Have you always dreamed of travelling overseas and experiencing new things? Through a student exchange program, you could have the opportunity to study and live in another country. Let’s learn a bit more about them in this blog.
What is student exchange?
As the name suggests, student exchange gives you the opportunity to travel to another country and attend school there – and in return, a student from the country you’re visiting will live and study in Australia.
You’ll attend school and learn just like the other students, and experience life with a host family. You can study overseas from as little as four weeks all the way up to an entire year.
Where can I go?
There are lots of countries you can choose from – you’ll need to check with your school or private provider. The most popular destination countries for Australian and New Zealand students include USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Spain and Argentina.
Am I eligible?
If you’d like to participate in a Student Exchange program, you generally need to be between the ages of 15-18 (in Year 9-12), and an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Some schools and states might have additional specific eligibility criteria, including minimum academic requirements, so make sure to check first – you should be able to ask your school for details.
You’ll also need to be prepared to travel away from your friends and family, feel comfortable in an unfamiliar place, and potentially meet language requirements (depending on where you’d like to travel).
How can I organise a placement?
You’ll need to speak to your school or find a registered provider in order to organise your exchange.
If you’re organising exchange through a private provider, make sure they are registered to provide programs in your state or territory – this means the provider is safe and reliable, meaning you can travel with less stress.
You should start organising your placement as soon as possible, as you’ll generally need to apply quite early and there may be caps on how many students can go on exchange each year.
Where can I find out more?
Find out more about student exchange in your location:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- Australian Capital Territory
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Northern Territory
- Tasmania
- New Zealand
You can also find out about other travel options like gap years, or read more blogs on your future study options.
