-
Host family
The best way to truly become involved in the culture of a foreign country is to live among its people as a member of a family. Every ASSE exchange student does just that. Students are placed in volunteer families, who are carefully screened by ASSE and consider it a privilege to welcome students like you into their home. Host families feel they benefit from the experience as much as you do! They want to learn about your culture and introduce you to theirs. Many families have children your age, and you may find that a family member speaks English, even if it’s only a little. All families are different and thus have their own habits and way of life.
-
Language
No prior language skills are required to join the program. Whether you speak the language or not, you’ll pick it up naturally through school, family life, and everyday conversations. Full immersion makes learning a new language feel less like studying and more like living. In non–English speaking countries, you’ll be provided with remedial language instruction / training (included in the program fee), during your initial few weeks. With that initial preparation, plus the constant exposure you’ll have to the language, you’ll be talking comfortably with your host family in just a few weeks.
-
School
You’ll discover that school systems abroad are very different from your home school and among the best in the world. That being said, teenagers everywhere share many commonalities. They work hard in school, play sports, love movies and music, and enjoy spending time with friends. A few of them may even become your friends for life.
-
Program Support
Every ASSE exchange student also has a local ASSE representative who speaks English and is there to support you throughout your stay. They’ll plan occasional group activities and be available if you need help adjusting or have questions along the way.
Become a Host for a Foreign Exchange Student
As you consider becoming an exchange student, you may also be asking yourself, how can your family become a host for a foreign exchange student? This is the perfect first step towards embarking on your own adventure abroad. By inviting an ASSE foreign exchange student into your family for an academic semester or year, you will begin to truly understand what it means to enrich your life with another culture.
If your family hosts an ASSE or World Heritage exchange student during the same program year, you’ll receive a 10% discount on your own program fee (excluding the application fee)—a great way to make your study abroad experience more affordable while sharing the journey with another exchange student!*
