High School in France
As one of the oldest nations in Europe, France presents visitors with a rich history and fascinating culture whether they are exploring its medieval cities, alpine villages, or Mediterranean beaches. Want to learn more about this amazing country first hand? You can with our high school study abroad programs!
Overview
Our High School Exchange Program in France will enable you to immerse yourself in French culture while living with a French host family and sharing in their daily life. While on the program, you’ll attend classes at a local lycée (high school) from Monday to Friday, taking classes such as Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Physics, History, Physical Education, and Foreign Language. For those who prefer a private school experience, we also offer a boarding school option.
Option 1: No Area Preference
Students choosing this option can be placed anywhere in France. There is no guarantee of location in the placement process. The emphasis, rather, is placed on finding the ideal host family (common interests…) and academic records.
Option 2: Area Preference
Students choosing this option will have the ability to select from a variety of placement options. Students can choose from the following:
- The Coastline: You will have the option of selecting from the Mediterranean, Atlantic or Channel Sea regions of France.
- Urban Area: You are interested in studying abroad in France but do not want to live in a rural area. We will guarantee your placement in an urban area of over 50,000 inhabitants!
- Special Request: If you have a special request for a region that is not listed above, or the desire to play a specific sport, etc, we can guarantee your specific request.
Option 3: Private Boarding School
Paris
Located in Paris city center, near the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, l’École Diagonale was founded 30 years ago. There are 850 students. Teachers are careful to help every student progress and gain confidence in learning. The school motto is “our students are talented!”.
Rennes
Saint Geneviève / Saint Martin High School is located in central Rennes. The school offers excellent teaching from junior high school to higher education. The school is a boarding school and provides accommodation on a full board basis (from Monday to Friday). They offer comfortable bedrooms and study rooms. Sport activities are arranged and supervised by school leaders on Wednesday afternoons. Exchange students also attend extra French classes to help them immerse themselves into the language and culture.
Rennes is a charming and bustling city of French Brittany (northwestern France). It houses over 210,000 inhabitants and boasts lots of tourist attractions. It is 2 hours from Paris capital city by train.
Rouen
Pensionnat Jean Baptiste de la Salle is a prestigious 17th century French high school located in Rouen historic city centre. Famous politicians (such as former French President François Hollande) attended the school. The boarding school is renovated and offers comfortable shared bedrooms (from 2 to 4 students). The students also have access to a music room and a sport hall. Exchange students timetable can be adapted to their needs, depending on their school stream and language skills.
The city of Rouen: with nearly 500,000 people, Rouen is the capital of Normandy. It shelters a rich medieval heritage. The city echoes with popular people (William the Conqueror, Joan of Arc…). It is a pleasant and lively city for students.
Angers
St Agnès boarding school has an international atmosphere with about 30 students from all over the world, split up in different classes to guarantee the language immersion. The price includes French lessons for foreigners and preparation to the DELF French exam and 2 excursions per year to famous places of interest such the Loire Castles, St Michael’s Mount. The boarding school offers comfortable single bedrooms from Monday to Friday; weekends and holidays are in a host family.
Angers: the temperate climate of the Angers Val de Loire destination makes it a popular and attractive place to live. You can come and discover the enchanting landscapes with vineyards set on the slopes of hills, small typical Loire Valley villages, and world-famous castles.
Espalion
Immaculée Conception boarding school is located in a nice setting, surrounded by a park. They focus on languages learning and offer French lessons for foreigners and students can sit for the French exam, Baccalauréat. The boarding school offers comfortable shared bedrooms (4 students), from Monday to Friday ; weekends and holidays are in a local host family.
it is a dynamic town in a rural area and one of the main cities of the north Aveyron. Located on the road to Santiago de Compostela, it is at the center of the triangle made by Toulouse, Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier cities.
Area Choice/No Choice Program Dates & Deadlines
Apply early and get a discount! Submit your application 45 days before the deadline to receive an Early Bird Discount.
These are the approximate start dates. Exact start dates will be provided closer to your arrival.
Spring
1 Month Program: Early January – Mid-February
2 Month Program: Early January – Early March
Academic Trimester: Early January – Mid-April
Academic Semester: Early January – Early June
Full Year: Early January – Late December
Final Deadline to Apply: September 1st
Fall
1 Month Program: Late August – Early October
2 Month Program: Late August – Early November
Academic Trimester: Late August – Mid-November
Academic Semester: Late August – Late January
Academic Year: Late August – Mid-June
Final Deadline to Apply: April 1st
Private Boarding School Dates & Deadlines
Apply early and get a discount! Submit your application 45 days before the deadline to receive an Early Bird Discount.
