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!

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Overview

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.

Location

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:

  1. The Coastline: You will have the option of selecting from the Mediterranean, Atlantic or Channel Sea regions of France.
  2. 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!
  3. 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.

Program Dates

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

Costs & Discounts

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.

Inclusions

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

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

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

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

Application Process

  1. Explore our programs, options and countries to find your best match. 
  2. Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
  3. Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
  4. Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
  5. 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. 

Parents

Parent FAQs

Moving away from your support network and into a new and unfamiliar environment can be difficult even for the most well-adjusted students. Students with pre-existing mental health conditions may find this adjustment particularly challenging, which could worsen any issues they were previously facing. In order to ensure the safety of our participants, we conduct a thorough screening of all applicants to ensure they are in the right mindset to participate. While the majority of students are eligible to participate, we may not be able to accept students who have recently struggled with mental illness and/or are reliant on medication to treat mental illness in certain circumstances. Pre-existing mental health conditions include, but are not limited to:
  • Severe anxiety
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
For students prepared to take on the challenge, absolutely. It is, however, important to consider a student’s level of maturity prior to the program because it directly impacts their success.  Ideally, our programs will push students beyond their comfort zone and into what is referred to as their stretch zone. It’s in the stretch zone that learning, growth, and development - along with challenges and risk - occur.  If a student is not ready and/or willing to move beyond their comfort zone, plunging into a new and unfamiliar environment could actually have an adverse effect and place them in what is referred to as the panic zone.  Parents should make an honest assessment of their child’s maturity level and understand that study abroad will not fundamentally change their child’s personality or behavior when considering the program. 
While abroad, your child will be fully supported. First, they will receive a personal Program Manager to assist with everything from the initial request to your child’s departure. Then, they will be supported abroad by a dedicated Local Coordinator who will frequently check in on the student and provide monthly progress reports. Your child will have the contact information of their Local Coordinator and can contact them at any time. There is also a 24/7 emergency line managed out of ISE headquarters.
No. Visits of any kind are not allowed during our programs. If you plan to visit your child, you should plan to do so after the program has ended.
The vast majority of our participants are placed in small to medium-sized towns outside of major cities. They may not be living in the most “touristy” areas, but as long as participants are open-minded they will be treated to a truly immersive and authentic experience.

FAQ

High School Program FAQs

We can’t offer any guarantees that certain classes will be offered at your host school. We can provide you with general curriculum information, but often students are not able to sign up for specific classes until after they arrive in the host country.
Upon successful completion of the program, everyone is guaranteed a Certificate of Attendance. Transcripts (i.e. grades) have to be earned. To earn the grades, you will have to excel in your classes abroad, in the language of your destination country. All of our high schools abroad are accredited institutions, therefore their grades are transferable to the United States. Please visit Scholaro for more information on translating and evaluating grades from abroad. As part of the preparation process, you have to check with your guidance counselor which classes/credits you will need to graduate or to advance to your next year of high school. Some classes, such as US History might not be offered abroad, and therefore you will have to find a way to earn those credits either before your study abroad year or after. One option to consider are Virtual High Schools, such as Franklin.
Yes, you should be able to follow along and participate in your classes. Classes like Math, Science & Physics, you will be graded on your ability to solve the problems, not on your grammar. Literature, Language & Social Science classes may be more difficult in a new language. Prior to studying abroad, there are numerous ways to prepare and improve your language skills:
  • Watch Netflix in your countries language
  • Find a language buddy
  • Study online
You will not be able to take the SATs while abroad. We highly recommend that you take the SATs prior to or after the program.
Yes! We offer a post-high school Gap Year Program. Visit our Gap Year Program page for more details.