These are the approximate start dates. Exact start dates will be provided closer to your arrival.
Spring
Academic Trimester: Early January – Mid-April
Academic Semester: Early January – Early June
Academic Year: Early January – Late December
Final Deadline to Apply: September 1st
Fall
Academic Trimester: Late August – Mid-November
Academic Semester: Late August – Late January
Academic Year: Late August – Mid-June
Final Deadline to Apply: April 1st
Program Costs
Option 1: No Area Preference
1 Month
2 Months
Trimester
Semester
Academic Year
Full Year
Costs
$6,200
$6,800
$7,700
$9,250
$11,250
$12,000
Option 2: Area Preference
1 Month
2 Months
Trimester
Semester
Academic Year
Full Year
Costs
$7,080
$8,070
$9,000
$11,850
$15,000
$16,100
Private Boarding School Programs
Paris
Rennes
Rouen
Angers
Espalion
Trimester
3 months
$11,520
$9,510
$10,690
$10,460
$9,040
Semester
5 months
$14,420
$12,880
$14,890
$14,770
$11,940
Academic Year
$19,680
$16,960
$19,800
$20,150
$15,430
Discounts, Scholarships & Fundraising
Early Bird Discount – $250 discount if you apply 45 days prior to the application deadline
Host Family Discount – Discount of up to $1000 for families that hosted an inbound student
Area Representative Discount – Discount of up to $500 for children of ISE Area Representatives
ISE Ambassador Scholarship – Designed for students who would like to engage deeply with their host community and reflect on their experience via blog/video contributions.
Additional Scholarships – We gathered a list of some additional scholarships that can help finance your dream exchange
ISE Fundraising Guide – Check out our tips and tricks for planning your very own study abroad fundraiser.
What's Included In The Program
- Arrival Orientation
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Support and supervision by local representative
- Host family accommodation including 2 meals a day during the week, and 3 meals a day on the weekends.
- School tuition and fees
- Progress reports sent directly to parents
- 24/7 emergency support
- ISE Tote bag, luggage tag & lanyard
Additional Expenses You Might Incur
- Personal Expenses – cell phone bills, personal spending money, travel expenses
- Transportation to airport at conclusion of program
- Extra School Fees – Uniform, class trips, extra curricular activities
Eligibility
- Age between 14 and 18 years old
- Be attending a school in his/her country
- Have a minimum of 1 year of French lessons
- Have excellent physical and mental health
- Agree to attend classes and maintain satisfactory standards of work and behavior
Academic Info
The French educational system is one of the most thorough in the world. Expectations are high towards the students. Participants will attend classes at a local lycée from Monday to Friday. These include French, Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Physics, History, Physical Education, Foreign Language (English, German, Spanish or Italian)… and optional classes include Economics or a second Foreign Language. The school year runs from September to June.
An average school day in France is long. There is a 1.5-2-hour lunch break and the day ends around 4 or 5:00 PM. The actual start and end times will vary according to each local school.
Orientation
Upon arrival in France, you will receive a full 4 day cultural orientation in Paris. During this orientation, students are given useful information and advice about their high school program. A exciting program of visits and activities is arranged, so as to give them an insight into Paris famous landmarks (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or Orsay Museum, Versailles Castle, shopping on the Champs Elysées)!
- Day 1: Arrival day. Staff will meet students upon arrival to take the group to their accommodations in Paris.
- Day 2: Orientation and French culture sessions
- Day 3: Tour of the Eiffel Tower & Louvre
- Day 4: Departure day and arrival to new host families
Application Process
- Explore our programs, options and countries to find your best match.
- Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
- You can submit the interest form here: Travel & Study Abroad Interest Form
- Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
- Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program costs, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.
Parent FAQs
- Severe anxiety
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

High School Program FAQs
- Watch Netflix in your countries language
- Find a language buddy
- Study online
General FAQs
- Stand out during the college admissions process
- Develop new language skills in an immersive environment
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Identify interests to better select academic & career paths
- Establish cross-cultural skills
- Improve academic scores
- Improve personal organization and time management skills
- Develop a sense of adaptability, independence, and self-reliance
- Boost self-confidence
- Learn about new lifestyles
- Experience new cuisines
- Make lifelong friends
- Gain life experience
- Short Term Option (1-2 months)
- Trimester and Semester Options
- Full Year Options
- Program options from 1-8 weeks
- 12-month program option
- Explore our programs, options, and countries to find your best match.
- Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
- Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
- Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program cost, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.