General FAQs

ISE’s Travel & Study Abroad Program will take your academic, career, and life opportunities to new levels! College admissions and employers love compelling personal growth stories, and Travel & Study Abroad will supply you with those stories.  Some of the many benefits of participating in our programs include: Academic & Career Benefits
  • 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
Personal Benefits
  • 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
Since 1982, our nonprofit organization has remained committed to educating future leaders and making a positive, long-lasting impact in communities.   To make cross-cultural experiences accessible to more people, we offer the best pricing available to our participants...and we do so without compromising the quality of the experience or level of support offered.    We assign each participant a personal Program Manager, so you’ll receive assistance throughout your entire program experience by someone you know by name. We also provide 24/7 support from our dedicated Student Services Team.   Lastly, the trusted international organizations we partner with have been trained and certified over the course of many years working to provide study abroad programs
“The summer abroad experience does lend itself to some very important essays that students write.” Deputy director of admissions for the University of Texas  “A lot of schools, including ours, are looking for a diverse perspective, and international experiences lend themselves to that.” - Admissions Advisor, University of California “Anything that makes your application stand out is a good thing.” - Admissions officer, University of Chicago “Not only does studying outside the United States help build necessary language fluency for all college-bound students, it shows those headed to elite institutions will go outside their comfort zone and expand to meet the challenge. Nothing speaks to the ethics of those institutions quite like a commitment to that kind of excellence and personal achievement.” - Admissions Advisor, New York University
First and foremost, program candidates should be mature, open-minded, and adaptable. Wondering if our Travel & Study Abroad Program is right for you? Check out our article Should You Study Abroad? 8 Signs You’d Make a Great Exchange Student to find out!
During the Academic Year (Visit Our High School Programs Page for Specific Dates)
  • Short Term Option (1-2 months)
  • Trimester and Semester Options
  • Full Year Options
During the Summer (Visit Our Summer Program Page for Specific Dates)
  • Program options from 1-8 weeks
Post-High School Gap Year (Visit Our Gap Year Page for Specific Dates)
  • 12-month program option
For the majority of our programs, you’ll be living with a host family.  A few of our programs offer boarding schools. In those cases, you will be living with other students in a dormitory.
If you have a family in your country of choice that you know of and that is willing to host you, we may be able to place you in their home after they are properly vetted. Otherwise, host families are chosen based on your application for the most compatible fit. If you happen to have strong and valid reasons to deny a chosen family, we will try to accommodate your request to the best of our ability.
Yes, pick up and drop-off at the airport is included in all of our programs.
We don’t include airfare in our pricing because we know that allowing people to shop around for the most competitive rates and convenient airport locations is best. Not to mention you might have frequent flyer miles that you could use towards the purchase of a ticket, why take that opportunity away? You may see other programs that include flights, but it should be noted that often these flights will cost more than what participants could find on their own and/or depart from less convenient locations.
Yes, a travel medical insurance policy is included in the program price for all participants.
All program fees must be received before departure, usually 6-8 weeks before.    The usual payment schedule is: $200 student application fee, $1500 deposit before your application is forwarded to our partner in the country of choice and a remainder 6-8 weeks before departure.    Personalized installment plans are also available, where a minimum payment is set at $500.    We understand that financing a study abroad program might be challenging for some, therefore we want you to know that we are here to help as much as we can. Please visit our Scholarship and Fundraising pages for additional financing hints.
To attend a high school you must be sufficiently proficient in the native language of the country you would like to visit, but you don’t have to be fluent. Your language skills will improve quickly once you are culturally immersed!  Don’t speak another language? Don’t worry - we offer several programs in English-speaking countries.
We try to make the application process as simple as possible. Here are the steps you should follow if you’d like to apply:
  1. Explore our programs, options, and countries to find your best match.
  2. Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
  3. Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
  4. Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
  5. 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.
Minors are not permitted to travel alone or with other minors. You may travel with your host family, local representative, or with a school. Students above 18 years old, must coordinate with their host family and local representative before making any travel plans.
Making the best decision on how to prepare for a trip to another country where different currency is used takes a bit of planning. Besides US dollar banknotes, that you can exchange anywhere in the world, most debit and credit cards are also accepted worldwide. Before leaving the US you should speak to your bank to make sure that you won’t be charged exorbitant international fees. Many banks in the US offer cards with no international or ATM fees. Also, consider inquiring about prepaid cards. Another option might be traveler’s checks that are an alternative to cash and cards. It is not very common that you will be able to open a local bank account to which you could transfer money to. However, since we live in an ever-changing world, you should never disregard this option; we encourage you to inquire about it upon your arrival. Our local representative will always be happy to assist you. Remember, never keep all of your cards and cash in one place.
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